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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Amendment to a Major Site Development Plan for parking lot landscaping for Green Hills PRD RESOLUTION NO. 16-504 RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT TO MAJOR SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR GREEN HILLS COMMUNITY PLANNED RESIDENCE DISTRICT FOR THE CITY OF AMES WHEREAS,the Green Hills Resident Association is requesting approval of an amendment to the existing Green Hills Community Planned Residential Development for parking lot landscaping; and, WHEREAS,Green Hills originated as a retirement community as part of a conceptual master plan with the nearby Gateway Hotel in 1979; the residential tower and health center were built in 1985-86; and, WHEREAS,the overall complex has gone through five major expansions since the original development, with the last revision in 2014 to expand the residential, parking, and administrative areas; and, WHEREAS, the applicant has proposed a revision to the landscape plan approved in 2014 that included a new parking lot to the northwest of Hamilton Drive; and, WHEREAS,the parking lot is situated between Highway 30 to the north and a grouping of dwellings to the south; and, WHEREAS,the proposal is to shift the approved landscaping along the southeast side of the parking lot to the northwest side of the parking lot; and, WHEREAS, the reason for the requested change is that the applicant has deemed the landscaping to be unnecessary as previously approved due to topographic conditions along the southeast side of the parking lot; and, WHEREAS, the topography provides a steep change in elevation between the neighboring residential areas and the parking area, thus making it virtually impossible to experience visual intrusion from vehicles and other objects; and, WHEREAS, although parking lot lighting locations are not indicated on the plan, the applicant may install lights at a later date that meet the City's requirements; and, there are no proposed changes to the parking area itself in terms of number of spaces or layout as previously approved; and, WHEREAS, the proposed modifications shift six trees and all of the shrubs from the previously approved location to a different location on the northwest side of the proposed parking lot to allow for other natural features to be utilized immediately adjacent to the proposed parking area; and, WHEREAS, an additional seven trees originally proposed along the northwest side of the parking lot are being eliminated;the proposal incorporates existing and new shrubs on the north side of the parking lot and existing trees with new trees immediately north of the prairie area which is located north of the parking lot; and, WHEREAS, the issue before the City Council is only to determine if the proposed parking lot landscape modifications change is acceptable; and, WHEREAS, due to the change in topography between the existing homes and the parking lot, staff believes that the screening intent is met for the parking lot and that the rearrangement of landscaping accomplishes the purpose and intent of the City landscaping standards with enhanced landscaping along the Highway 30 frontage; and, WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of this amendment, subject to the condition that staff verify compliance of the installation of the lighting prior to its installation around the parking lot. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the amendment to the Major Site Development Plan to the Green Hills Community Planned Residence District Zone,as submitted,is approved with the condition that installation of lighting is subject to the approval of City staff prior to its installation. ADOPTED THIS 23rd day of August, 2016. Iii-A-1 � . Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor Introduced by: Beatty-Hansen Seconded by: Nelson Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin,Nelson, Orazem Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 23rd day of August, 2016.