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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Setting a Connection Fee for Residential Properties in teh East Industrial Area RESOLUTION NO. 19-616 RESOLUTION SETTING A CONNECTION FEE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE EAST INDUSTRIAL AREA FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, on November 12, 2019, staff provided City Council with a report regarding utility connection fees associated with the upcoming East Industrial area sewer and water main extension project; and, WHEREAS,the report was in response to a letter received by Josh and Mollie Boersma,who are the current homeowners at 4626 East Lincoln Way; and, WHEREAS,the East Industrial Area Utility Extension Project will extend water and sewer main along East Lincoln Way from 4100 East Lincoln Way (just east of Country Landscapes) to 6501 East Lincoln Way(just west of Potter Avenue); and, WHEREAS, in order to recover construction costs resulting from this project,the City will establish sewer and water connection fee districts for new industrial development; and, WHEREAS, after the project is bid, a per-acre connection fee will be determined based on the amount of developable land (primarily farmland) to be served by these utilities, therefore, as development occurs along this portion of East Lincoln Way,the connection district fees will begin to repay the project construction costs; and, WHEREAS, for existing residences, however, it was previously directed by City Council meeting that they would not be included in the connection fee districts to connect to their homes,but would instead pay the standard connection fee of $20 per linear foot of property frontage as stipulated in Appendix F of the Ames Municipal Code; and, WHEREAS, in general, the residential lots in this area are significantly larger than in the urban residential zones within Ames, and in some cases, the residences are located on their own individual parcel of land; and, WHEREAS, some residences are located on part of a much larger, farmland parcel, thus using the parcel frontage for those home not split off from the larger farm parcels significantly increases the connection fees associated with those properties; and, WHEREAS, for these cases where the home is located on the larger farmed parcel,the City would end up collecting both a frontage fee and a connection district fee for the same parcel of land when it develops; and, WHEREAS, current residences can continue using their existing rural water services and septic systems,therefore a property owner would not be required to buy out Rural Water;however, if their septic system fails,per Iowa Code they will be required to connect to the City sewer if their property is within 200 feet of a sewer main; and, WHEREAS, a similar case occurred when utilities were installed north along Grant(Hyde) Avenue and the Boersma's were asking for the same consideration of the connection fees; WHEREAS, the City agrees that the Owners shall be allowed to make a single connection to the City water distribution system and a single connection to the City sanitary sewer system to serve their existing homestead at a time of the Owner's choosing, once that infrastructure has been installed and made operational; and, WHEREAS, at the time the Owners choose to connect for each of these services, the City will require the Owners to pay the connection fee for an 80 lineal foot width lot at the connection fee rate then in effect under the City Code(the rate presently in effect for connection is$18 per lineal foot); and, WHEREAS,this arrangement allows existing residences to connect to water and sewer using the current frontage rate (now $20 per lineal foot) and a typical developed lot frontage of 80 foot. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the connection fee for residential properties for homestead in the East Industrial Area Utilities project area will be at the current rate of$20 per lineal foot,residential properties could make a one- time connection using 80 lineal foot width for the connection fee calculation,but if the land is further subdivided for development,additional connection fees using the connection district fees would be required for larger developed parcels is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 26"'day of November, 2019. Diane . Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Corrieri Seconded by: Nelson Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Corrieri, Gartin, Martin,Nelson Voting nay: None Absent: Betcher Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 26' day of November, 2019.