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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Use Permit - 516 Kellogg Avenue - First United Methodist ChurchCITY OF AMES, IOWA ZONING BOARD OF ADJUST IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, SECTION 29.1503, AMES MUNICIPAL CODE, TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITION TO A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 516 KELLOGG AVENUE L E NOV 1 0 2011 T CITY CLERK CITY OF AMi:S, IOWA CASE NO. 11-17 GEOCODE NO. 09-02-376-010 DECISION & ORDER FACTS First United Methodist Church has been an established place of worship in the downtown area of Ames for many decades. It owns a sizeable parcel of land on the east side of Kellogg Avenue just south of 6' Street, which is part of the original town of Ames. Over the years, the church has enjoyed growth in both its congregation and in community programs that it offers. The church has experienced such expansion that it now is finding that a building addition is necessary to accommodate its programs. The church would like to build an addition on the south side of their present building to better serve their needs. They developed a plan for the project over several years, and then earlier this year, began putting into action the steps to bring their plan to fruition. This was fairly complex undertaking since it involved negotiating a land swap with the City so that the two parties would end up with contiguous parcels of land, and then rezoning the land once it had changed hands. It also required crafting contingencies into the plan for the site so that the current and planned needs of the City's library, which shares this block with the church, could be met. One of the last steps in the process is application for a Special Use permit, which is a requirement under the zoning ordinance for any addition to a religious institution. The building addition will be two stories in height having 17,500 feet of gross floor area. The exterior architectural design and finishes will mirror those presently found in the main building and the addition will feature a covered ground level entrance directly accessible to vehicles. There will also be parking spaces on the church grounds, which are not required for this zoning district but which are a site enhancement the church members have found to be so desirable that they have included them. The combination of land parcels to make way for this addition has resulted in one less parking lot on this part of the block, but with the greater efficiency of the lot configurations, there will actually be more parking spaces in this immediate area. The times of peak use of the parking by the church do not coincide with the times it is used primarilyby others, so the usage and amount ofparking avoids duplication ofparking capacity. The City had planned a reconstruction of the portion of Kellogg Avenue in this block which will improve not only the street surface and onstreet parking, but will also improve the subsurface infrastructure. The site will be landscaped and easements have been provided for so that storm water and access is provided. DECISION The Board considers the standards applicable to Special Use permits for religious institutions. The proposed expansion is a continuation of a long established use in this vicinity, and the Board finds Page 1 of 2 that it remains harmonious with the City's Land Use Policy. This area has long been developed with adequate infrastructure and services, and is in fact undergoing infrastructure upgrades that will more than adequately meet the needs of this addition. The activities conducted at the present site are very beneficial to the congregation and to the community at large, since this church not only serves its members but also does a substantial amount of community outreach programming. This zoning district is meant for high density development, so the scale of this project will fit with the predominant pattern of buildings in this area. Aesthetically, it will be complementary in appearance with the existing structure. The site planning has been carefully done to provide for current and future uses of its immediate neighbors. In light of Board's findings, it can grant this permit. WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is granted a Special Use Permit, Section 29.1503, Ames Municipal Code, to allow a 17,500 square foot addition to a religious institution consistent with its application and the findings of the staff report, with the following stipulations: 1. That the Church shall comply with all of the provisions of the Development Agreement for First United Methodist Church Expansion Project, as approved by the City Council on May 24, 2011; 2. Provisions explaining the responsibility for maintenance of the storm water easement shall be included in the easement document signed by the City and the Church; 3. The easement granted by the Church to the City for access across parking spaces on the east side of the Church for the Library's bookmobile shall be a five-year periodic easement; 4. The hours during which parking is prohibited in the spaces on the cast side of the Church shall be determined by the Public Works Department and the Director of the Ames Public Library, and shall be clearly posted on signage installed by the City; and 5. Parking spaces in the City parking lot at 500 Kellogg Avenue shall not be reserved for use by the Church, except as otherwise approved by the Public Works Department for specific events held at the Church, all for the property located at 516 Kellogg 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. one this 24' da of August, 2011. L11 1 . It lzwftu mily Burt Greta o the Board B alhoun Chair Page 2 of 2