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Commission backs rezoning for 15‑acre ISU Research Park Phase 4; adjacent owner raises notification concerns
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that City Council rezone a 15.25‑acre portion of a larger annexed parcel to Research Park Innovation (RI) for equipment testing and storage, and a nearby landowner testified he had not received timely notice of the proposal.
The Ames Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend City Council approve rezoning a 15.25‑acre portion of annexed land south of the ISU Research Park from Agricultural to Research Park Innovation District (RI) with a master plan to illustrate future infrastructure and circulation.
Staff described the request as a split zoning of a larger 40‑acre parcel; the proposed RI designation matches the Research Park zoning to the north and aligns with the Plan 2040 employment designation. Staff said the rezoned 15 acres is the immediate development area where buildings and a test track for agricultural equipment are proposed; the remaining 25 acres would remain in agricultural production and be used for equipment testing in row‑crop configuration.
Rick Sanders, president and executive director of the Research Park, said the proposal is intended for a single equipment manufacturer and emphasized that the ground intended for testing would remain in agricultural production. He said the master plan is illustrative and not binding for the non‑annexed parcels not yet in the city.
During public comment, Kyle Clark, an adjacent landowner whose parcel remains in the county, said he was not notified of the proposal until the night before the meeting and expressed concern about how the rezoning and future development could affect his property and its value. Staff reviewed assessor records and told the commission that mailed notices were sent to the mailing address on file with the assessor (which staff said differed from the landowner’s property address); staff also said a sign had been posted on the property several days earlier and that they would check whether weather had obscured it.
Commissioners discussed whether the entire 40‑acre property should be rezoned; staff and several commissioners said the 15‑acre rezoning is appropriate now because it is the immediate development site and the owner will use the remainder for agricultural testing. Commissioners noted that detailed setbacks, buffers and infrastructure will be reviewed at the subdivision and site‑plan stages that follow rezoning. A motion to recommend approval, based on staff findings and with a master plan, passed by voice vote. The advisory recommendation will go to City Council for final action.
