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Historic Preservation Commission asks staff for code sections after zoning text amendment correspondence
Summary
The Ames City Historic Preservation Commission agreed to pause further action on a previously sent letter about a zoning text amendment and requested staff provide relevant sections of Chapter 29 and Chapter 31 and any supplemental materials for the commission's next meeting.
The Ames City Historic Preservation Commission voted to postpone further action on a previously sent letter to the mayor and city council regarding a zoning text amendment and instructed staff to provide the commission with the relevant code language and any supplemental documents ahead of the next meeting.
Commission members said the zoning board of adjustments has completed its action on the text amendment and that the commission’s earlier letter had not received a response. During discussion, commissioners expressed a desire to clarify the historic preservation commission’s roles and responsibilities under the municipal code before sending additional communications.
A motion was made to defer further action until the next regular meeting and to have staff gather and distribute Chapter 29 and Chapter 31 sections that reference the Historic Preservation Commission, plus any available memos or background documents explaining prior interpretations. The motion was seconded and passed.
Commissioners and members of the public suggested additional resources the commission might request: the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, training materials from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and the certified local government agreement between the city and the state historic preservation office. David Carter, a resident, recommended SHPO training material and noted that the certified local government agreement and state training resources could be useful for the commission’s orientation.
Commissioners also used the commission‑comments portion of the agenda to flag a separate community outreach idea: an architecture/house‑tour event in coordination with the local museum and architects to highlight historic resources. Commissioners expressed support for staff to follow up and report back at a future meeting.
The commission instructed staff to place the code excerpts and any supplemental materials on the agenda for the next meeting and to advise the commission where the HPC is referenced in Chapter 29 and Chapter 31.
