HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes 7-27-2011MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
AMES, IOWA JULY
27, 2011
The Ames Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) met, pursuant to law, in regular session at 7:00 p.m.
on June 8, 2011, in the Council Chambers of City Hall with the following members present:
Elizabeth Erbes, Sandra McJimsey, Gary Taylor, and Thomas Weber. Chair Calhoun was absent.
Staff members Charlie Kuester and Judy Parks were also present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Moved by McJimsey, seconded by Weber, to approve the minutes of
the meeting of June 8, 2011, as written.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion carried unanimously.
CASE NO. 11-16 - VARIANCE - 1111 DUFF AVENUE
Public Hearing on application for Variance from the building setback
requirements for the proposed expansion of Mary Greeley Medical Center
City Planner Charlie Kuester explained that Mary Greeley Medical Center
(MGMC) is embarking on a major expansion project of its facilities at 1111
Duff Avenue. The proposal in question involves a variance along the Duff
Avenue right-of-way. A portion of the existing emergency department that
extends approximately 12 feet into the setback will be removed and replaced
with an ambulance bay. The new ambulance garage will extend the same
distance into the setback as the existing building, but the width of the
encroachment will be reduced from 163 feet to 50 feet. The existing
encroachment is considered legal non-conforming; since it is being deliberately
removed and rebuilt, it must meet current zoning ordinances or a variance
must be granted.
Mr. Kuester noted that there are five criteria which must be met in order to
grant a variance. These criteria, along with the findings of fact and
conclusions, were reviewed in detail from the staff report. Mr. Kuester said
that City staff had found the application to meet all of the criteria, and
approval of the application was recommended. He noted that the public had
been notified of the application, and two inquiries were received. After Mr.
Kuester explained what the request was, neither party had an issue with it.
Emily Naylor, Shive-Hattery, 1601 48th Street, Suite 200, West Des Moines, Iowa, noted
that it is critical to have the Emergency Department immediately accessible to public
and emergency transport services, which is critical to the timely delivery of
emergency care services. Duff Avenue is a major arterial street, and the location
of the Emergency Department and ambulance garage, accessed directly from Duff Avenue,
facilitates the need for immediate accessibility.
Lynn Whisler, Vice President of Operations, Mary Greeley Medical Center, 1111 Duff
Avenue, Ames, Iowa, said that it is important for the Emergency Department to stay
in the area where it is already located. Ms. Whisler described the details of the
overall expansion project. She said that they have had ongoing dialogue with the
neighbors about the expansion, and the neighborhood has been very supportive.
Mr. Kuester noted that a public hearing was held regarding the street vacation and
rezoning for this project. Nobody spoke in opposition of this rezoning, and a
representative from the neighborhood association expressed support of the project,
which speaks of MGMC’s outreach to the community.
The details of the site plan were discussed. Board Member Taylor asked about the
need for the width of the building in the area that encroaches into the setback.
Ms. Whisler explained that the plan is to have four ambulance lanes; there are
currently four lanes, but they are not all on-site. Mr. Taylor noted that it may
be a hardship to sacrifice an ambulance lane just to make the building smaller. Ms.
Whisler concurred, particularly because the community is growing and the call volume
is increasing. Furthermore, ambulances have gotten taller and longer over time, and
the size of the current facility has been an issue for larger ambulances.
Board Member McJimsey asked how far into the future this expansion plan goes. Ms.
Whisler indicated that they hope it will take MGMC at least 20 years into the future.
MGMC has been in its current state for almost 37 years, with several small renovations.
Ms. McJimsey complimented the plan, and expressed appreciation that MGMC and the
architects have worked within the guidance of the zoning ordinance.
Ms. McJimsey asked if many of the other properties in the area have similar
nonconforming encroachments into the setback. Mr. Kuester said that most of the
properties do. Ms. McJimsey said that the Board could see similar requests in the
future from these other property owners.
Moved by Taylor, seconded by McJimsey, to adopt ORDER NO. 11 -16, thereby approving
the request for a Variance seeking a 12.79 -foot setback from the front property line
for the property located at 1111 Duff Avenue, based on the findings and conclusions
as stated in the staff report.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared approved unanimously.
COMMENTS: Board Member McJimsey noted that motions are oftentimes based on the
findings in the staff reports, but the evidence in the application is not usually
mentioned. She said that it may be appropriate to mention that in future motions.
Assistant City Attorney Judy Parks concurred.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
______________________________ _____________________________
Emily Burton, Recording Secretary Elizabeth Erbes, Vice Chair