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PRESENTATION
OF DRAFT ZONING AND SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
CITY OF AMES, IOWA
DECEMBER 11, 1997
On December 11, 1997, Planning and Housing Director Brian O’Connell gave a presentation on
the draft zoning and subdivision regulations in connection with implementation of the City’s
1997 Land Use Policy Plan. The presentation, which was hosted by members of the Ames City
Council, was held in the City Council Chambers, 515 Clark Avenue, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Mr.
O’Connell reviewed the documents entitled, “Process and Meeting Dates,” “Division III: Use
Regulations,” “Presentation Outline - Zoning Regulations,” and “Presentation Outline -
Subdivision Regulations.”
Following the presentation, Mr. O’Connell responded to the following questions from the
audience:
1) Coun. Tedesco referred to Article 7 of the document “Presentation Outline - Zoning
Regulations,” and questioned several references to “two family” under Zone Development
Standards for “RL” Residential Low Density. Mr. O’Connell said he felt that reference was
meant to indicate existing two-family, and there was discussion that this reference should be
clarified in the final document.
2) Leah Mully asked for clarification of the term “stacking lane,” and Mr. O’Connell explained
its reference to the queuing of cars in a drive-through facility.
3) Coun. Wirth referred to Article 7 of the document “Presentation Outline - Zoning
Regulations,” and noted under Zone Development Standards for “RM” Residential Medium
Density, there was a statement that “light trucks” are allowed. She said the terms “light trucks”
vs. “medium-duty trucks” might not be clear, and questioned whether the regulation meant they
would be allowed “on the premises” or “on the street.” Mr. O’Connell said he believed the intent
of the regulation was to apply to private and/or public property, and said he would check into that
as well as clarification of the truck descriptions. City Attorney John Klaus noted the City’s
parking regulations would apply to trucks parked on the street.
4) Coun. Campbell said the draft regulations seem to give much authority to the City Council,
whereas she felt the matrix reviewed by Council at its September 10 worksession on policy
direction for these regulations had granted more authority to Staff. Mr. O’Connell said at that
meeting, it had been his understanding the Council expressed a desire to retain approval authority
in the following zoning districts: Neighborhood Commercial, Planned Regional Commercial,
and High Impact General Industrial and Planned Industrial.
5) Jim Middendorf asked when a geographic designation of the “Urban Core” area would be
prepared, and Mr. O’Connell explained once the regulations were adopted, the work on the Land
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Use Map would take place.
6) Rebecca Shiver asked if there was a time frame for when the Land Use Map would be
prepared, and Mr. O’Connell referred to the document “Process and Meeting Dates,” noting the
Staff had projected the final draft of these regulations to be received from the consultant in mid-
April 1998. He said that was an optimistic timetable, and the map work would not occur until
the text had been approved.
There being no further questions, the presentation ended at 9:15 p.m.