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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Planning & Zoning Minutes 05/07/2014 MINUTES CITY OF AMES PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Date: May 7, 2014 Debra Lee, Chairperson 2015 *Rob Bowers, Vice Chairperson 2015 Call to Order: 7:00 p.m. Yvonne Wannemuehler 2015 Julie Gould 2016 Place: Ames City Hall *John Tillo 2016 Council Chambers Carlton Basmajian 2017 Matthew Converse 2017 Adjournment: 7:23 p.m. *Absent MAJOR TOPICS DISCUSSED: 1. Staff Report for South 16th Street Urban Revitalization Area Conformity Finding 2. 205 South Wilmoth Avenue Residential Low-Density Rezoning Request Memorandum 3. Staff Report for Airport Obstructions Ordinance 4. Annual Review of Planning & Zoning Commission Bylaws ___________________________________________________________________________ CALL TO ORDER: Debra Lee, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION: (Wannemuehler/Gould) to approve the Agenda for the meeting of May 7, 2014. MOTION PASSED: (5 – 0) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 16, 2014: MOTION: (Gould/Wannemuehler) to approve the Minutes of the meeting of April 16, 2014. MOTION PASSED: (5 - 0) ____________________________________________________________________________ PUBLIC FORUM: There were no public comments. ____________________________________________________________________________ STAFF REPORT FOR SOUTH 16TH STREET URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA CONFORMITY FINDING Kelly Diekmann, Director of Planning & Housing, explained that tonight the Commission will be performing a mandatory step for creating an urban renewal plan in the State of Iowa. He said that the Commission is charged with reviewing the draft plan and determining whether the plan is consistent with the Land Use Policy Plan. Mr. Diekmann stated that staff is recommending that the Commission finds that the proposed Urban Renewal Plan is consistent with the Land Use Policy Plan based on its designation as a commercial property. He stated that the area of the floodway that crosses the site is excluded from this urban renewal plan, leaving approximately 30 of the 40 acres to be included in the designation. Mr. Diekmann outlined details and background of this request. He stated that there is no City f inancial support for this project. Yvonne Wannemuehler asked if it was all state funds that would be used. Mr. Diekmann stated there are no local funds that will be going towards this project. Debra Lee stated that she feels that this site is not in an urban area nor in an area that needs revitalization. Mr. Diekmann stated that it can be used towards redevelopment and to promote new economic development. He said that this current project falls in the category of promoting new economic development. MOTION: (Gould/Converse) to accept Alternative #1, which states: that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends to the City Council that the Urban Renewal Plan conforms to the intent and purposes of the Land Use Policy Plan. MOTION PASSED: (5 - 0) ____________________________________________________________________________ 205 SOUTH WILMOTH AVENUE RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY REZONING REQUEST MEMORANDUM Kelly Diekmann stated that this is a non-action agenda item. He said that this is a transmittal of the rezoning request for 205 So. Wilmoth Avenue. Mr. Diekmann outlined the details of the rezone request. He stated that a Public Hearing for the rezone request will probably be on the agenda for the next Commission meeting. Carlton Basmajian asked how much impact last night’s City Council Workshop on the Breckenridge Development would have on this request. Mr. Diekmann stated that the applicant is currently proceeding with the basic zoning request for the north parcel (205 So. Wilmoth Avenue) but may explore other options. Mr. Basmajian asked if the Land Use Policy Plan has this property listed as Low-Density Residential. Mr. Diekmann stated that it is listed as Low- Density Residential. Ms. Lee asked about the status of the rezoning application for the south parcel (601 State Avenue). Mr. Diekmann reviewed the current status of the rezone request for 601 State Avenue. Brian Torresi, legal counsel for the Breckenridge Development, stated that he was available to answer any questions that the Commission might have. ____________________________________________________________________________ STAFF REPORT FOR AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS ORDINANCE Kelly Diekmann stated that staff is looking for a recommendation from the Commission for the proposed amendment to the Municipal code. He said that the proposed ordinance is looking at physical height obstructions and other types of uses that might cause an in-flight obstruction. Mr. Diekmann said that the current ordinance shows a 750 foot buffer. He reviewed the changes that would be included in the proposed ordinance. Mr. Diekmann stated that the City needs to make these changes to the Municipal Code in order to apply for a grant in order to upgrade certain airport facilities using state and federal funds. He spoke about land use compatibility in regards to any future airport expansion. Mr. Diekmann stated that the Public Works department will be looking at this as a future master plan issue and it may come back to the Commission sometime in the future. Ms. Lee asked if the proposed ordinance addresses the basics for current airport needs. Mr. Diekmann stated it addresses the basic obstructions to proceed with safe airport operations. He said that the FAA does not preclude any use around an airport but it does restrict the use of the airport if you have incompatible uses around the airport. Matt Converse asked for clarification of the north line of the buffer. Mr. Diekmann reviewed the area that is included in the north area of the buffer and spoke about building restrictions that would pertain to this area. Mr. Converse asked if this proposed amendment would affect one, two, and three-story buildings in this area. Mr. Diekmann stated that it would only affect those types of buildings in the trapezoidal RPZ areas. He stated that the City either owns property or has easements in most of the RPZ areas. MOTION: (Gould/Basmajian) to accept Alternative #1, which states: that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the proposed amendments to Article 2, Article 4, and Article 13 of the Zoning Code in order to establish use and height restrictions for land within the FAA airport imaginary surfaces airspace zones as described in the Ames Municipal Airport Master Plan. Mr. Converse asked if the City owns land in the trapezoidal area by the Riverside Drive and Airport Road intersection. Mr. Diekmann stated that the City does not own all of it. Mr. Converse asked if this impacts the ISU Research Park. Mr. Diekmann said that it impacts part of the parcel at the southwest corner of Riverside Drive and Airport Road. MOTION PASSED: (5 - 0) ____________________________________________________________________________ ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION BYLAWS Mr. Diekmann stated that during the month of May the Commission is required to review the Bylaws for the Planning and Zoning Commission and make suggestions for any potential changes. He said that any action for a proposed change would need to be made at a subsequent meeting. Ms. Lee stated that she had a question as to who chairs the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting if the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson are both absent. Mr. Diekmann stated that this is not included in the current Bylaws. He stated that as long as there was a quorum an attending Commission member could be asked to chair the meeting. ____________________________________________________________________________ COMMISSION COMMENTS: Ms. Lee stated that the City Council Workshop regarding the Breckenridge Development was a unique event and managed very well. Mr. Diekmann stated that it was a good discussion. ____________________________________________________________________________ STAFF COMMENTS: Staff reviewed the tentative agenda for the meeting of May 21, 2014. Mr. Diekmann stated that May 20th is the Land Use Policy Plan overview with the City Council. He stated that this meeting will be televised. ____________________________________________________________________________ MOTION TO ADJOURN: MOTION: (Converse/Gould) to adjourn the meeting. MOTION PASSED: (5 - 0) The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m. _________________________________ ____________________________________ Debra Lee, Chairperson Lorrie Banks, Recording Secretary Planning & Zoning Commission Department of Planning & Housing S:\PLAN_SHR\Council Boards Commissions\PZ\Minutes\2014 Minutes\P&Z Minutes-05-07-14.docx