HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Variance Application E
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Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
Variance
Application Form
(This form must be completely filled out before the application will be accepted)
1. Property Address for this Variance Application: 2900 University Boulevard
2. Legal Description (attach if lengthy): LOTS 13, 14 AND 15 OF IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH PARK THIRD ADDITION BEING A PART OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 15, TOWNSHIP
83 NORTH, RANGE 24 WEST OF THE 5TH P.M. IN THE CITY OF AMES, STORY COUNTY IOWA.
3. 1 (We) the undersigned, do hereby respectfully appeal to the Ames Zoning Board of
Adjustment to grant a "Variance"to the Zoning Ordinance to allow the issuance of a Zoning
Permit to permit: parking between a new proposed building and a major thoroughfare
(Airport Road).
4. The Zoning Permit was refused because: Section 29.902 of the Ames Code allows parking
between buildings and streets except along major thoroughfares. The City considers
Airport Road a major thoroughfare.
5. Property Owner: Iowa State University Research Park
Address: 2711 South Loop Drive, Bldg 4, Suite 4050, Ames, IA 50010
(Street) (City) (State) (Zip)
Telephone: 515-296-7275 515-296-9924
(Home) (Business) (Fax)
6. Applicant: FEH Associates Inc.
Address: 604 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
(Street) (City) (State) (Zip)
Telephone: 515-288-2000 515-288-1999
(Home) (Business) (Fax)
7. Contact Person: Denny Sharp, President, FEH Associates Inc.
Address: 604 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
(Street) (City) (State) (Zip)
Telephone: 515-288-2000 515-288-1999
(Home) (Business) (Fax)
E-mail address: dennys@fehdm.com
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CITY OF AMES,IOWA
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Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
The Zoning Board of Adjustment may grant a Variance, provided the Board members can
make a finding that the Variance will not result in unnecessary hardship, will not be
contrary to the public interest, will observe the Spirit of the Ordinance, and shall result in
substantial justice.
This appeal will not be granted unless sufficient facts are presented in this application to
justify the variance in light of the standards and to show that the granting of the variance relates
to the intent and purposes of the Zoning Ordinance and the Land Use Policy Plan.
Approval of the Variance by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in no way absolves the applicant
from subsequently obtaining the necessary building permits or other permits from the City of
Ames or from other applicable agencies.
I(We) certify that I(we) have been denied a Building/Zoning Permit, that I(we) have submitted all the
required information to appeal for a Variance, and that said information is factual.
Signed by: ,fii`"— - c �— Date:
(Property Owner)
(Note: No others' nature in y b substituted for the Property Owner's Signature.)
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and•. Date: 2 � '
(A cant)
and:
Date: `' I
(Contac erson
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Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
Variance
Supporting Information
(This form must be filled out completely before your application will be accepted)
The Zoning Board of Adjustment can grant a Variance, only if all of the following
standards are satisfied. In order to facilitate review of this application for a Variance, the
applicant must address each of the "Variance Standards" set forth in Section 29.1504(4) of the
Zoning Ordinance, which are listed below.
(Note: The applicant's explanation of how the request meets each standard may be attached on
a separate sheet if sufficient space is not provided.)
1. Variance Standards. The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall review each application for the
purpose of determining that the "Variance Standards" are satisfied. Pursuant to Iowa law, a
variance shall be granted only if all of the following standards are satisfied:
(a) The granting of the variance shall not be contrary to the public interest.
Please present information to indicate that the Variance will not result in injury or
endangerment to other property or persons, nor will it devalue nearby property.
Explain how the request meets this standard.
The requested variance will allow similar development opportunity for this site as
has been provided for neighboring properties along Airport Road within the ISU
Research Park development. The requested variance will not result in injury or
endangerment to property or persons. It is our understanding the intent of this
code restriction is to eliminate parking lots along major thoroughfares that might
allow headlights from parked cars from "blinding" or distracting traffic on the
adjacent street. The proposed parking is for handicap and visitor parking only, is
"head-in" parking which would direct headlights away from the street and is set
back from the street approximately 465 ft. Landscape screening is also proposed
to be installed to further buffer the small parking area from Airport Road. This
proposed building is Phase 1 of a site master plan to develop a corporate campus
on this 18 acre site.
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Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
(b) That without granting of the variance, and due to special conditions, a literal
enforcement of the ordinance will result in unnecessary hardship.
Unnecessary hardship exists when:
(i) The land in question cannot yield a reasonable return if used only for a
purpose allowed in the zone;
To meet this standard, please show that all beneficial use and/or enjoyment
of the property will be lost if the Variance is not granted. Supporting evidence
from a professional appraiser, realtor, or other professional, may be
necessary to support your appeal. The Zoning Board of Adjustment may
require documentation of loss of value in order to grant this variance.
Explain how the request meets this standard.
