Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Planning & Zoning Minutes 07/02/2014 MINUTES CITY OF AMES PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Date: July 2, 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: 9:00 p.m. *Absent MAJOR TOPICS DISCUSSED: 1. Public Hearing for the Rezone of 4710 Mortensen Road from Community Commercial/Residential to Floating Suburban Residential Medium Density 2. Zoning Text Amendment for Accessory Structures for Institutional Uses 3. Staff Presentation of Land Use Policy Plan Overview ___________________________________________________________________________ CALL TO ORDER: Debra Lee, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION: (Bowers/Tillo) to approve the Agenda for the meeting of July 2, 2014. MOTION PASSED: (5 - 0) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF JUNE 4, 2014: MOTION: (Tillo/Gould) to approve the Minutes of the meeting of June 4, 2014. MOTION PASSED: (5 - 0) ____________________________________________________________________________ PUBLIC FORUM: There were no public comments. ____________________________________________________________________________ PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE REZONE OF 4710 MORTENSEN ROAD FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL TO FLOATING SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY Charlie Kuester, Planner, stated that there is a seven unit development that was initially planned to consist of eight mixed-use buildings located on the south side of Mortensen Road west of Dickinson Avenue. He said that in 2005 this parcel was zoned Community Commercial/Residential with commercial use on the ground floor and residential use on the remaining floors. Mr. Kuester stated that seven buildings have been built. He stated that the eighth building was not built and the property was subsequently parceled off and retained by the original property owner who now wants to develop this property for strictly residential usage. Mr. Kuester outlined the current zoning classification and the uses allowed in this district. He stated that the applicant’s desire is to have the undeveloped parcel rezoned to Floating Suburban Residential Medium-Density. Mr. Kuester outlined the zoning classifications of some of the surrounding properties and the uses allowed. He stated that city staff has reviewed the rezoning request and determined that the existing infrastructure and utilities will support the proposed rezoning of this property. Mr. Kuester stated that staff is recommending that this property be rezoned to Floating Suburban Residential-Medium Density. Rob Bowers asked where the new hotel will be located within this area. Mr. Kuester stated that it would be built along the east side of Dickinson Avenue. Carlton Basmajian asked about the number of buildings that would be built on this property. Mr. Kuester stated that the preliminary drawings indicate that three buildings will be built on this property. He stated that more green space is required in a FS-RM (Floating Suburban Residential Medium-Density) zone than in the CCR (Community Commercial/Residential) zone. Mr. Basmajian asked about the number of stories of the buildings. Mr. Diekmann stated that four stories is the maximum allowed in the FS-RM (Floating Suburban Residential Medium-Density) zoning district. John Lott with Benjamin Design Collaborative, 823 Douglas Avenue, stated that he represents the developer. He stated that the original project was not as successful on the commercial side as the developer had hoped. Mr. Lott stated that this site is on the back corner of the property and less desirable for commercial use. He stated that there is a great need for residential housing in Ames and stated that this project will help meet some of that need. Mr. Bowers stated that he lives in this area and has noticed that there are many retail vacancies in the buildings surrounding this parcel. MOTION: (Bowers/Basmajian) to accept Alternative #1, which states: that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the request for rezoning from CCR-Community Commercial/Residential to FS-RM Suburban Medium Density, based upon staff’s findings and conclusions as found in the staff report. Debra Lee stated that she feels that this is the best solution given the location of the property. John Tillo stated that he agrees with Ms. Lee. He stated that he feels that residential use is the least disruptive use for this property. MOTION PASSED: (5 - 0) ____________________________________________________________________________ ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES FOR INSTITUTIONAL USES Charlie Kuester, Planner, stated that this request came about during the site plan review for the construction of the new Heartland Baptist Church. He stated that the church will be built on a 21 acre parcel located at the intersection of Bloomington Road and Stange Road. Mr. Kuester stated that the applicant is proposing to build a 30,000 square foot church building and a 2,500- 3,000 square foot accessory structure to store lawn care equipment and a bus that the church uses to transport parishioners. He stated that according to the current Zoning Ordinance the church is restricted to a maximum gross floor area of 900 square foot for a detached garage or accessory building for single family dwelling or institutional use. Mr. Kuester stated that the applicant is requesting a Zoning Text Amendment to allow a larger structure for institutional uses in residential zones. He reviewed two options that staff has outlined in the Commission Action Form. Mr. Kuester stated that staff is recommending that the term “institutional use” be removed from the appropriate section of the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Diekmann