The Ames City Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that City Council approve zoning text amendments to modify driveway width and spacing standards, following a request from the Ames Home Builders Association.

Staff said the association asked for more flexibility to reduce on‑site tapering and accommodate wider garage facades. Under the motion the commission approved, the maximum driveway curb‑cut width would be 34 feet measured at the curb line; second driveways would be permitted on lots with at least 100 feet of frontage; the required spacing between driveways would be 34 feet; and each leg of a looped driveway along the same frontage would be limited to 15 feet maximum width. Staff noted the change would also alter how measurements are taken (moving the controlling measurement to the curb line rather than at the private property transition).

Staff described concerns about safety and on‑street parking: overly wide curb cuts can reduce public on‑street parking and create safety or sight‑distance issues, staff said, but recommended the measured change and numerical limits as a compromise that retains on‑street parking and access considerations while giving builders more flexibility. The Home Builders Association requested the change but no applicant representative attended the meeting.

The commission approved the text amendment motion by voice vote.

Separately, the commission considered a public comment asking whether a very long driveway could remain gravel rather than requiring full paving. Staff said current policy requires paved driveways and that paving triggers when a property becomes a rental or when a garage or major parking improvement is replaced; staff noted a 50‑foot paved approach is required for certain low‑use industrial sites and said the city could consider a similar approach standard for very long residential driveways.

Commissioners discussed possible thresholds and several suggested 300 feet as a pragmatic cutoff for an exception. A motion recommending that City Council consider allowing unpaved surfaces for driveways longer than 300 feet provided a minimum paved approach of 50 feet passed by voice vote; the commission instructed staff to frame the proposal for council consideration. Staff noted such an exception would be rarely used in Ames and that any exception would still require a paved approach to protect roadway maintenance.