If the variance is not granted, the opportunity to develop this site in a
manner equal to the adjacent properties within the ISU Research Park is
not provided. This would put this property at an economic disadvantage
with the neighboring properties within this development. Denial of this
variance request would also force the handicap parking to be located far
away from the building entrance, on the south side of the creek, making
accessibility for handicapped individuals more arduous. See enclosed
aerial photo of surrounding property showing parking developed
between buildings and Airport Road within the ISU Research Park.
(ii) The plight of the owners is due to unique circumstances and not to the
general conditions of the neighborhood;
Please show that the physical circumstances on the subject property are
unique and unlike other properties in the vicinity.
Explain how the request meets this standard.
This site is unique in that there is a creek that subdivides the site into
north and south halves. To develop the site for a phased office
development with connected buildings requires locating a large scale
parking lot on the south side of the creek with a pedestrian bridge to
connect the parking to the proposed building. To provide handicap
accessibility and visitor parking in close proximity to the building
requires the proposed small parking area on the north side of the
building. As illustrated in the attachment showing parking between
buildings and Airport Road throughout the existing ISU Research Park,
approval of this variance will eliminate the unique circumstance that
would otherwise exist if thisGparking area would not be allowed on this
property.
Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
(iii)The use to be authorized by the variance will not alter the essential
character of the locality.
Please show that the proposed use is compatible with the character of the
surrounding area.
Explain how the request meets this standard.
As illustrated in the attachments, allowing parking between the building
and Airport Road on this property would be consistent with the existing
developed properties along Airport Road throughout the ISU Research
Park.
(c) The spirit of the ordinance shall be observed even when the variance is
granted.
Please show that the Variance is consistent with the intent of the Sign Ordinance,
Zoning Ordinance, and the Land Use Policy Plan. A Variance would not be
consistent with the intent if alternatives for development exist that do not require a
Variance.
Explain how the request meets this standard.
The spirit of the ordinance will still be maintained with the granting of this
variance request. The proposed site development plan does not propose a
large scale parking lot in close proximity to Airport Road that would be
distracting for traffic nor would it detract from the character of the neighboring
development. Landscape screening requirements of the City of Ames for
parking will still be required to be provided for the proposed parking.
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Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
(d) Substantial justice shall be done as a result of granting the variance.
Explain how the request meets this standard.
As evidenced by the attached documentation, neighboring properties
throughout the ISU Research Park have been allowed to provide parking
between buildings and Airport Road. We are requesting a variance to allow
this property, also within the ISU Research Park, to have equal development
opportunity by allowing parking to be provided between the building and
Airport Road. Parking will still be required to be provided with adequate
screening per the City of Ames code.
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Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
Variance
Site Plan Checklist
(For Properties Occupied by a Single-Family or a Two-Family Dwelling)
(This form must be filled out completely before your application will be accepted)
The applicant shall submit a Site Plan, drawn to scale, that clearly shows the Variance
being sought. The Site Plan shall be a reproducible, black line drawing on a sheet of
paper no larger than 11 W7". If the project for which the Variance is sought is a single-
family or a two-family dwelling, or other use exempt from the requirement for a "Site
Development Plan". then the Site Plan shall include, at a minimum, the following
information:
(NOTE: If the proposed project requires approval of a "Major or Minor Site Development Plan",
it should be included with this application for a "Variance", not the Site Plan described on this
checklist.)
❑ Dimensioned property lines
❑ Abutting streets and alleys
❑ Location and size of all existing and proposed buildings and structures (include distances to
all property lines and distances between buildings and structures.)
❑ Required setbacks
❑ Driveways and parking areas, fully-dimensioned
❑ Other pertinent information necessary to fully understand the need for a Variance (e.g.:
significant change in topography, location and size of mature trees, etc.)
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Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
Variance
Permission to Place a "Zoning Action Pending"
Sign on Private Property
(This form must be filled out completely before your application will be accepted)
Section 29.1500(2)(d)(iii) of the Zoning Ordinance, requires that notice shall be posted by the
City on signs posted on the subject property. One sign shall be posted for each public street
frontage. Required signs shall be posted along the perimeter of the subject property in locations
that are highly visible from adjacent public streets not less than seven (7) days prior to the
meeting or hearing, unless otherwise prescribed by statute.
The owner of property at 2900 University Boulevard hereby grants the City of Ames
permission to place "Zoning Action Pending" signs on the property for the purpose of informing
interested persons of the request for action by the City of Ames.
I understand that the signs will be placed on the property several days prior to action on the
request by the Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, or the City
Council, and may remain on the property until the request has been approved or denied by the
City.
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Signed by: `' Date: /O z�
(Property O� ner)
(Note: No other signature may be substituted for the Property Owner's Signature)
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Application Form Last Updated: January 21, 2011
Adjoining Property Owner Statement
(Completion of this form by the applicant is optional)
To Whom It May Concern:
We, the undersigned, own property adjoining 2900 University Blvd, Ames, Iowa.
It is our understanding that Iowa State University Research Park has filed an
appeal with the Zoning Board of Adjustment to allow
parking between a proposed new building and Airport Road.
As adjoining property owners, we would have no objections to the issuance of this building
permit for the purposes stated above.
NAME ADDRESS DATE
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