Ames City Council annexes former Borgmeyer Farm; development agreement deferred

The Ames City Council voted Tuesday to annex the former Borgmeyer Farm and several adjacent parcels, including a strip of railroad right-of-way, but deferred signing a development agreement until later rezoning and incentive discussions.

City planning staff said the annexation covers the large Borgmeyer parcel north of the city and nonconsenting properties along George Washington Carver and Hyde Avenue that would otherwise become jurisdictional islands. City staff recommended the council find the annexation consistent with the comprehensive plan and to include the railroad corridor to avoid future boundary issues.

Planning staff explained the developer has requested city incentives to help pay for infrastructure. Because negotiations over incentives remain underway, staff recommended the council defer the development agreement until the rezoning stage so details about infrastructure financing and any incentives can be resolved before the agreement is finalized.

Resident Paul Larson raised questions during public forum about septic systems and sewer connections for properties along 190th Avenue and for facilities on the Irons Way golf course, urging council and engineers to consider topography, pump/lift requirements and existing septic systems when planning sewer infrastructure. Staff did not make any immediate commitments in response but the annexation vote and the deferral keep those infrastructure issues for later, project-level review.

Council approved the annexation and the recommendation to defer the development agreement. The city will consider the development agreement during rezoning when discussions about incentives conclude.