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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes 5-11-2016MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AMES, IOWA MAY 11, 2016 The Ames Zoning Board of Adjustment met, pursuant to law, in regular session at 6:00 p.m. on May 11, 2016, in the Council Chambers of City Hall with the following members present: Shelby Ebel, Kyle Perkins, Susan Bradbury, Matthew Koehler and Amelia Schoeneman. Staff members Justin Moore and Mark Lambert were also present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Moved by Bradbury, seconded by Perkins, to amend the motion to approve the minutes with changes made by Bradbury to the minutes of the meeting of April 27, 2016. Vote on Amendment: 5-0. Motion to amend declared carried unanimously. Vote on Motion, as amended: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. CASE NO. 16-01 SPECIAL USE PERMIT – Ames United Church of Christ, 217 6th Street Public Hearing on application for a Special Use Permit to allow a religious institution in the Downtown Service Center zoning district on the property located at 217 6th Street* Assistant City Planner Justin Moore displayed a location map and site plan for the project. The applicant is seeking a Special Use Permit to operate a religious institution in the Downtown Service Center zoning district. Earlier this spring, the church was rezoned from the Neighborhood Commercial zoning district to the Downtown Service Center zoning district. United Church of Christ desires to construct a 1,038 square foot addition to their church in a Downtown Service Center zoning district (DSC) with an exemption from minimum height and floor area ratio (FAR) requirements. The church is located on a 21,600 square foot lot situated amidst a mixture of commercial and some residentially zoned property on all sides. The subject parcel was created in the late 19th century upon construction of the church. Section 29.808 (2) of the DSC zoning regulations state that a religious institution can exist in the DSC zoning district subject to a Special Use Permit being issued by the Zoning Board of Adjustment for use of the parcel. Additionally, the Special Use Permit can be approved with exemption from the FAR and height requirements in the DSC zoning district as an institutional use in Section 29.808 (3). The proposed addition is for an enclosure of an existing open air walk way that leads to an entrance on the buildings east side. The project would enclose this area to make way for additional improvements and renovations elsewhere inside the church as part of a master plan the church is implementing for a reconstruction of internal space to accommodate growth and future events. The project will relocate an existing entrance further east along the east side of the church and would also create an additional entrance facing 6th street to the south between the parsonage facility and the main church building. There is no parking area required in the DSC zoning district; no additional parking has been proposed with this project. The applicant is working with Ames Electric Services to relocate some electrical equipment along the alley to the east side of the church as a related item to this project. The building, after the addition, will achieve a FAR of .77 and the proposed addition is only for a single story. The proposal with this project does not cause the building to achieve minimum FAR (1.0) or meet the minimum height requirement (2 stories) in the DSC zoning district. United church of Christ is seeking exemption from those requirements as allowed to be requested in 29.808 (3) of the DSC zoning regulations. The site plan, project description, applicable law, and findings of fact and conclusions were reviewed in detail by Mr. Moore. He explained that City staff has reviewed the request and recommends that the Board approve the request for a Special Use Permit. Ms. Ebel inquired about the re-zoning that took place earlier this year and asked if the church or the City initiated the re-zoning. Mr. Moore replied that the church submitted the request and the final reading for the re-zoning was in April. Doug Powell, 1407 McKinley Drive, was sworn in and testified under oath. Mr. Powell is a member, as well as an executive board member, of the church. He noted that he has worked closely with John Lott and City staff on this project. Mr. Powell expressed that they are committed to remaining an urban church and informed the Board that a campaign was run recently to help these improvements, along with other improvements, take place. Moved by Bradbury, seconded by Perkins, to approve ORDER NO. 16-01, thereby approving a Special Use Permit to operate a religious institution at 217 6th Street and for the addition to not achieve minimum FAR or minimum height on the property located at 217 6th Street. Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. COMMENTS: Ms. Bradbury and Ms. Ebel noted that they will not be in attendance on June 8, 2016, if there are agenda items for a meeting. ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Perkins, seconded by Koehler, to adjourn the meeting at 6:31 p.m. _____________________________ _________________________________ Erin Cain, Recording Secretary Shelby Ebel, Chair