Commission backs allowing gravel maneuvering areas for agricultural equipment in RI zone

The Ames City Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that City Council amend the zoning code to allow gravel as a paving surface for agricultural-equipment maneuvering areas in the Research Park Innovation (RI) zone, with approval by the planning director.

City planning staff presented the narrowly tailored amendment as a way to reduce construction costs while preserving the Research Park’s design and landscaping standards. The staff member explained that principal-access areas visible from the street would still have to be paved, that unpaved areas would need to be accessory and located behind principal buildings, and that the planning director could require additional landscaping or buffering.

Rick Sanders, president and director of the ISU Research Park, told commissioners the change responds to a specific development and testing need on land recently annexed to the city. “It’s between $500,000 and $700,000 in cost savings,” Sanders said, and added that some large agricultural machines quickly damage paved surfaces: “no matter how well you pave something, it’s gonna destroy that pavement pretty quickly.” He described the proposal as tied to a real project involving equipment storage and testing and said the Research Park had acquired nearby acreage to support the work.

Commissioners asked about setbacks and visibility. Staff said placing unpaved maneuvering areas behind principal buildings and complying with building setbacks was intended to address visibility concerns, while adjacency to neighboring properties remained the principal source of potential nuisance issues. Staff noted an alternative approach would elevate review to the zoning board of adjustment (with public notice), but recommended planning director review to keep the exception narrowly applied to the RI district.

A commissioner moved to recommend City Council adopt staff’s first alternative—allowing gravel for agricultural equipment maneuvering areas in the RI zone subject to planning director approval—and another commissioner seconded. The Chair called for a voice vote, and the motion passed.

The recommendation now moves to the City Council for consideration. Commissioners also heard brief updates about a likely upcoming planned-unit-development phase for the Tedesco Learning Center and ongoing City Council discussion of development incentives tied to single-family construction.