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PLANNING & HOUSING Memo
Department of Planning& Housing
Caring People
Quality Programs
Exceptional Service
TO: Zoning Board of Adjustment
FROM: Department of Planning and Housing
DATE: April 9, 2021
SUBJECT: Background on SUP Applications for 400 and 220 Freel Drive
BACKGROUND:
Salvage Yard(]/]112006 . On January 11,2006 the Zoning Board of Adjustment granted a Special
Use Permit SUP with a time restriction of one year for operation of a salvage Yard. Salvage
materials were to be mostly vehicles brought to the site, drained of all fluids, and then crushed. The
vehicle fluids were to be recycled. A portable crusher was to be used in the operation with a sloped
concrete pad and side walls to collect any vehicle fluids.
A Site Plan,prepared by a licensed surveyor, was submitted with the application. No new buildings were
proposed for the site as a recreational vehicle was planned as a temporary office. A steel fence (6' high)
was planned along the north, south and west property lines, including a gate along Freel Drive. A steel
fence (8' high)was planned along the rear building setback line that runs parallel to the east property line.
Landscaping was to be provided in the 10-foot front yard building setback per the City of Ames `L2"
landscaping requirements required at that time.
Although the proposal was approved for 400 Freel Drive, it was not used as a salvage yard in the
approved one-year period following approval of the Special Use Permit(SUP) by the Zoning Board of
Adjustment. The permit expired.
Salvage Yard(2/14/2007). On February 14,2007 the Zoning Board of Adjustment granted a Special
Use Permit with a time restriction of six months for operation of a salvage yard. The applicant was
requesting a renewal of the previous Special Use Permit(SUP) granted on January 11, 2006. None of the
site improvements that were part of the original approval in 2006 had been constructed. The applicant
had originally planned to use a recreational vehicle on the site as an office. That applicant was no longer
proposing to use a recreational vehicle for an on-site office. Approval of the SUP included the fence and
landscape improvements from the original approval. The Site Plan dated December 2005, from the
original salvage yard application was included with this SUP application as no information about the site
or standards had changed.
Once again, although it was approved, the applicant chose not to proceed with plans to locate a salvage
yard at 400 Freel Drive. The permit expired.
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Yard Waste Collection and Transfer Facility (412612017 . On April 26, 2017 the Zoning Board of
Adjustment granted a Special Use Permit for a yard waste collection and disposal site at 400 Free]
Drive through May 1,2018. Chamness Technology,Inc. had contracted with the City of Ames to collect
and dispose of yard waste for five"Yard Waste Free Days" each year of the three-year contract that began
in 2016 and ended in December 2018. The three-year contract for a yard waste collection site began at
Black's Farm outside Ames (26107 530th Avenue—Known as University Avenue inside Ames corporate
limits). Chamness Technology, Inc. needed a new location to continue their contract with the City for
yard waste collection. The Decision & Order for this Case (#17-07) states: "Chamness Technology, Inc.
has contracted with the City of Ames for the collection and transfer of yard waste. They have been
operating the business outside of the City at 26107 530rh Avenue (Black's Farm) and now seek to establish
the yard waste.operation for one year at 400 Freel Drive while seeking a permanent location. "
The contract for yard waste collection and disposal was later extended an additional two years to
December 2020, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a Special Use Permit that extended
through December 31, 2020.
City of Ames Yard Waste Disposal Contract:
The City's 2021 agreement for the Yard Waste Disposal Site Operation with Chamness Technology,
Inc. dba Green RU, LLC does not require the site to be Iocated at 220/400 Freel Drive. The Scope of
Services in the bid documents merely requires the successful bidder to operate a yard waste disposal site
"in or within two and one-half miles of the city limits." The Scope of Services also states that the
"Contract site must be in compliance with zoning requirements prior to the start of the 2021 No charge
day and must remain in compliance throughout the contract period. Company must also receive site
plan approval from Planning Division." The bid form signed and submitted by Green RU reiterates this
requirement by stating that the proposed site location"will be inspected and must be in compliance with
zoning and site plan requirements."
SAPLAN SHMCouncil Boards CommissionsMANemos\440&220 Freel Dr Appeal of Planning Director Decision.docx
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