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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Approving a Minor Amendment to the Land Use Policy Future Land Use Map at 802 Delaware Avenue RESOLUTION NO. 20-318 RESOLUTION APPROVING A MINOR AMENDMENT TO THE LAND USE POLICY PLAN FUTURE LAND USE MAP AT 802 DELAWARE AVENUE FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, on January 28, 2020, the City Council referred to staff a letter from Justin Dodge,with Hunziker Companies representing property owner Dick Hall,asking to initiate a Minor Amendment to the Land Use Policy Plan for 802 Delaware Avenue; and, WHEREAS, the site is currently a vacant lot and totals approximately .75 acres between North Dakota Avenue and Delaware Avenue; and, WHEREAS,City Council determined on March 10,2020,that the developer could proceed with an application for a Minor LUPP Amendment, and the Council discussed the proposal in the context of housing and land use discussions of the Ames Plan 2040 regarding infill, knowing that evaluation of the proposal is subject to review under the current Land Use Policy Plan(LUPP);and, WHEREAS,the designation of the property is currently Low Density Residential and current land use designations adjacent to the site are Low Density Residential in all directions; and, WHEREAS,the owner and developer of the properties,is requesting a change in the land use designation of the properties from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential in order to ultimately rezone the site to Residential Medium Density (RM) zoning for construction of a medium density multi-family development; and, WHEREAS,under the current zoning the site could be subdivided and developed with three single-family home lots with frontage along Delaware Avenue; and, WHEREAS, the proposed LUPP Map Amendment would create a site-specific infill area intended for a Medium Density style development within an area designated as Low Density Residential,and tow-family duplex style homes do exist across the street and nearby along Delaware Avenue to the north as a product of prior zoning options that existed prior to 2000; and, WHEREAS,the current RL zoning,which allows fo only new single-family homes,was put into place in 2000 and further to the north are multi-family developments of apartments approximately 800 feet from the site; and, WHEREAS, during preliminary discussions, the developer has described an interest in a townhome development concept that consists of six two-story townhomes; and, WHEREAS,the developer desires a Medium Density designation and RM zoning for the site to increase development potential of the site with a housing type not permitted within RL zoning,and single-family attached housing (townhomes) are not a permitted building type within RL zoning, although it is permissible in the Floating Suburban FS-RL expansion areas of the City; and, WHEREAS,the developer envisions the townhomes as buildings all on one lot and this type of building pattern of townhomes would be viewed as apartment buildings under the Zoning Ordinance definitions if they are not on individual lots as single-family attached housing; and, WHEREAS,the requested LUPP Amendment is the first stip in a series of actions to realize the developer's vision that would also include applications for Rezoning and a Minor Site Development Plan; and, WHEREAS,with any proposed change to the LUPP Future Land Use map,the City examines the suitability of infrastructure and the site for the proposed use and staff generally finds that infrastructure for water, sewer, storm drainage, and traffic access from Delaware Avenue are acceptable to plan for the more intense development in this area; and, WHEREAS, during rezoning a Master Plan maybe needed to help define the development concept prior to final review of the Site Development Plan; and, WHEREAS,the LUPP identifies desires for diverse housing opportunities,staff did not find the Goals and Objectives to fit increasing density on a small site such as this request for infill; and, WHEREAS, the Planning & Zoning Commission discussed the matter at the May 20' Planning & Zoning Commission meeting and the Commission deliberated through three separate motions on the matter based upon the alternatives presented by staff; and, WHEREAS, ultimately, a motion was made to recommend that the City Council deny the Amendment to the LUPP Future Land Use Mapp and that motion passed on a 5-1 vote. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED bythe City Council ofthe City ofAmes,Iowa,that the proposed Amendment to the Land Use Policy Plan Future Land Use Map to change the land use designation of approximately.75 acres of land located at 802 Delaware Avenue from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential is hereby approved, subject to a condition that future rezoning include a Master Plan. ADOPTED THIS 9t'day of June, 2020. Diane . Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Gartin Seconded by: Corrieri Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 9'day of June, 2020.