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Home My WebLink About~Master - Packet of Communications to Council dated October 24, 2025 City Manager’s Office 515.239.5105 main 515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811 515.239.5142 fax Ames, IA 50010 www.CityofAmes.org MEMO To: Mayor and City Council From: Jeramy Neefus, Principal Clerk, City Manager’s Office Date: October 24, 2025 Subject: Packet of Communications to Council Listed below are the communications to the City Council known to staff as of October 24, 2025: 1. Martin Laird, Ames Resident – October 15, 2025 RE: Request for “No Bicycles” Signs on 6th Street Sidewalks 2. Tim Ashley, Ames Resident – October 23, 2025 RE: Request for Zoning Text Amendment for Stairway Enclosure 3. Kelly Diekmann, Planning and Housing Director – October 24, 2025 RE: JT Logistics Warehouse Landscaping Request Caring People  Quality Programs  Exceptional Service MEMO To: Mayor and City Council From: Kelly Diekmann, Planning & Housing Director Date: October 23, 2025 Subject: JT Logistics Warehouse Landscaping Request City Council recently received a letter (see attached) from the developer of the JT Logistics warehouse that is under construction on E. 13th Street. The letter described their interest in adjustments to landscaping for phasing of front yard landscaping and for a substantial reduction in tree plantings to the rear of the site. City Council referred the letter to staff on October 14th. Staff reached out to a representative of the development group to understand the context of the letter. The issue of phasing landscaping has already been resolved with the recent subdivision of the property into two sites. Landscaping on the vacant lot will not be required with the development of warehouse building on its own separate lot. The second issue in the letter was a request to eliminate 34 overstory trees at the rear of the site that were required in relation to their parking and maneuvering area landscaping requirements. Staff understands that the developer made the request with the belief that the City is undertaking a landscape ordinance revision and that their site could have any approved ordinance changes applied to it. However, staff indicated that no landscaping ordinance changes to planting requirements had been initiated by the Council at this time and the parking lot trees were part of the current required landscaping. Staff did reassess the approved site plan and the grading for the site, which includes some severe slopes related to stormwater detention in the southwest corner. Staff believes that if there are slope stability issues that some of the trees could be reduced in that area as part of the 20% alternative design process without any ordinance changes by Council. However, most of the trees in the rear of the site are in relatively large and stable planting areas that can accommodate the typical overstory tree planting requirements of the City’s ordinance and would not justify full reduction of all trees in that area. LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE REVISIONS: City Council has not directed any specific ordinance amendments related to overall landscaping planting requirements for either front yard landscaping or parking lot tree requirement. Staff indicated in April 2025 that based upon some developer feedback, some changes to the landscape standards would be included with the overall Zoning Ordinance rewrite, which has not yet begun. Staff has received feedback in some cases that overall quantities of plantings exceed developer’s expectations. They also dislike the tree dispersion requirements throughout parking lots. No specifics were discussed in April about changes and no separate update was directed by Council at that time. Staff brought up the issue in April thinking a wholesale rewrite of the 2017 landscaping standards was not needed as they have generally been successful in improving the appearance of the community, but that some reduction in planting ratios for front yards could be accommodated. However, generally staff believes the separate parking lot tree requirement, does not need an adjustment in planting ratios and believes it is one of the more valuable landscape standards as the overstory tree requirement best implements sustainability goals related to site design. OPTIONS: The JT Logistics request is focused on a substantial reduction of parking lot tree requirements, which was not an issue that staff had previously considered for a major change. With the Zoning Ordinance rewrite, some changes would occur to landscaping standards. These future changes have not yet been defined. The rewrite has not yet begun and is expected to take 18- 24 months to complete in its entirety. This timing would not benefit any project under construction in 2025 or 2026. Option 1-Interim Text Amendment Front Yard and Parking Lot Landscaping City Council could direct staff to propose some minor changes to landscaping requirements for front yards and parking lot trees as an interim adjustment to landscaping requirements while awaiting a Zoning Ordinance rewrite. This process would take three months to complete. This may partially reduce landscape requirements as applied to JT warehouse site as part of citywide zoning standards change. Option 2-Interim Text Amendment Front Yard Landscaping Only City Council could direct staff to propose some minor changes to landscaping requirements for front yards as originally contemplated by staff in April. These would be an interim adjustment to landscaping requirements while awaiting a Zoning Ordinance rewrite. This process would take three months to complete as a focused reduction in planting ratios. This process would not change JT’s rear planting requirements, but could reduce the front yard landscaping. Option 3-No Change At This Time If Council is generally satisfied with the City’s standards no changes are required to zoning. The developer will be able to make some minor changes under the Alternative Design process, but will retain a significant number of trees on the site. Changes to landscaping standards would be addressed with the rewrite and reviewed comprehensively at that time. STAFF COMMENTS: Staff believes a small, targeted change to planting ratios could be addressed now if desired by the Council. However, a substantial change to the ordinance would be time consuming and not warranted outside of rewrite process. If a targeted change was initiated, staff would continue to recommend our parking lot tree plantings as a valuable standard for the community, and that it should not be reduced substantially. 1 Hall, Renee From:Hall, Renee Sent:Thursday, September 25, 2025 8:28 AM To:Hall, Renee Subject:FW: JT Logistics - Ames Construction Project Attachments:JT Logistics - Ames Construction Project.pdf From: Minerva Cord <minerva.cord@jtlogistics.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 3:08 PM To: Haila, John <john.haila@cityofames.org>; City Council and Mayor <mayorcouncil@amescitycouncil.org> Cc: Jamie Cord <jamie@jtlogistics.com> Subject: JT Logistics - Ames Construction Project [External Email] Dear Mayor Haila, I wanted to extend my sincere thanks for attending the groundbreaking event for JT Logistics. Your support and presence meant a lot to our team, and it was fantastic to share this special moment with you. We are very excited about the future of this project and the great opportunity to work closely with the City of Ames. We greatly value our partnership and look forward to strengthening our relationship as we move forward. Dear City Council Members, I have attached a letter for your review and consideration. Please feel free to share any feedback or suggestions you might have. We're always eager to hear your thoughts and make any necessary improvements. Thanks once again for your support and for being such an important part of this journey with us. Best regards, Minerva Cord 2 Minerva Cord Chief Innovation Officer 3811 Dixon St Des Moines, IA 50313 Mobile: (515) 339-5658 minerva.cord@jtlogistics.com www.jtlogistics.com