stated that if this recommendation is approved it will mean that all institutional uses will need to be approved for a Special Use Permit in order to add accessory buildings. Mr. Basmajian asked if there is any explanation as to why the Code included size restrictions. Mr. Diekmann stated that with a text amendment in 2005 institutional uses were added to the residential standard. Mr. Bowers stated that technically there could have been two churches built on this 21 acre site each having an accessory structure. Mr. Kuester stated the applicant could request to build three separate 900 square foot accessory buildings on this property. Mr. Kuester stated that this Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment, if approved, will be applied city wide. Mr. Kuester stated that the applicant was unable to attend tonight’s meeting due to another commitment. Mr. Bowers asked for clarification as to whether a Special Use Permit is required in each of the alternatives listed in the Commission Action Form. Mr. Kuester stated that a Special Use Permit is required in each of the listed alternatives. Julie Gould stated that she is uncomfortable with not having a stated size limitation. Discussion was held on the recommendation to be sent to the City Council for the desired change to the maximum size of accessory structures, the two options that the applicant has proposed, and the Special Use Permit process for this type of request. . MOTION: (Tillo/Bowers) to accept Alternative #1, which states: that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends that the City Council approve an amendment removing the limitation for accessory structures and private garages for Institutional Uses in Residential Zones as requested by Heartland Baptist Church in Option 1, of the Commission Action Form. MOTION PASSED: (4 - 1) (nay: Gould) ____________________________________________________________________________ STAFF PRESENTATION OF LAND USE POLICY PLAN OVERVIEW Kelly Diekmann, Director of Planning & Housing, stated that the Council outlined at their January workshop, as one of their goals, the review of the current Land Use Policy Plan. Mr. Diekmann stated that the City uses the Land Use Policy Plan to determine where to make their infrastructure commitments to support growth and existing neighborhoods. He presented the Land Use Policy Plan Overview to the Commission and explained the various elements of the current Plan. Mr. Diekmann outlined the current growth areas on the map. He outlined the population demographics in Ames since the completion of the Plan. Mr. Diekmann also explained Council’s direction on the scope of the update from their June 17th workshop. He asked the Commission for their input as to what they would like to see addressed in the update of the Land Use Policy Plan. Mr. Basmajian inquired about the timeline for the completion of the update. Mr. Diekmann stated that the Lincoln Way Corridor Plan will begin this fall and run parallel to the Land Use Policy Plan and should be completed in one year. He stated that the Land Use Policy Plan should be completed in two years. Mr. Basmajian inquired as to whether the plan will be done in-house. Mr. Diekmann stated that the Council has allocated money to hire a consultant and a temporary part-time planner. Mr. Bowers stated that the Land Use Policy Plan needs to be changed to meet current and future needs. He said that the Plan needs to be changed; however, it needs to be relevant in order to be useable. Mr. Bowers stated that the Plan will never be done but will be evolving. Mr. Tillo asked whether staff is planning to seek public input prior to the completion of the Plan update, especially in the Lincoln Way corridor. Mr. Diekmann stated that they will seek public input, especially from those that are directly affected. Mr. Tillo stated that he agrees with Council’s goal of affordable housing for residents. Ms. Lee stated that the Plan reflects the values of the community which are used to guide decisions as market forces change. Mr. Diekmann commented that a City cannot dictate the market and at the same time core values cannot be traded off because the market wants to do something now and the community does not believe it is the right thing to do. Ms. Lee stated that student enrollment is a big factor, impacting the housing needs of the community. She asked if staff had comparison information from other university communities in regards to the amount of on-campus housing versus off-campus housing. Mr. Diekmann stated that he did not have any comparison information at this time. He stated that Iowa State University has a plan to construct a building next to Buchanan Hall consisting of 700 additional beds. Mr. Diekmann stated that the University has no additional housing plans at this time. He stated that Council will have some other housing goals and referral items on their agenda this fall related to zoning issues. ____________________________________________________________________________ COMMISSION COMMENTS: None ____________________________________________________________________________ STAFF COMMENTS: Mr. Diekmann stated that the two Floating Suburban Text Amendments, heard at the last Commission meeting, were approved by the City Council. Mr. Diekmann stated that at the next City Council meeting the Council will be discussing a possible settlement agreement with Breckenridge Group Ames, LLC. ____________________________________________________________________________ MOTION TO ADJOURN: MOTION: (Tillo/Gould) to adjourn the meeting. MOTION PASSED: (5 - 0) The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm _________________________________ ____________________________________ 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 07-02-14.docx