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Planning commission recommends rezoning for city transfer station on Freehold Drive
Summary
The Ames City Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend rezoning about 9.5 acres on Freehold Drive from General Industrial to Government/Airport to allow a city resource‑recovery and transfer station; staff cited consistency with the Ames 2040 plan and described floodplain and operational safeguards. The item will go to city council for first reading.
Parker Walsh, an assistant planner for Ames City, presented a city‑initiated rezoning request to change five parcels totaling about 9.5 acres at and near 400 Freehold Drive from General Industrial (GI) to Government/Airport (SGA) to accommodate a resource‑recovery and recycling campus run by the city.
Walsh told the commission the transfer station would accept municipal solid waste, recyclables and yard waste for off‑site transfer and disposal, and that the rezoning is consistent with the jurisdiction’s Ames 2040 plan. He said the site is within the 100‑year floodplain and that site‑plan review will require flood‑protection measures; the city applies a 3‑foot protection standard above base flood elevation for improvements.
Justin Claussen, the city’s public works director, said operational projections estimate about 35–45 packer trucks delivering municipal collections to the facility in the morning peak and roughly 40–50 outbound trucks per day. Claussen said most inbound trucks arrive before 11 a.m., the operation would run Monday–Friday during daytime hours, and staff do not expect significant queuing on local streets. He said the facility would do only limited on‑site shredding to remove metals and that the operation would comply with the city’s noise ordinance.
A nearby resident who identified their occupied address at 118 Freel Drive spoke in opposition, citing concerns about increased truck traffic, flooding and odor and warning the zoning change could reduce the value and livability of the residential property. Staff answered that the current GI zoning already allows transfer‑station uses as a special use and that, if rezoning were not approved, the city could proceed through the zoning board of adjustment and site‑plan review; rezoning to SGA instead provides a municipal‑use pathway and greater flexibility for city‑owned properties.
After questions about flood‑plain protections and compatibility with surrounding industrial uses, Commissioner Speaker 2 moved to recommend approval (Alternative 1). The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote; staff said the item is scheduled for city council first reading on Nov. 18.
The commission’s recommendation is advisory; council will make the final decision. If the rezoning is approved, site‑plan review will follow and will address flood‑protection measures, paving of frontage, and other design details before construction proceeds.
