Indianola commission approves industrial lot split, Emerald Bay plat and Simpson Athletics site plan

At its April 22, 2025 meeting, the Indianola Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a plat of survey splitting an industrial parcel on East Iowa Avenue, vacate a recorded storm-sewer easement in Emerald Bay Plat 1 and approve Emerald Bay Plat 2, and approve the final plat and site plan for Simpson Athletics Training and Competition Facility.

The lot split was presented by Matt Thomas of B & K Engineering on behalf of Fat Cam Incorporated / Camrick LLC. The property at 1400 East Iowa Avenue was described in the packet as roughly 2.44 acres and is zoned M-2 (General Industrial). Thomas said the proposal divides the existing Parcel A of Lot 11 into two lots so the east building can be sold. He told the commission the Board of Adjustment already granted an interior side-yard setback variance needed after the split; the presentation packet shows Parcel A as about 1.31 acres and Parcel B as about 1.13 acres and a 70-by-70 ingress/egress easement is shown to provide alternate access and emergency services access. A motion to approve the plat of survey passed; commissioners called during the roll call recorded affirmative votes from Marmon, Ritchie, Armin, Werteman, Ives and Piper.

Emerald Bay LLC, represented by Wally Peltz of Peltz Design Services, asked the commission to vacate a recorded storm sewer easement in Emerald Bay Plat 1 and to approve Emerald Bay Plat 2. Peltz said the revised final plat (about 9.63 acres) shifts an internal lot line to enlarge a single commercial lot to accommodate a potential tenant, relocates the stormwater detention pond, and enlarges an outlot held for parkland and trail amenities. Peltz told the commission the change does not alter the PUD zoning and that the utilities remain essentially the same, except for the revised storm-sewer alignment. Resident Mike Cash spoke during public comment about a separate property-line dispute on nearby lots; the commission and staff characterized that as a private landowner dispute and not a bar to the commission acting on the final plat and easement vacation. The commission voted to approve the storm-sewer easement vacation and then voted to approve Emerald Bay Plat 2; recorded roll-call answers during each vote were all affirmative.

Simpson College, represented by Bonnie Applegate of Snyder & Associates, sought approval of a final plat and a site plan for a new indoor athletic facility to be addressed as 805 West Iowa Avenue. Staff told the commission the whole Simpson parcel is about 18.85 acres while the developable area for the project is roughly 2.91 acres. The proposed building was described in staff materials as roughly 26,000 square feet and about 29 feet in height; the site plan provides 58 parking spaces (including three accessible spaces), a privately owned detention basin west of the parking area that will drain to a creek on Simpson property, and a pedestrian connection from West Iowa. Staff recommended approval subject to remaining staff comments. The commission approved the final plat and then approved the site plan in separate votes recorded as affirmative.

Votes at a glance: - Plat of survey — Parcel B / Parcel A, Indianola Industrial Park Lot 11: motion to approve passed (recorded yes votes: Marmon; Ritchie; Armin; Werteman; Ives; Piper). Outcome: approved. - Vacation of storm sewer easement — Emerald Bay, Plat 1: motion to approve passed (recorded yes votes called during roll call). Outcome: approved; staff noted the easement is recorded and must be vacated by city order or resolution. - Emerald Bay, Plat 2 — final plat: motion to approve passed (recorded yes votes called during roll call). Outcome: approved. - Simpson Athletics — final plat (Plat 1): motion to approve passed (recorded yes votes called during roll call). Outcome: approved. - Simpson Athletics — site plan for Training and Competition Facility: motion to approve passed (recorded yes votes called during roll call). Outcome: approved.

Staff and developers noted the Board of Adjustment had already approved the internal setback variance needed for the industrial lot split; the easement vacation was described as a recorded easement that requires a formal city resolution or order to vacate. For Simpson Athletics, staff noted open-space calculations use the project’s developable acreage rather than the full adjacent holdings and that the stormwater features will remain privately owned and maintained, as they do not extend into city utilities.

The commission’s approvals were recorded in the meeting minutes and will appear in the official record. Several items drew questions from commissioners about notice, easement maintenance, and how proposed plat changes interact with existing PUD approvals; staff answered those procedural questions during the meeting.