HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Use Permit with Site Plan for a new off-street parking lot at 502 & 512 Douglas AvenueCITY OF AMES, IOWA
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IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF JOE REIMERS, ON BEHALF OF
SODERSTRUM REIMERS, INC. AND
SRFH INVESTMENTS, LC., FOR A
SPECIAL USE PERMIT, SECTION 29.1503
OF THE AMES MUNICIPAL CODE, FOR
AN INSTITUTIONAL USE AND TO
ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF A
PARKING LOT AND HANDICAP RAMP
AT 502 AND 512 DOUGLAS AVENUE
FACTS
CASE NO. 17-17
Lf2017
OCT
CITY CLERK
n WA
GEOCODE NO.09-02-377-080 & 09-02-377-090
Adams Funeral Home is located upon the property at 502 Douglas Avenue and the adjacent
vacant property at 512 Douglas Avenue. These properties are under common ownership. The
funeral home intends to construct a handicap entrance to the building and build a 20 car parking
lot on the portion of the site that is currently vacant.
This application for a special use permit is to allow the institutional (funeral home) use on the
site, as required by Ames Municipal Code section 29.808(2). The use of the site for a funeral
home is currently considered non -conforming because a Special Use Permit had not previously
been approved for the site. Additionally, the site and accessory parking lot will not comply with
the minimum 1.0 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and resulting two story building height requirement set
forth in Ames Municipal Code section 29.808(3); however, a special use permit also allows for
consideration of a departure from the FAR requirement.
The proposed parking lot is a single aisle lot with angled parking on both sides for a total of 20
parking spaces with vehicles accessing the parking lot from the north/south alley to the east of
the site. The 20 parking spaces consist of 15 standard stalls, four compact spaces and one
handicap accessible space. Vehicles exit the site by way of the existing driveway for Adams
Funeral Home to Douglas Avenue. The proposed circulation meets the City's interest of not
allowing for new curb cuts along Douglas Avenue that would disrupt the newly constructed
street and remove on -street parking.
Scott Williams of Fox Engineering testified as a representative of Joe Reimers, the applicant.
The applicant has combined the two lots by Plat of Survey, but it has not yet been approved by
the City Council. He explained that the layout of the parking lot was a compromise, and ideally
they did not want angled parking. Signage will help to direct traffic.
City Planner Charlie Kuester reviewed the site plan, project description, applicable law and
Findings of Fact and Conclusions. He said the current use of the site has a long standing presence
as a funeral home, is a historic property, and the parking lot is accessory to the use of the
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property as an institutional use and helps support the function of the funeral home. The proposed
parking meets the design standards of the Zoning Ordinance, including the dimensional
standards and landscaping. The new parking lot will likely reduce demand on abutting street
parking resources. Staff determined that the application met all of the requirements for a special
use permit as set forth in Ames Municipal Code section 29.1503. Consequently, the Planning
Department recommended approval of the special use permit provided that the City Council
approves the combination of the two lots by Plat of Survey.
DECISION The Board considered the facts as detailed above and provided in the staff report,
and found that all of the relevant standards in Section 29.1503 were met and the requested
Special Use Permit shall be granted with the condition that construction of the parking lot as part
of the Special Use Permit is conditioned upon approval of a Plat of Survey by the City Council
combining 502 and 512 Douglas Avenue into a single parcel.
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is GRANTED, pursuant to Ames
Municipal Code Section 29.1503 of the Ames Municipal Code, a Special Use Permit for an
institutional use as a funeral home and to allow construction of a parking lot and handicap ramp
at 502 and 512 Douglas Avenue with the condition that construction of the parking lot as part of
the Special Use Permit is conditioned upon approval of a Plat of Survey by the City Council
combining the two parcels into a single legal parcel.
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 271h day of September, 2017.
�--Ajak Pytcrcstn'
Heidi Petersen
Secretary to the Board