HomeMy WebLinkAboutA025 - October 28, 2025, Regular Meeting of the Ames City CouncilITEM #:28
DATE:10-28-25
DEPT:P&H
SUBJECT:TEXT AMENDMENT TO MATERIAL STANDARDS FOR OFF-STREET
PARKING AREAS AND DRIVEWAYS FOR AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT IN
THE RESEARCH PARK INNOVATION DISTRICT ZONE
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
At the August 26 meeting, City Council authorized the Iowa State University Research Park
(ISURP) to apply for a text amendment to introduce an exception to paving requirements
within the Research Park Innovation District (RI) Zone. A map showing the extent of the RI
Zone is attached.
The City's current standards require that all vehicle parking and maneuvering areas be paved
per the City’s Improvement Standards for Off-Street Parking Areas and Driveways (see
attached).
The requested paving exception is for parking and maneuvering areas that serve
agricultural equipment in addition to other vehicles. For example, agricultural equipment
may be stored on a site and maneuvered between buildings to a test track area and/or
adjoining fields for testing. These areas may also be used by other vehicles and would
otherwise be required to be paved. ISURP indicated that due to the large amount of
maneuvering area on sites that involve agricultural equipment testing, there would be
substantial cost savings between concrete and rock surface.
TEXT AMENDMENT:
The proposed amendment would modify the RI District Development Standards to
introduce a paving exception approved by the Planning Director for areas used for
agricultural equipment. Other heavy equipment uses would not be eligible. If an
exemption were granted, the site access and parking would still be required to be
paved.
The proposed new standard would also require that:
Unpaved areas are located behind principal buildings
Unpaved areas are accessory to a principal use on the site (e.g., equipment testing
areas for Research and Development Facilities and Laboratories); standalone areas
would not be permitted
The Municipal Engineer approves the surface material (e.g., rock depth)
Current requirements for landscaping related to loading areas apply (landscaping of an
area equivalent to 10% of the loading area and adjacent to the loading area). The
Planning Director may require additional screening or buffering.
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The full text of the proposed amendment is attached.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the proposed amendment at its October 1,
2025, meeting. The Commission asked if a setback had been considered for gravel areas.
Staff noted that the paving exception only applies to areas behind principal buildings and as
an accessory use negated the need for a setback. Parking areas between buildings and the
street would be required to be paved and meet current landscaping requirements. A gravel lot
would not be permitted without a building on the site.
No members of the public spoke at the meeting. The Commission voted (5-0) to recommend
the City Council approve the paving exception as recommended by the City staff.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the first reading of an ordinance amending paving requirements to introduce an
exception in the RI Zone for agricultural equipment, subject to approval by the Planning
Director.
2. Approve the first reading of an ordinance with modified language.
3. Do not approve the proposed text amendment.
4. Request additional information from staff.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The proposed ordinance maintains the design and landscaping requirements of RI and
is designed to only allow a paving exception in low visibility areas and as an accessory
use to a principal building. Standalone unpaved storage areas would not be allowed to
ensure that the land is efficiently used for the intended office and R&D uses and not as
low intensity site improvements for general industrial storage type uses.
These standards ensure allowing for larger nonpaved areas are not counter to the
original intent of RI zoning to facilitate higher quality site design for research and
development, office, and small manufacturing uses rather than lower intensity
industrial uses.
The authorized amendment is the narrowest option for a paving exception that was
presented to City Council when it authorized the amendment. It only applies to one
zoning district, RI, and to agricultural equipment. Other industrial uses relying on heavy
trucks or other equipment, or in other zones, would not be eligible. Therefore, it is the
recommendation of the City Manager to adopt Alternative No. 1.
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ATTACHMENT(S):
RI Zone Map.pdf
Zoning Current Paving Standard.pdf
Ordinance (Surface Material Standards).PDF
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RI Zone Map
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Legend
PARCELS
Ames Corporate Limits
Agriculture
Agricultural Zone "A" (sec
29.600)
Residential
Residential Low Density Zone
"RL" (sec 29.701)
Residential High Density Zone
"RH" (sec 29.704)
Industrial
Planned Industrial Zone "PI"
(sec 29.902)
Research Park Innovation
District "RI" (sec 29.903)
Special Purpose
Government/Airport District
"S-GA" (sec 29.1002)
Floating Zones
Suburban Residential Zone
Residential Low Density ''FS-
RL'' (sec 29.1202(4)-1)
Suburban Residential Zone
Residential Medium Density
''FS-RM'' (sec 29.1202(4)-2)
Planned Residence District
''F-PRD'' (sec 29.1203)4
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Existing Paving Requirement
Sec. 29.406. OFF-STREET PARKING.
(11) Improvements of Off-Street Parking Areas and Driveways.
(a) Surface Material Standards.
(i) Materials. All vehicular parking and maneuvering areas, including
driveways, and front yard parking areas described in Section
29.406(7), must be paved with Portland Cement Concrete, Asphaltic
Cement Concrete, or an equivalent as determined by the City
Engineer.
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ORDINANCE NO. ___________
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF
THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY AMENDING TABLE 29.903(3)
THEREOF, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING
REQUIREMENTS OF SURFACE MATERIAL STANARDS IN
RESEARCH PARK INNOVATION DISTRICT (RI) ZONE
REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF
ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH
CONFLICT; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED, by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa, that:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby
amended by amending Table 29.903(3) as follows:
Table 29.903(3)
Development Standards
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS RI ZONE
* * *
Surface Material Standards The Planning and Housing Director may approve an
exception from paving requirements for vehicular parking
and maneuvering areas when used for agricultural equipment
accessory to a principal permitted use and located behind a
principal building.
The Director at their sole discretion shall determine the areas
where the exception applies. Rock maneuvering area is
subject to all other zoning standards for loading areas,
including landscaping. The Director may require additional
screening or buffering of unpaved areas as condition of the
exception.
The approved alternative surface material specification shall
be acceptable to the Municipal Engineer for the purpose of
creating a stabilized surface.
Section Two. All ordinances, or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the
extent of such conflict, if any.
Section Three. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
publication as required by law.
Passed this day of , 2025.
_____________________________________________________________________________
John A. Haila, Mayor
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First Reading:
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Passed on:
I, Renee Hall, City Clerk of the City of Ames, Iowa, hereby certify that the above and
foregoing is a true copy of Ordinance No. ______________, passed by the City Council of said City at the
meeting held on ______________________and signed by the Mayor on ___________________________,
and published in the Ames Tribune on ___________________________.
___________________________________________
Renee Hall, City Clerk
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