HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes 7-23-2014
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
AMES, IOWA JULY 23, 2014
The Ames Zoning Board of Adjustment met, pursuant to law, in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on
July 23, 2014, in the Council Chambers of City Hall with the following members present: Susan
Bradbury, Shelby Ebel, Matthew Koehler, and Sandra McJimsey. Board Member Patrick Brooks
was absent. Staff members Ray Anderson and Mark Lambert were also present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Moved by Koehler, seconded by Bradbury, to approve the
minutes of the meeting of July 9, 2014, as written.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
CASE NO. 14-16
SPECIAL USE PERMIT - ZYLSTRA HARLEY DAVIDSON, 1930 EAST 13TH STREET
Public Hearing on application for Special Use Permit to allow an automotive use greater
than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area in the General Industrial Zone on the property
located at 1930 East 13th Street
City Planner Ray Anderson displayed a location map and site plan for the project. The site,
presently occupied by the Zylstra Harley Davidson motorcycle dealership, includes a 15,333-
square-foot building. The applicant proposes to demolish 2,240 square feet and build an addition
of 3,198 square feet, for a total of 16,291 square feet upon completion. Mr. Anderson noted that
the motorcycle dealership is a commercial use in a General Industrial (GI) zone. The Municipal
Code limits commercial uses in GI zones to no more than 10,000 square feet unless a Special
Use Permit is granted. Although the current use exceeds the 10,000 square foot limitation, it does
not have an approved Special Use Permit and the proposed expansion triggers the need for a
Special Use Permit prior to increasing the size.
Mr. Anderson explained that the site has a number of existing nonconformities related to
setbacks and landscaping due to the age of the site and its development under older industrial
zoning standards. The proposed site plan attempts to address some of the nonconformities and
bring the site closer to compliance with the existing Code. The new addition will meet the
minimum required setbacks, and landscaping will be added where possible without removing
asphalt. Mr. Anderson said that the percentage of landscaping on the site will increase from 8.6%
to 10.6%. The minimum requirement for a new development is 15%.
The site plan, project description, applicable law, and findings of fact and conclusions were
reviewed in detail by Mr. Anderson. He explained that City staff has reviewed the request and
recommends approval of the application with the conditions that the applicant provide a
minimum of 16 automobile parking spaces and that the Permit be limited to the use of the site for
a motorcycle dealership and repair service.
Board Member Ebel asked why a variance was not needed for the items that do not meet
development standards; she wonders if the Board has the authority to waive the standards. Mr.
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Anderson explained that if the entire building were destroyed and the applicants started from
scratch, they would need to meet all of the minimum standards. However, since this is an
existing site, the City cannot require the applicant to bring it completely up to Code. He said that
it is within the Board’s authority to grant the Special Use Permit even though the rest of the
existing site does not meet the current development standards. Upon being questioned by Chair
McJimsey, Mr. Anderson explained that the site plan would bring the site up to the minimum
parking requirements, would meet setback requirements on the new addition, and bring the
landscaping closer to conformance. The setback would still be nonconforming along the west
property line.
Board Member Bradbury noted that the addition of landscaping was not listed as a condition for
approval. After discussion, the Board determined it should be added for clarity.
John Washington, FOX Engineering, 31 W Avenue, Story City, Iowa, was sworn in and testified
under oath. He stated that he was available for questions.
Moved by Bradbury, seconded by Koehler, to adopt ORDER NO. 14-16, thereby approving the
request for a Special Use Permit to allow an Automotive Use of a Motorcycle Dealership of
16,291 square feet of gross floor area within a General Industrial Zoning District at 1930 East
13th Street, based upon the findings and conclusions, with the following conditions:
1. Provide a minimum of 16 automobile parking spaces per requirements for showrooms
of automotive dealers.
2. The Special Use Permit is limited to the use of the site for a motorcycle dealership
and repair service.
3. Provide the landscaping improvements based on the standard L2 landscaping of
screening shrubs and trees along the East 13th frontage property line and the paved
display area.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared adopted unanimously.
COMMENTS: There were no comments by the Board.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Ebel, seconded by Koehler, to adjourn the meeting at 7:21 p.m.
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Emily Burton, Recording Secretary Sandra McJimsey, Chair