East Industrial Annexation
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Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen's Council Preview |
The Ames City Council begins at 6:00 PM. The agenda includes:
- 8. Resolution approving Federal Aviation Administration Grant for 2015/16 Airport Improvements Program (Terminal Building Site - Phase 2 Utilities).
The airport terminal improvements were funded with $600K in federal dollars. This agenda item involves submitting for the final $150K from the FAA. - 9. Resolution approving 2016/17 Agreement with Ames Economic Development Commission.
The City gives $150K annually to the Ames Economic Development Commission, $60K for the shared Business Development Coordinator position and $90K for business recruitment and marketing services. The contract for economic development services to be provided by the AEDC is included in this agenda item. Interestingly, the first priority for the Business Development Coordinator, according to the contract, is to focus on the development of small and/or start-up businesses. Annually, the City Council is provided with a report of economic development activity from the prior year, available for viewing at AEDC Annual Report. - 24. East Industrial Annexation.
The City is considering annexing just shy of 1350 acres east of Hwy 35 along Lincoln Way to both the north and south. 1083 acres are represented by property owners that consent of the annexation, while the other property owners do not consent of annexation. (To annex a property, a city needs 80% of the property owners to consent, which is achieved in this case.) 11 individual property owners (and spouses) consented to annexation, 11 were non-consenting.
Considerations for any annexation include the zoning of land once it is brought into the city (in this case agricultural), police and fire protection for the area, property tax changes, and sewer/water services for the area. In this case, water service had been provided to the area by Central Iowa Water Assoc., and current CIWA customers are allowed to stay with their current provider, but for any future developments, property owners would be obligated to secure buyouts from the rural water district.
- 25. Supervised Transitional Homes.
After review by Planning and Zoning, the recommendation to council is to approve allowing supervised group living (with a max of 8 residents per property) in all residential zoning districts across the city. Staff recommends a separation between these transitional living units, and also recommends an initial inspection, but not an inspection schedule as regular as the rental code would require. The alternatives for Council include proceeding via administrative zoning, special use permits, or establishing a new zoning permitting process.
Issues to consider with this proposal include potential increase in parking demand, noise, and whether or not to inspect the units regularly to ensure safety for residents. (This would require new inspection code criteria, or to duplicate rental code as applicable.) - 26. Resolution approving Preliminary Plat for Aspen Business Park, 3rd Addition (516 S. 17th Street).
In December of 2015, Council approved a rezone of this site from HOC (highway oriented commercial) to RH (residential high density), which included a contract rezone limiting the development to 525 beds and stipulating public infrastructure investments. Now the developer is back w/ a preliminary plat. Planning and Zoning voted 4-0 to recommend, with one abstention. - 27. Staff Report on complaint about property located at 4004 Phoenix Street.
Council has heard several complaints about the condition of a property located at 4004 Phoenix, starting in 2007(!). Eventually the house was placed on the market, but the “short sale” has not proceeded. Options for Council include waiting for the bank’s short sale, initiate litigation, or pursue a ‘dangerous building’ designation. - 35. Hearing on proposed contract for sale of City-owned property at 1125 Maxwell Avenue in connection with Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Sustainability Program.
The city is selling this property to Habitat for Humanity for $5000. Monies collected in this way (as with 306 Wellons Dr.) go back into the CDBG fund balance for future use. - 36. Hearing on proposed contract for sale of City-owned property at 306 Wellons Drive in connection with Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Sustainability Program.
The city is selling this property to Habitat for Humanity for $30,000.
Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
City Council At-Large
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