Solar energy systems regulations
The Ames City Council begins at 6:00 PM. The agenda includes:
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15. Resolution approving extension, to March 1, 2016, of park land leases with Iowa State University. Extension of leases of 5 parks in Ames (Brookside included) until March 2016. Updates to the lease agreements are taking more time (a year longer) than anticipated.
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26. Hearing on Zoning Ordinance text amendment to Chapter 29 pertaining to solar energy systems regulations. Three amendments are being proposed. The first would change non-residential height limits to 20’ above parking, allowing for an installation covering a commercial parking lot. The second amendment would allow a solar installation to project above height limits for a particular zone. Finally, the third amendment increases the max capacity of the system from 10kW to potentially 100kW. All three amendments should make solar more cost effective, a direction we want to head, if we want to decrease our impact on climate change, and ensuring a healthy planet, for generations to come.
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28. Hearing on Sale of 1109 Roosevelt Avenue. This use of CDBG funds is a great way to increase the stock of affordable single-family housing in Ames in a way that is well integrated with the neighborhood.
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30. Staff Report on Flood Plain Ordinance amendment regarding environmentally sensitive areas. Should council zone the floodway as an environmentally sensitive area overlay? If yes, council gets authority over major site plan approval, and would require environmental assessments from developers. If not, do we carry on allowing developments like the new Haverkamp project on South 3rd, adjacent to residents who will surely shoulder the longterm consequences?
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32. Resolution approving annual 2015 Urban Renewal Report, certification of TIF Debt for Campustown and ISU Research Park, and annual appropriation of Kingland TIF Rebate. Annual Urban Renewal Report is mandatory, and details financial info for the City’s active South Bell TIF area. Also a resolution is required (per development agreement) to rebate the incremental tax from Kingland. (Kingland is one of two new TIF districts, the other being the ISU Research Park.)
Thanks for reading,
Matthew Goodman
City Council At-Large
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