Lincoln Way Redevelopment, RAGBRAI
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Bronwyn's Council Preview |
The City Council meeting starts at 6 p.m. this Tuesday. The agenda includes (but is not limited to):
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38. Campus and Community Commission presentation of report regarding Campustown Plaza concept.
Recently, Council referred the topic of a community space in Campustown to the recently established CCC. The commission's recommendation is that we consider the space on the southeast corner of Welch and Chamberlain Ave. for this purpose. (Prior proposals had included the interior parking lot to the west on the first block of Welch Ave.) -
39. RAGBRAI presentation and overview of requests from Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Several requests are being proposed by the ACVB in preparation for the hosting of RAGBRAI in July. First, some old language actually prohibits riding bicycles on hard-topped surfaces through Brookside, a code change which we might consider regardless of RAGBRAI. Other changes include simplification of vendor permit handling, and allowing camping/vehicles in some parks overnight where they are otherwise prohibited. The proposed route is shown on the map below:
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41. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment to revise Municipal Code Section 29.1108, Temporary Deferral on Demolition and Development. See item 51. and item 42. Hearing on proposed amendment to Official Zoning Map to show a temporary deferral on demolition and development of properties in the vicinity of Lincoln Way that are in the area bounded on the north by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, on the east by Duff Avenue and South Duff Avenue, on the south by the alley running parallel to Lincoln Way, and on the West by Grand Avenue (Downtown Gateway Commercial). See item 51.
Items 41, 42, and 51 all relate to the "Downtown Gateway" section of the Lincoln Way Corridor. This was designated as our primary focus area, following the last two years' extensive Lincoln Way Corridor Study. The vision for this area is comparable to the redevelopment we've seen in Campustown, featuring taller buildings with residential on the upper stories and commercial uses on the ground floor. While Council and Staff work towards a final decision regarding zoning of this area, Council is considering a moratorium on development and redevelopment in this area. -
51. Lincoln Way Redevelopment Project Update.
A developer, the Argent Group, is looking to consolidate properties in the Downtown Gateway area and redevelop them into a hotel/apartment complex. They are asking Council to indicate initial support for their project, up to and including financial incentives such as tax abatements and TIF. Typically, Council would have a more complete picture before being asked to indicate support for something like a TIF...how much they are asking for, to start. To complicate matters, Council is in the middle of reviewing zoning standards for the Downtown Gateway, and their proposal would need to fit the as-yet-undecided zoning for this area.
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52. First reading of ordinance revising Chapter 13, Rental Housing Code, regarding occupancy.
This has been a long time in the making. To recap, this rental code change would restrict occupancy to up to 3 people in 1, 2, or 3 bedroom rental units, 4 occupants in a four-bedroom, and 5 occupants in a five-bedroom. Off-street parking will NOT be used to determine occupancy. Also, Council is considering extending the moratorium on new rental permits in near-Campus neighborhoods while we come to a decision on rental percentage caps. Council will revisit the rental percentage cap yet this Spring.
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61. Request from Xenia Rural Water District to serve properties generally located south of existing corporate limits, east of Ames Municipal Airport, and west of South Duff Avenue.
In the past, Ames allowed rural water providers to provide water to areas within two miles of the city limits of Ames. Due to costly past water buy-outs, the City has changed this practice, preferring to provide water through our municipal system instead. A request was recently made by Xenia to serve properties near our south city limit, but staff are recommending the City provide this water service instead. -
62. Resolution approving contract with Parkmobile for app-based services (Pay-by-Phone for parking meters).
This app is a first step in being able to pay for parking meters with a credit/debit card.
Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
City Council At-Large
