HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - SUP- Rock Climbing WallFILED JUL 2 5 203
CITY OF AMES, IOWA
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
IN THE MATTER OF THE
APPLICATION OF BLUESTEM CASE NO. 24-06
BOULDERS LLC, FOR A SPECIAL USE
PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR A ROCK- PARCEL ID: 09-02-476-040
CLIMBING FACILITY WITHIN THE
GENERAL INDUSTRIAL (GI) ZONING
DISTRICT AS PROVIDED BY AMES DECISION & ORDER
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION §29.501(4)-7
FOR THE PROPERTY AT
525 E. 2ND STREET
FACTS
This application came before the Board by Brian Doscher and Keith Rosenliao of Bluestem
Boulders LLC, requesting a Special Use Permit to allow for a Rock -Climbing Facility to be leased
in one of the warehouse buildings located on the property at 525 E. 2°6 Street.
City Planner, Eloise Sahlstrom, presented the Staff Report, and she stated the property is a 5-acre
parcel, which is located at the northeast corner of Borne Avenue and E. 2nd Street. It is zoned
General Industrial (GI). Mum Wil LLC owns the property, and. Bluestem Boulders LLC, seeks to
lease one of the warehouse buildings (approximately 8, 200 sq. ft.) for a Rock -Climbing Facility.
A zoning text amendment was recently adopted allowing a Rock -Climbing Facility to locate with
the General Industrial (GI) zoning district through the Special Use Permit process. All activity of
the business will occur on the interior of the building. The Applicants expect maximum capacity
to be 60-80 people. Regular gym operations would be staffed with 1-2 employees. In addition to
regular operations, camps would have 3-4 employees with 22 kids at one time. The facility will
have limited hours in the beginning and the Applicant's expectations are that its busiest hours for
climbing will not coincide with busy times for the businesses in the GI Zone.
A minimum of 17 parking spaces are required for use of the 8,200 sq. ft. building. The parking
calculation for the facility is based on the parking ratio of 2 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. that applies to
Sports Practice Facilities. A total of 23 spaces with this new use will be provided increasing the
total number of paved parking spaces on the property from 33 to 50, including the four accessible
spaces.
Applicant, Brian Doscher, testified that he and his business partner are experienced operators in
the climbing industry, and he believes that there is a need for this type of facility in the City of
Ames.
FINDINGS AND DECISION
The Board considered the facts as detailed above and provided in the Staff Report, the testimony
presented at the hearing, and adopted the Faclual Findings anti Conclusions in the Staff Report
and found that the project met the criteria consistent with zoning standards as established by the
Applicant under §29.501(4)-7 of the Ames City Municipal Code,
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the Special Use Permit to allow for use of an 8,200 sq.
ft. Rock -Climbing Facility located at 525 E. 2 nd Street be GRANTED.
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record may do so within thirty (30) days
after the filing of this decision.
Dated this 12"' day of June 2024.
01
-e"e' �-"-7
N4talle Rekemeycr
Recording Secretary
Chad Schneider
Chair