Ames planning commission recommends council deny Dakota Towns rezoning at 113 North Dakota

The Ames City Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the City Council deny a rezoning, planned unit development (PUD), major site plan and preliminary plat for 113 North Dakota Avenue — a proposal marketed as "Dakota Towns" — after an extended hearing featuring staff presentation, an applicant statement and extensive neighborhood opposition.

City staff presented the application and recommended approval, saying the requested rezoning from low-density residential to residential medium density with a PUD overlay would permit roughly 20 attached townhome units and allow design flexibility to protect steep slopes and meet the goals of the Ames Plan 2040 urban corridor designation. Staff described a 12,500-square-foot slope-protection easement, stormwater memo reviewed by public works, and density calculations of about 14.25 units per acre (gross). Staff also identified the primary requested deviations: reduced front (external) property-line setback from the standard 25 feet to an 8-foot building-to-property-line dimension (noting the sidewalk sits forward of the property line), internally smaller townhome lots, and up to 3-foot encroachments for stoops and decks under the PUD.

Luke Jensen, project lead for RES Development, told…