Story County approves first reading of rezoning to allow concrete/asphalt operations at 1901 S. Dayton Ave. with conditions

The Story County Board of Supervisors voted on May 20, 2025, to approve on first consideration a rezoning request to change two parcels at 1901 South Dayton Avenue from A-1 Agricultural and Commercial Light Industrial to the HI Heavy Industrial District, limiting uses on first consideration to concrete mixing, concrete products manufacture, and concrete and asphalt recycling and stockpiling materials.

The vote on first consideration was Merkin aye, Basil aye and Heddens no, and supervisors said they would not set second or third consideration until required conditions — including a signed conditional rezoning/annexation agreement with the City of Ames and specific conservation protections — are completed.

Staff said the property lies in Story County’s Cornerstone to Capstone (C2C) planning area designated for urban expansion and contains mapped special flood hazard areas under the National Flood Insurance Program; the applicant has started a FEMA letter of map revision but it has not been completed. Staff recommended a conditional rezoning so the board could attach time-limited and use-specific conditions to the approval.

David Jensen, owner of the adjacent former truck stop site, spoke in public comment and said he believed the request conflicted with the C2C plan and neighboring city plans. "I do not think that is is a compatible use," Jensen said, adding he and his design team had envisioned residential and commercial gateway development across the street and voiced concern about dust and noise from heavy industrial uses.

Planning staff said conditions recommended by interagency review require coordination with Story County Conservation, including placing portions of the parcels into a conservation easement or rezoning to Greenbelt Conservation and defining landscaping (species, size, quantities) to protect the adjacent river corridor. Staff also said the HI rezoning being requested would be limited by condition to the concrete/asphalt uses rather than opening the site to the full list of HI-permitted uses.

Supervisors and staff discussed tying the timing and duration of the allowed uses to an annexation agreement with the City of Ames; staff said they would not bring this item back for third consideration until the applicant and city sign an annexation agreement and until conservation easement/legal boundaries and floodplain changes are resolved. Staff noted the Planning and Zoning Commission was split and had no recommendation.

The board’s action was limited to first consideration of Ordinance 3-25 with conditions; the ordinance will return for additional readings only after the required documents are executed and staff confirms the floodplain and conservation conditions.

For now, the rezoning remains conditional and subject to future site-plan and Chapter 88 site standards review before any development may proceed.