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RECEIVED Application Form Last Updated: March 25, 2013
APR 0 9 2014 t4
CITY OFAMES,IOWA Variance
DEPT.OF PLANNING&MOUSING Application Form
(This form must be completely filled out before the application will be accepted)
1. Property Address for this Variance Application: 721 Douglas, Ames, IA
2. Legal Description (attach if lengthy):_North 40', East 140' of Lot 9, Block 2,
Blair's First Addition, Ames, IA
3. / (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: Construction of a three car garage with garage
front set 1 V-0" from side yard property line.
4. The Zoning Permit was refused because: _Minimum setback distances do not work _
for a building lot this narrow
5. Property Owner: Doug & Chrissy Snider
Business:
Address: 721 Douglas, Ames, IA
(Street) (City) (State) (Zip)
Telephone: 559-759-5407 515-294-1950
(Home) (Business) (Fax)
6. Applicant: Doug & Chrissy Snider
Business:
Address: 721 Douglas, Ames, IA
(Street) (City) (State) (Zip)
Telephone: 559-759-5407 515-294-1950
(Home) (Business) (Fax)
7. Contact Person: John Lott
Business: Benjamin Design Collaborative
Address: 401 Clark Ave., Suite 200, Ames, IA 50010
(Street) (City) (State) (Zip)
Telephone: 515-232-0888
(Home) (Business) (Fax)
E-mail address: john@benjamin-design.com
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Application Form Last Updated: March 25, 2013
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 in formation is factual.
Signed by Date: aO
Property Owner(s)
(Note: No other signature may be substituted for the Property Owner's Signature.)
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Application Form Last Updated: March 25, 2013
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 public interest is enhanced when a homeowner can
effectively store their vehicles in a garage and not park on
the street. This Variance will allow the construction of a
garage, in a style similar to other garages in the area. Not
granting this variance would cause the homeowner to park
their vehicles either on the street or in their back yard,
exposed to the elements.
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Application Form Last Updated: March 25, 2013
(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.
—The existing property was purchased with an existing garage set -
-close to the south side property line, with the garage fron set at
20'-0" from the north side property line. This provides less than
19'-0" of clearance inside the garage, which is smaller than the
—current standard. The homeowner purchased the grope y with -
-the intention of replacing the garage with one sized to ho ise their
_vehicles, which are sized to current standards. With this mall _
site a garage can only effectively face one direction, and I he
—standards written assumed a lot size wider than 40'-0".
(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.
The average lot width in the neighborhood is 60'-0" wide. This
current lot at 40'-0" wide is the only residential lot in the area
with this limitation.
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Application Form Last Updated: March 25, 2013
(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.
—The use of this variance will allow construction of a garage to
place the homeowner's vehicles. The homes in this existing
neighborhood predominantly have separate garages, many of
—them constructed with storage above the parked vehicles,.
—Granting this variance will allow this property to appear very
similar to others in the neighborhood.
(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 Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Policy Plan intend for this
property to be residential use, with the ability to house a primary
structure and accessory structures, presumably a garage. Due
to the width limitation of the site, constructing a properly si ed
garage is not possible. The spirit of the ordinance is in favor for
homeowners to place their vehicles in garages. The spirit is
observed in this case.
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Application Form Last Updated: March 25, 2013
(d) Substantial justice shall be done as a result of granting the varian 'e.
Explain how the request meets this standard.
—Granting this variance will allow this property to be used in a similar
manner as all the surrounding properties in the neighborhood. The
neighborhood, designated as a local Historic District, will be
—enhanced with the increase of this property's usefulness up to the
—level of other properties along the street. This area of the community
_was developed long before the zoning standards were enacted It
was not the intent of the writer's of the zoning ordinance to place
—undue limitations on this property that do not exist on any other
—property in the neighborhood. It is assumed that the writer's intent
—was for all similar properties appreciate in value along similar lilies,
without restrictions being unilaterally placed on individual properties.
That intent (justice) is what we are asking for in this case.
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Application Form Last Updated: March 25, 2013
Adjoining Property Owner Statement
(Completion of this form by the applicant is optional)
To Whom It May Concern:
We, the undersigned, own property adjoining 721 Douglas Avenue Ames, Iowa.
It is our understanding that Doug & Chrissy Snider has filed an
appeal with the Zoning Board of Adjustment to allow
Construction of a three stall garage, starting 11'-0" from the north property line.
As adjoining property owners, we would have no objections to the issuance of this tuilding
permit for the purposes stated above.
NA/M�E ADDRESS DATE:
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Application Form Last Updated: March 25, 2013
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"x17". 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: March 25, 2013
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 osted 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 721 Douglas Avenue 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.
Signed by: n 164 / Date: � Z7 2 O/!/
Proper Owner
tJkI Ir
Print N me
(Note: No other signature may be substituted for the Property Owner's ignature.)
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