HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes 11-12-2015MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
AMES, IOWA NOVEMBER 12, 2015
The Ames Zoning Board of Adjustment met, pursuant to law, in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on
November 12, 2015, in the Council Chambers of City Hall with the following members present:
Kyle Perkins, Michael Davis, Shelby Ebel and Matthew Koehler. Board Member Susan
Bradbury was absent. Staff members Justin Moore and Jessica Spoden were also present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Moved by Perkins, seconded by Koehler, to approve the minutes
of the meeting of October 28, 2015.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
CASE NO. 15-22
SPECIAL HOME OCCUPATION PERMIT – Matthew Heerema, 2616 Pierce Avenue
Public Hearing on application for a Special Home Occupation Permit to allow a web design
and development agency on the property located at 2616 Pierce Avenue*
Assistant City Planner Justin Moore displayed a location map and site plan for the project. He
noted that the applicant has requested approval of a Special Home Occupation permit to allow a
web design and development agency in his two-story house with a basement. The business
would be located on the main floor and occupy a total of 273.24 square feet of the 1,979 square
feet of floor area in the house. There will be up to three computers utilized for these operations.
No modifications to the home are being proposed and no unusual noises, fumes, or odors will be
produced. Hours of operation for the business would be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through
Friday.
The applicant has expressed that there will be two non-family employees on site at various times
throughout the week. There will be one full-time employee up to three days a week and one part-
time employee up to four days a week. The home has a two car attached garage and a double
wide driveway to Pierce Avenue. There will be no client visits to the site or on-site meetings.
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 Home Occupation Permit.
Matthew Heerema, 2616 Pierce Avenue, was sworn in and testified under oath. Mr. Heerema
said that prior to moving to 2616 Pierce, he had an office located downtown on 5th Street. He
purchased a home with office space for him and one of his employees to work in the home
regularly.
Ms. Ebel inquired if Mr. Heerema is requesting permission for one or two employees to be able
to work out of his home. Mr. Heerema clarified that he has one remote employee, one full time
employee who works from his own home office, but will work in his office occasionally, and
then one regular part-time person who would be working in the office most afternoons.
Ms. Ebel inquired if there would be visitors at the home for meetings or appointments. Mr.
Heerema said that that is not likely to happen. He explained that he and his co-worker typically
meet at their remote business location or at coffee shops when meeting with clients.
Mr. Heerema noted that he went around the entire neighborhood and introduced himself. He said
that everyone expressed their support and that there were no concerns.
Mr. Moore said that there were no inquiries whatsoever regarding this application.
Moved by Koehler, seconded by Perkins, to adopt ORDER NO. 15-22, thereby approving the
request for a Special Home Occupation Permit to allow a web design and development agency
on the property located at 2616 Pierce Avenue, based on the findings of fact and conclusions.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
COMMENTS: There were no comments by the Board.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Perkins, seconded by Koehler, to adjourn the meeting at 7:12
p.m.
_____________________________ _________________________________
Erin Cain, Recording Secretary Shelby Ebel, Chair