Commission backs rezoning of 2715 Dayton Avenue to government airport district for interim animal‑shelter site

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the City Council rezone 2715 Dayton Avenue from agricultural to SGA (government/airport district) to allow the City of Ames to use the former Eagles Loft preschool for a new animal shelter and to temporarily store Parks and Recreation tree debris on portions of the site.

City staff explained the city purchased the former preschool and intends to remodel it for an animal shelter, with an addition for dog kennel space. “Our plan is to, remodel the former Eagles Loft, and we'd probably look at addition, for the dog kennel area because it's not possible to kinda do that with modern animal shelter techniques in that existing shell,” said Corey Mellows, the city’s building and facilities director.

Staff said the city expects to bid remodeling work this winter and hopes to occupy the site in early 2027. The property includes about 2.5–3 acres of area that would not be used by the shelter initially; staff said Parks and Recreation would temporarily use that area for outdoor storage of tree debris (mulch and wood) displaced by work at another maintenance site. Parks and Rec’s temporary use was described as short term, approximately a year and a half to two years, after which the city expects tree debris operations to move to the resource‑recovery and recycling center on Friel Drive.

The rezoning drew questions from an adjacent resident who said his house sits roughly 16.5 feet from the property line and asked what “government/airport” zoning allows and whether future uses would be limited. Staff replied that when the city owns property and applies government zoning, the city council determines the use and that SGA zoning does not automatically impose use limits; staff said the minor site plan process will address technical elements such as parking, landscaping, fire access and utilities, and that more detailed facility design will follow after an architect is hired. Staff noted that if the property had been privately purchased, general industrial zoning (GI) would have been the comp‑plan match for employment uses, but the city selected SGA because it intends the property for a government purpose.

Commissioners voted to recommend the rezoning. The recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action; staff noted council will later review architecture, bid documents and site plans as those elements are developed.