[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6206260,"mediaKeyId","3764407-c9a83318f8c26b9773fa361b09a6c0e5","parentId",3764407,"title","Ames HPC members report Preserve Iowa Summit takeaways, seek CLG grants and clarity on COA postings","audioSeconds",901,"startMs",1069000,"endMs",1970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3764407-c9a83318f8c26b9773fa361b09a6c0e5&start=1069&end=1970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3764407-c9a83318f8c26b9773fa361b09a6c0e5/thumbnail_1069000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6206260/Ames-City/Story-County/Iowa/Ames-HPC-members-report-Preserve-Iowa-Summit-takeaways-seek-CLG-grants-and-clarity-on-COA-postings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206260-480463805c00e3d757d5cdf6cbb34418/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189324&Signature=WuiCZstgMdwab8F9ZdDI6ZFAwFNI~ltZXmXiCXcq0o7tPeLEOVgJikiOo1NgOuOeJ7-DmtA83p87aw3olV5Jex2ntMkHz6x5ui~0QYEIUNl9sKgzG2YRLDpLHL~Vgwy61AtbG6SO-dHGQzB3WKP~MpM3Tp4olia-pwkU0LFuOinNRagsp3ky1pEeq833bW6DJr8hbDU0nLYuUFIxGvXS71pIs5mGXVZdUZnMeRMYvbvQv2KIOh2MT-OPA8YCj3wU-fd5rZtBYLwCtpk93MRdq9L8XUrJKyTjrC~5JUQSfky2MKVAiXHZ3OQX1CfOvu3T7yPlCfdl5HMJysRX0LQQNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ames City","date","2025-06-10T00:00:00Z","article","Members of the Ames Historic Preservation Commission discussed several nonaction items on June 9, including lessons from the Preserve Iowa Summit, potential grant-funded projects to document historic schools and churches, questions about public posting of certificates of appropriateness (COAs) on the city website, and progress on a National Register nomination for the Chautauqua Park–Ridgewood subdivision.

Commissioner Kate and Commissioner Greg both reported attending the Preserve Iowa Summit in Muscatine. “They published a book, with all those sites,” Ray, a city staff member who also attended, summarized of a Muscatine County project mapping historic rural churches and schools. Commissioners suggested similar signage or QR-code projects to identify former schools, churches and homes tied to Iowa State students who were historically excluded from on-campus housing.

Commissioner Laura described an Iowa State project that maps houses where Black students who could not live on campus once resided and suggested linking that resource to the commission’s web pages. Ray and commissioners said they would pursue follow-up, including inviting a Certified Local Government (CLG) representative to speak to the commission about grant opportunities and technical assistance.

Commissioners raised transparency questions about administrative approvals. After reading a letter from Kelly (city official) they were unsure whether staff would routinely provide a monthly list of administrative approvals, including staff-issued COAs, or whether the city manager’s office would post more applications on the new website. Ray told the commission the city is “trying to provide more information to the public” and that some applications are already posted; he added staff will provide “a list of all the certificates of appropriateness that we approve as staff.” Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether all COAs will be posted and, if not, which types will appear online.

Ray gave a status update on the Chautauqua Park–Ridgewood National Register nomination: the consultant has submitted a revision to the State Historic Preservation Office nomination package, major issues have been resolved, and staff expects the nomination to be before the state review committee in October and forwarded to the National Park Service for final review. “We anticipate that it will be on the state nominations review committee meeting agenda in October,” Ray said; he noted the Park Service often issues decisions within roughly three months after receiving a nomination, though he cautioned timelines are not guaranteed.

