HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Use Permit to add additional parking at 2400 Bloomington RoadCITY OF AMES, IOWA
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUST
IN THE MATTER OF THE
APPLICATION OF ASCENSION
LUTHERAN CHURCH FOR A
SPECIAL USE PERMIT, SECTION
29.1503, AMES MUNICIPAL CODE,
TO ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING
ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
2400 BLOOMINGTON ROAD
FACTS
CASE NO. 12-10
L L
JUN 2 9 2012
CITY CLERK ..
GEOCODE NO. 05-28-425-020
Ascension Lutheran Church received a Special Use Permit from this Board in 2010 in order to
break ground and build a new 12,000 square foot church on the seven acre site at this address in
furtherance of their plan to relocate from the site on 7th Street which had long been their home.
Once that permit was granted, the construction commenced and has continued to completion of
the new facility and occupancy by the membership earlier this year. After the members began
using the new church site, it very soon became apparent that the number in attendance of
services at the new church routinely exceeded the available on -site parking. The church would
like to meet the need for more on -site parking by getting approval to amend the Special Use
permit's site plan approved in 2010. The church has submitted a new site plan showing a
parking lot expansion containing 30 new spaces located generally to the north of the existing
parking lot. With this proposed expansion, the end of the parking lot will be about 20' from the
north property line. The entire lot will be landscaped in a manner that meets the zoning
ordinance and which is consistent with the existing landscape plan. As part of the approval of
the current Special Use permit, the Board had included temporary conditions which required
completion of several elements of the site plan and those final details were still being
determined. There were also conditions which would be permanent and ongoing. For the
temporary conditions, staff explained that those site details have been substantially completed,
but this new proposed site plan will also have details that are temporarily incomplete. The staff
explained that ordinarily occupancy will be withheld until all site conditions have been finished,
as it has been found that withholding use of the building until completion of the exterior features
generally is sufficient incentive towards the completion of the exterior features. However, in this
instance, the building is already being occupied. In order to provide a means to assure
completion of the exterior site features, staff is recommending that some manner of financial
security be provided by the church. Since the unfinished site features are primarily landscaping
and the time of year is appropriate for installation of landscaping, the need to post security
should not be long term.
DECISION
The Board considers the standards applicable to requests for Special Use permits under the
provisions of the zoning ordinance. In this case, the Board finds that the additional parking will
create a site even more harmonious with the surrounding uses than presently exists as it will
mitigate parking on the nearby residential streets that happens during services or other large
church events. The parking lot will be landscaped to soften and screen its appearance, and the
other conditions attached to the original permit to mitigate impacts to the neighborhood will be
retained. In light of these facts, the Board determines that this permit can be revised to allow for
additional parking.
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is Granted a Special Use Permit, Section
29.1503 of the Ames Municipal Code, to amend the Special Use permit for construction of a
religious institution granted on December 8, 2010, Case No. 10-18, by enlargement of the
parking lot by an additional 30 spaces, with the following stipulations:
1. That no on -site signage shall be installed west of the driveway;
2. That no electronic signs, such as LED (light emitting diode) displays, shall be
permitted;
3. The scope of operations is limited to worship activities;
4. A flat lens shall be required for on -site lighting fixtures; and
5. The owner shall submit a cost estimate for the remaining landscaping and screening
and submit a financial instrument acceptable to the City for that cost, which the City
will draw upon in the event that the landscaping and screening is not completed by
September 15, 2012,
all for the property located at 2400 Bloomington Road.
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 23ra day of May, 2012.
A
��%/MAE,,.1�I
iwrie'
Board