Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Use Permit to allow a building addition and additional parking spaces on the property located at 3505 S. Duff AvenueCITY OF AMES, IOWA ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTME IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF AMES FOR A. SPECIAL USE PERMIT, § 29.15031 AMES MUNICIPAL CODE, TO EXPANSION OF THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3505 SOUTH DUFF AVENUE. FACTS CASE NO.17-03 U L C JUL 2 6 2017 r CITY CLERK CITY OF AMES, IOWA GEOCODE NO. 09-23-125-050 DECISION & ORDER The United Pentecostal Church. of Ames proposes to expand its church located at 3505 South Duff Avenue, Ames, Iowa. The existing church building is 4,127 square feet, and the addition proposed would add 2,024 square feet to the building and 30 more parking stalls. As partof the proposed renovation, the existing steeple on the church is being removed and a new steeple will be installed. The church property is zoned Highway -Oriented Commercial ("HOC") and is located on a 131,975 square foot lot situated amid residentially and agriculturally zoned property on three sides ranging from low to high density residential. Government/Airport District zoning also exists west of the subject site for the Ames Municipal Airport. Applicant brought this matter before the Board of Adjustment pursuant to the provisions of Ames Municipal Code §29.804(2), which require that a Religious Institution obtain a Special Use Permit issued by the Zoning Board of Adjustment for an expansion of an existing use. The proposed renovation includes accessible parking stalls and striped accessible loading areas with a designated walkway to the immediate north and east of the building as well as to the rear of the building to provide ADA access. The parking plan includes three required ADA parking stalls. The HOC base zoning of the subject property requires L3 (high screen) landscaping along the north side of the property to screen the area where new parking stalls are being constructed. The L1 standard screening is provided for the area between the parking lot and South Duff Avenue. The property owner also proposes new landscaping, not otherwise required by City landscaping standards, along the north and south sides of the existing parking in the front of the church: The proposed additional landscaping provides four additional trees in excess of the existing requirements. Additionally, two existing columnar evergreen trees are being retained in the front between the newly proposed parking lot and South Duff Avenue just to the north of the drive aisle. There is a neighboring' lot adjacent to the rear of the site that uses the church parking lot to access the property. The property owner is working to secure an easement to allow the neighboring lot owner legal access, and the staff recommended that the easement is secured prior to the issuance of a building permit. The Board considered the Staff report and several exhibits attached to the report (Attachments A- F). At hearing, City staff reported that the expansion is not expected to dramatically increase traffic to the area, as only 30 additional parking stalls are being added and the church sanctuary space will not be enlarged by the expansion. City staff further reported that the Church has been in existence since 1977 and is well integrated into the surrounding neighborhood. Notice was provided to the public and no comments were reported to the Board at the time of hearing. DECISION The Board considered the facts as detailed above and provided in the staff report, and the relevant standards in Section 29.1503 and finds that the application meets these standards and that the requested Special Use Permit shall be granted with the following conditions, which must be satisfied prior to the issuance of a building permit: (1) that the steeple as proposed for the new addition comply with the standards set forth in Section 29.401(4)(b); and (2) that an access easement to the abutting property to the south with access via the United Pentecostal Church of Ames property be secured and recorded with the Story County Recorder. ORDER WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant, United Pentecostal Church of Ames, is granted a Special Use Permit for the construction of a building addition and additional parking stalls, as reported to the Board, for the property located at 3505 South Duff Avenue, subject to the following conditions, which shall be satisfied prior to the issuance of a building permit: (1) that the steeple as proposed for the new addition comply with the standards set forth in Section 29.401(4)(b); and (2) that an access easement to the abutting property to the south with access via the United Pentecostal Church of Ames property be secured and recorded with the Story County Recorder. 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 28th day of June, 2017. W-b& 1 J� LLB S Heidi Petersen Secretary to the Board