The Ames Zoning Board of Adjustment on Sept. 10 denied a request to reduce side setbacks for a proposed two‑story single‑family dwelling at 216 North Hazel. City staff recommended denial, saying the proposed footprint would exceed the zoning district’s maximum building coverage and did not meet the state’s practical‑difficulties criteria for dimensional variances.

City planning staff summarized that the property is 6,240 square feet (exceeding the 6,000 square foot minimum) and 52 feet wide. The applicant seeks to reduce the north and south side setbacks for a two‑story house so the house footprint would be about 2,378 square feet — roughly 38 percent of the lot area, which staff noted would exceed the 35 percent maximum building coverage typical in the residential districts. "The purpose of the setbacks is in part to guarantee somewhat uniform development pattern," staff said, and concluded the application did not meet the criteria for practical difficulties.

Applicant Adiva Mini told the board the lot is only two feet wider than minimum and argued that the requested reduction is modest and necessary to provide a usable interior layout, including space on the first floor for a family member with dementia and a live‑in caregiver. "The difference in 3 feet is minor to everybody else, but to the design of the home, obviously, that makes a big difference," Mini said. He provided neighborhood photos showing many older properties with small setbacks and said the requested coverage is near but not far beyond the code limits.

Board members discussed that the lot is a “blank slate” because the prior small dwelling had been demolished and that new construction is ordinarily required to conform with current code. Several members noted that many nearby homes are pre‑existing nonconformities that would not set precedent for new construction. After deliberation a motion to deny the variance carried; staff noted the applicant could build a two‑story home that complies with the 8‑foot side setbacks if they redesign the footprint.

Outcome: Denial of variance request to reduce the north and south side setbacks at 216 North Hazel; decision carries with the standard appeal rights.