Commissioners also discussed local examples of rehabilitation and funding strategies presented at the summit, and asked staff for the commission’s work plan earlier in the fall to allow more time for commissioner input ahead of the December CLG annual-report agenda item. Ray agreed to invite a CLG representative to a future meeting and to provide the work plan earlier in October.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ames City Historic Preservation Commission | June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners described sessions at the Preserve Iowa Summit, discussed possible grant-supported signage and research projects, asked staff about posting certificates of appropriateness on the city website, and received an update on the Chautauqua Park/Ridgewood National Register nomination timeline.","taxTitle","Ames City, Story County, Iowa","taxId",4975,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6206265,"Ames HPC adopts code changes to align accessory dwelling unit rules with new state law",651,361000,1012000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3764407-c9a83318f8c26b9773fa361b09a6c0e5&start=361&end=1012","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3764407-c9a83318f8c26b9773fa361b09a6c0e5/thumbnail_361000.jpg","/articles/6206265/Ames-City/Story-County/Iowa/Ames-HPC-adopts-code-changes-to-align-accessory-dwelling-unit-rules-with-new-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206265-764c655185842a6aff4279869c517144/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189324&Signature=JETDUfG6gXXIDZYJjD-CnPhINOVCFmS9SQfu9zzO1cW3Z~FHWR8TaicHDfAAqTI0VIWicgpnJtfs~n59m6kevv0IgOwwTXNmquvlH~aZn29lDVYXMx4DNTJ~dzD8Obonb-E8hjGoTDOJxNh2JyY-KZ3-dmv9edl-onZ3TsoH4Xx~zaYcnKWuO2B6nyY7acSOWs2KZWoBoScNyMaDjMc9ItJrDVpNbvaFrCAGaSJmKuNBNoTLKLhioAPZhtV-hDjNL6BIDSkdN1KkWopMdUWxX7hyWnRm4mh9keksbNjuijkOdCAo0p4w25K0ItoBPPB9hwLQK6uQZAWzLvf9Gb3Deg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ames Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously on June 9 to adopt Alternative 1, approving revisions to local rules governing accessory dwelling units so the city can comply with new state legislation that takes effect July 1.

The change was driven by state law that, according to city staff, prohibits local regulations that treat accessory dwelling units differently than single-family homes for matters such as height, setbacks and density. “The city last year adopted new accessory dwelling unit regulations,” said Ray, a city staff member, “and earlier this year, the state passed new legislation that preempts or overrode our requirements. We are now required to change everything by July 1.”

Commissioners were told the state law sets a maximum size for ADUs of 1,000 square feet or 50% of the primary residence; removes local ability to require owner-occupancy or additional on-site parking; and prevents cities from requiring ADUs to match exterior design elements such as roof pitch or finish materials. Ray said historic-design review may still apply: “They can't be required to match exterior design, roof pitch, or finishing materials, but they can still be required to comply with historic guidelines and regulations.”

Under the proposed local revisions, the commission and staff will revise Chapters 13 (rental housing), 29 (zoning) and leave Chapter 31 (historic preservation districts) unchanged for now. The city code previously limited ADUs to 900 square feet; the state cap is 1,000 square feet. Staff explained that setbacks for ADUs will change because ADUs must be treated the same as primary dwellings: rear setbacks would increase to match the primary dwelling (20 feet), and side setbacks will depend on building height (commonly 6 to 10 feet).

The commission and staff clarified several scope items during discussion: ADUs will continue to be limited to one bedroom under the proposed local rule; ADUs will be allowed on lots with duplexes but not on lots with apartment buildings; the code will remove the local requirement that an owner live on the property to rent an ADU; and ADUs will be exempted from certain rear-yard lot-coverage limitations for simplicity. Ray said staff did not believe these changes would “materially impact” the commission’s design-review workload because ADU proposals in historic districts would still be subject to the normal review for additions or standalone structures.

A motion to adopt Alternative 1 was made and approved unanimously. The motion text on the record was: “I propose that we adopt alternative 1 as recommended.” Meeting minutes record the outcome as adopted; no individual roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript.

Commissioners asked several follow-up questions that staff said they would clarify in later code edits, including whether ADUs on noncontributing historic properties must meet preservation guidelines; staff said they would research that and return with clarifications if needed.

The commission’s action updates local regulations to conform to state law and directs staff to finish the code amendments before the state law takes effect on July 1.","The Ames Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to adopt staff-recommended revisions to local ADU rules so the city code complies with recent state legislation that preempts certain local ADU regulations.","actionData","errors"]

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Ames HPC members report Preserve Iowa Summit takeaways, seek CLG grants and clarity on COA postings

Ames HPC adopts code changes to align accessory dwelling unit rules with new state law