HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Home Occupation Permit to operate a snake breeding & sales business at 4630 Twain StreetCITY OF AMES, IOWA
ZONING' BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
IN TIIE MATTER OFTHEAPPLICATION
OF KYLE THOMPSON FOR A SPECIAL
110MEO(""CUPATION PERMIT,
§ 29.1304(3), AMES MUNICIPAL CODE, To
OPERATE A SNAKE' BREEDING & SALES
BUSINESS ONTHEPROPER' Y LOCATED
A,r 4630 TWAIN STREET
FACTS
CASE NO. 15-16
N OV 1 3 2 015
CITY OF AVF-S, IOWA
G'E'OCODE NO. 09-07-425-040
DECISION & ORDEIR
Applicant Kyle 'I'lionipson is seeking a Special 11011-IC OCCLIpati011 Perrint, to allow for a snake
breeding, and sales bUSiflCSS at his home at 4630Twain Street. Tlic home is rental and is zoned
F-PRD (Planned Residence District). The owner ol'the property is in support ol'the application.
Mr. Thompson previously applied for a. Special I forne Occupation Permit in JUly 2014, but was
denied, and lie now reapplies.
Mr. Thompson currently has about 44 snakes in the basement, of his three bedroom residence.
None ol'the snakes are VC110111OUs. All are pythons and boas, 15 of'which are more than six feet
long and, therefore, are registered with the (.-'Ity's Animal Control. Tlicir food SOLII-CC Is rodents,
which are shipped to the residence frozen and kept ill a freezer until needed. Delivery ot'the
rodents occurs approximately once per month. The applicant sells the snakes mostly through the
Internet, and ships the snakes to the purchaser. He also sells snakes at reptile expositions.
The applicant has worked with Ames Aninial ('ontrol to ensure compliance with the "D,111Z-
0CMLIS
Wild Animals- section of" the Ames Municipal (.,,'Ode, Chapter '). DIVIS101-1 11, il'ICILIding,
Section 3.30 1 (4), and is currently in conipliance.
Stafftestified that it believes Mr. Thompson's application meets the requirements (.)I' Allies
Municipal (.'ode section 29.1304(3), and recommends approval. MCrnbCrS 01'tllC public testified
both in favor of, and in opposition to, the application. Veterinary SILI(ICIIIS with all exotic -
animals club 1rom Iowa State University testified in support ot'the Application. Landlords who
own property near the subject property noted they had lost tenants because of the snakes.
Several written corrimUniCations noting opposition were received from neighbors. (.)lie other
reptile owner/breeder, also an Ames resident, testified in I'lavor ol'the application, Mr. Thompson
testified that tie has required permits from the I, 1S t)ept. of' Agriculture, and the Iowa Department
of'Agriculture. The business is conducted over the Internet and at expositions %vitli 110 CLIStomers
on the premises. The activity at this location will consist of snake/reptile breeding which will
not reqLlll'e any revisions to the ]ionic. The proposed use will be COIRILICtCd in the basement of
the home. Two Hundred forty square feet of' the house will be used, out of a total area of the
110LISC of 1,696 square I'm (14(Xo), which meets the maximum (25%) code area permitted lor as
Special lion -le occupation. No mechanical equipment is used. No exterior sign is proposed.
There are no employees. There will be a ITIaXiIIII-1111 of one to two visits per week to the liorric; a
mix 01' customers and delivery vehicles. Likely average will be one or two visits per month.
Deliveries to tile home will be seldom. There Lire no other home occupations at this location.
Staff recommended conditions on approval, as allowed Under section 29.1304(2)(b). The
conditions were: a) The permit will he 1`6r the period of' one year rind the ZonHig Board of'
AdJUStIllent must approve a new permit in order fir the home occupation to continue beyond that
period; b) No more than eight breeding pairs of'snakes shall be used, lor the business; c) No other
reptiles are bred or sold. Mr. Thompson indicated he would accept those conditions. Ttie Board
Lidded another condition, d) that the applicant MUSt maintain all active licenses and permits.
DECISION
The Board considers the requirements of Ames Municipal. Code section 29.1403(3). and the facts
as described above, and approves the applicant's Special home Occupation permit with the
following conditions: a) J'he permit will be for the period of one year and the Zoning Board of
Adjustment must ij,)prove a new permit in order lor the home occupation to coritMUC beyond that
period; b) No more than eight breeding pairs of'snakes shall be used for the bUSiFICSS, c) No other
reptiles are bred or sold; and, d) The applicant must maintain all active licenses and perrnits.
ORDER
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is GRANTFI), section 29.1403(31) of' the
Ames Municipal Code, a Special Horne Occupation Permit J`Or a snake breeding/sales business
on the property located at 4630 Twain Street, subject to the conditions noted above.
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a COUrt of' record may do so within 30 (.lays after
the filing of this decision.
Done this 28t" day ol'Oetober, 2015.
Erin Cain
Secretary to the Board