Dan DeGeest's Council Review

Hello Friends,
 

What appeared to be a fairly routine agenda ended up being another 4 hour meeting with a discussion around the proposed development of the 2700 block of Lincoln Way taking up nearly all of the first two hours.  Please see below for comments and as always, thanks for reading.

Dan DeGeest>>
 

Review of the Ames City Council meeting for September 27, 2016.  The agenda included:
 

• 1. AAMPO Committee: Amendments to 2015 Passenger Transportation Plan and FY 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program.
  Due to some changes in funding (the elimination of JARC funding), CyRide will need to find other funding sources for a number of services. JARC funds are available this year, but moving forward, CyRide will fund these via its operating budget. Routes affected include the Brown Route, Pink (E 13th/Dayton expansion), and the Midday Duff route. 

• 34. Hearing on rezoning of 2728 Lincoln Way, 112 and 114 South Hyland Avenue, and 115 South Sheldon Avenue from Residential High Density (RH) and University West Impact Overlay (OUIW) to Campustown Service Center (CSC). Documents included zoning ordinance, Urban Revitalization Area (tax abatement) and selling of right-of-way.
  These properties make up the rest of the 2700 Lincoln Way block where a six-story 20-room hotel/500 bed student apartment building has been proposed that Council has been discussing for some time. The Planning and Zoning commission voted 4-3 to recommend against approval of this rezoning, preferring instead to wait for the completion of the Lincoln Way Corridor Study. Despite P&Z's recommendation, staff recommend approval due to the high score of this project on the RH evaluation tool and the desire to extend commercial use along Lincoln Way to Hyland.
  
  In addition to seeking a rezoning, River Caddis, Inc is asking for an Urban Revitalization designation which will make them eligible for tax abatement. When Council first reviewed the URA criteria, we gave direction on several items, including building appearance, amenity deck noise concerns, providing a wider sidewalk on Lincoln Way, etc. The developer has modified their plan somewhat to address concerns related to the amenity deck and appearance of the façade. Council now needs to decide if the modifications have met city goals for a substantial tax abatement/incentive.
  
  The Planning and Zoning Commission voted no to this change, saying, as I have said before, the project should wait until the Lincoln Way corridor study is completed.  Several residents who live near the project site were on hand to share their concerns and also recommended waiting.  But despite all of this the Council, with the exception of Councilwoman Betcher, seemed gung ho to charge ahead and after two hours of discussion with residents, the developer, and the lead architect they voted 5-1 (Betcher NO) to rezone and move forward.  Honestly it felt a bit like they were going through the motions just waiting for the chance to vote their predetermined position.
  
  Primary concerns are around traffic impacts, parking, the inclusion of an "amenity deck", and the overall size of the building and how it relates to the surrounding neighborhood.  But the developer talks a pretty good game, assuring they would fix every issue and used the recent changes they had made to the design of the amenity deck as an example of their commitment to going above and beyond to get an outcome everyone will like.
  It's expected the LW Corridor study will result in recommendations for how to make the transition from the more dense and urban Campustown to the residential neighborhoods that surrounds it.  It is doubtful, in my opinion, that the study will recommend six story buildings as the way to make that transition but that is exactly what this project will build - most likely with a healthy tax abatement.  It was also revealed during this discussion that the LW Corridor study is already 2 months behind, news which seemed to even surprise most of the City Council members.
   
• 35. Hearing on rezoning, with Master Plan, of 3115, 3119, 3301, 3325, 3409, and 3413 South Duff Avenue from Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC) and Agricultural (A) to Residential High Density (RH) and Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC). Documents included Contract Rezoning Agreement and zoning ordinance.
  Council recently amended the Land Use Policy Plan to allow for high-density residential zoning on these properties. Now the developer is back asking for the actual rezoning of the properties. Staff recommend approval, but only with a contract in place that will ensure the developer cooperates and shares costs for storm water, transportation, and other required improvements.
  
  This item was pulled from the agenda and delayed.  It will be back on a future agenda.  I have heard privately from several residents concerned with traffic and flooding impacts from this project.  This developement will add a lot of  people to this area of town with only one road, the notoriously terrible South Duff, as the only way in and out.
  
• 36. Hearing on Major Site Development Plan Amendment for 3505 and 3515 Lincoln Way (Walnut Ridge).
  Due to the placement of some retaining walls, the developer is asking that Council approve changes to their landscaping plan. The changes mostly affect screening between parking lots and property lines, and staff report that these changes don't significantly impact the aesthetic of the project. Planning and Zoning also voted 6-0 to recommend approval.
  
  This was a trivial change to the landscape plan.  Passed 6-0
   
• 38. Hearing on 2007/08 Shared-Use Path Expansion (Oakwood Road).
  This collaborative City/ISU project involves installing a shared-use path on the south side of Oakwood Rd, from State St. east to Green Hills Dr. (No mention in the staff report of why a '07/'08 project is just taking place 8 years later.)
  
  Ths project is long overdue.  Oakwood is narrow, lacks shoulders, and has deep ditches on both sides - it is one of the most pedestrian and bike unfriendly roads in Ames in my opinion.  I bike to work at the ISU Research Park and have a lot of experience on this road and choose to not take it unless there is a very compelling reason to do so.  Parts of this route are already in place thanks to the recent apartment developments and this project will close the gaps but at one point during the meeting it looked like this project might get canned because of storm water management concerns that really are not impacted by construction if this trail.  Those flooding issues should be addressed separately but currently money is not available to complete that work.  Motion approving and awarding bids passed 6-0.
   
• 39. Hearing on Amendment to 2014-18 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Plan. 
  This amendment to the CDBG Plan is required to pursue a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) in the area encompassing the Old Middle School property, as Council directed staff to do in March of this year. (The NRSA designation is required in order to make the area mixed income households, and not just low/moderate income housing.)
  
  Passed 6-0.  This is necessary work to allow the redevelopment of the Old Middle School meet CDBG funding requirements.
   

Special Note: The City of Ames budget process kicks off in the fall with the annual Town Budget Meeting. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4, in the City Council Chambers, second floor, City Hall, 515 Clark Ave. There will be time for citizens to give input and ask questions regarding the coming year’s budget. The meeting is broadcast live on City Channel 12, and views may call in questions to 515.239.5214.