HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated December 10, 2024ITEM #:29
DATE:12-10-24
DEPT:P&H
SUBJECT:EXTENSION OF SIDEWALK INSTALLATION DEFERRAL FOR 4004 AND
4008 COCHRANE PARKWAY
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
At the November 26, 2024, meeting, City Council referred a request to extend a previously granted
sidewalk installation deferral for 4004 and 4008 Cochrane Parkway to a future agenda.
The deferral, originally granted on November 14, 2023, was part of the approval of a Boundary Line
Adjustment merging the two lots at 4004 and 4008 Cochrane Parkway. The lot at 4008 contains a
dwelling and sidewalk and the lot at 4004 is vacant and unimproved (see map in Attachment A). The
lots were merged by the owner to allow for construction of a pool in the rear yard.
Ames Municipal Code Chapter 23 Subdivisions requires the extension of a sidewalk when only partial
frontage improvements exist prior to approval of a Boundary Line Adjustment. As an alternative to
constructing an improvement prior to platting, deferral can be requested to postpone the
sidewalk installation until after approval of a plat.
In conjunction with the Boundary Line Adjustment, the owner of the lots requested a deferral of
sidewalk installation to coincide with the planned construction of the pool. Council applied a
condition to the deferral's approval that the sidewalk installation would be completed within 13
months of the Planning Director's approval of the plat (by December 28, 2024). Cash security
covering the estimated cost of the sidewalk installation was also provided in the amount of $3,073. The
applicant does not propose to modify the cash security that was provided with the original deferral.
As the owners of 4004 and 4008 Cochrane Parkway indicated in their November 21, 2024, email to
City Council (see Attachment B), the pool's construction was delayed but has now been completed. The
planned landscaping is not yet completed. The landscaping requires the use of heavy equipment, which
the owners indicate could damage a sidewalk if installed. The owners requested an additional nine-
month deferral of the sidewalk installation, until August 28, 2025. The owners indicate that they
expect the planting and sidewalk installation to be completed well before that time. However, if
the extension were granted, in total the deferral would be permitted for 22 months from the plat's
approval. Alternatively, if Council wished to grant a minor extension to allow planting to be
completed once winter conditions cease, with the sidewalk installation occurring shortly
thereafter, it could approve a lesser extension until May 31, 2025.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the deferral of sidewalk improvements along the frontage of 4004 Cochrane Parkway
until August 28, 2025, as requested by the applicant.
2. Approve the deferral of sidewalk improvements along the frontage of 4004 Cochrane Parkway
until May 31, 2025.
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3. Deny the extension of the deferral of sidewalk improvements along the frontage of 4004
Cochrane Parkway and require the sidewalk installation by December 28, 2024, as originally
approved.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The City has financial security covering the estimated cost of the sidewalk extension at 4004 Cochrane
Parkway. The sidewalk could be installed at any time consistent with the original deferral. Staff notes
that most landscaping needs to be installed in the early spring to avoid the summer heat and to have a
full growing season to establish before winter. If City Council preferred to afford the applicant time to
complete the landscaping and then install the sidewalk shortly thereafter, then a deferral until May 31
would be appropriate. If the Council wished to provide the applicant with the greatest flexibility to
complete the pool project landscaping, the Council could grant the applicant's request to defer the
sidewalk installation by nine months, to August 28.
The owners indicate that they anticipate the landscaping and sidewalk installation to be completed well
before August 28. Assuming the owners remain diligent about completing the project this spring, it is,
therefore the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative #1, extending
the sidewalk deferral to the date requested by the applicant, as described above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
ATTACHMENT A LOCATION MAP.pdf
ATTACHMENT B EXTENSION REQUEST.pdf
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ATTACHMENT A
LOCATION MAP
Location Map
4004 and 4008 Cochrane
Parkway
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Schoeneman, Amelia
From:Amy Schmidt <amys@ortho2.com>
Sent:Thursday, November 21, 2024 1:53 PM
To:City Council and Mayor
Cc:Schoeneman, Amelia; Corey Schmidt
Subject:Extension request on sidewalk installation at 4008 Cochrane Pkwy
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
[External Email]
Hello. Corey Schmidt and I are formally requesting an extension on the installation of the sidewalk at 4008
Cochrane Pkwy. City Council approved a request a year ago (November 28, 2023) to combine lots 4004 and 4008
Cochrane Pkwy and at that time a condition was to have the sidewalk implemented within 13 months. Due to
unforeseen circumstances including construction delays and weather, we are not quite finished with landscaping
work that, at times, requires heavier equipment. While we want to complete this sidewalk work as quickly as
possible, we understand it may be damaged by this equipment if implemented too soon. We would request a 9
month extension (August 28, 2025) to be safe, though anticipate having the sidewalk in place well before this time.
Thank you for your time.
Amy
Amy Schmidt (she/her)
President
phone: 800.678.4602
web: ortho2.com
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