HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - D&O for Special Home Occupation - Allow Background Investigation Business O L C
CITY OF AMES, IOWA JUL 1 5 2011
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTME T
CITY-CLERK
CITY OF AMFS,110A/A
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION :
OF VENNEMAN FOR A SPECIAL HOME CASE NO. 11-09
OCCUPATION PERMIT, GEOCODE NO. 05-27-403--330
SECTION 29.1304,AMES MUNICIPAL
CODE, TO ALLOW A BACKGROUND
INVESTIGATION BUSINESS ON THE DECISION & ORDER
PROPERTY LOCATED AT
3314 HOOVER AVENUE
FACTS
The property at this address is an owner-occupied, one story single family detached home in an RL
(Low Density Residential)zoning district.There is an existing home occupation permit for the wife
at this residence to operate a business that conducts background checks and applicant tracking for
businesses such as hospitals, medical clinics, retailers and manufacturers. The business was
administratively approved for operation in 2008 and has been operated solely by members of the
household since then.The work load has increased to such a point that the owner now seeks to have
the assistance of hired administrative personnel. Since employees who are not members of the
household can be granted only through ZBA approval,the business owner is requesting approval for
outside employees to assist in this business. The home has 2161 square feet of floor area, with an
attached two car garage which has an additional 560 square feet of floor area. 140 square feet at the
rear of the garage space has been finished into a separate room that serves solely as the office for the
business. This room is lockable and is completely separated from the other residential living areas
in order to maintain security of the business' records. The equipment used in the business includes
a personal computer, fax,telephone, scanner, and printer.All of these are of the scale that could be
found in any home. The garage still retains enough space to park two cars inside and there is room
in the driveway for parking for four or five additional cars. Ideally, the business owner would like
to hire one person who could assist on site with the various tasks associated with the business,but
depending on what skills she finds that individuals have, it may be that she would have to have
several different employees with each doing one specific type of task. In any event,any employees
coming to her home would be instructed to park in the drive and they would be expected to work at
the office so they would not create traffic except on arrival or departure. She would not have any
more than two employees on site at any one time. The applicant shared that she does not generally
meet with current or prospective clients at this location,but instead,meets at an off site location,nor
are deliveries a concern, since those occur only about once a month. The applicant does not have a
sign at the residence for this business, nor are classes offered. There is another permitted home
occupation at this residence, which is a webpage design business but this has been phased out by
the applicant and will be completely discontinued in the very near future. In any event,it is not the
kind of business that generates client visits so would not create an impact for neighbors.
Page 1 of 2
DECISION
The Board considers the standards applicable to Special Home Occupations under the provisions of
the zoning ordinance. The application in this case involves a permitted home occupation which
presently meets all the standards for a Home occupation, but which is before the Board for
determination of whether outside employees should be permitted. The business meets the standards
for area to be used, in that an enclosed room of this home, equipped with residential scale office
equipment,is being used.There are no clients coming to the business and only one deliveryper month
is associated with it. There is no signor classes. The only other home occupation here is being
Y p g
discontinued.Regarding employees,the applicant does not know exactly how many employees will
be found to fit the needs of the business,but she does know that she will limit their presence on site
so that no more than two of them are present at once, because she, too, desires to maintain the
residential character of her home.There is parking sufficient to accommodate their vehicles,and she
will continue her present hours of operation.
ORDER
WHEREFORE,IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is Granted a Special Home Occupation Permit,
Section 29.1304(3), Ames Municipal Code,to allow Operation of a Background Investigation and
applicant tracking business with outside employees, with the following stipulation:
1. The applicant will be allowed to have employees who are not members of the family,
provided that no more than two (2) non-family member employees are at the residence at any one
time,
all for the property located at 3314 Hoover Avenue.
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record may do so within 30 days after the
filing of this decision.
Done this 1 Ith day of May, 2011.
G16Y
mil Burto Bruce Calhoun
cretary t the Board Chair
Page 2 of 2