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Pella Historical Society granted trolley station site plan but must resolve alley ownership and paving first
Summary
The commission approved a 700-square-foot trolley garage and 0.12-acre paving at 712 Washington St. but attached conditions requiring alley ownership be established, the alley be paved to SUDAS standards, an electrical easement granted, owner approval for paving deposited, and a prohibition on trolley operations until paving is complete. Vote: 6-0.
The Pella Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 23 approved a site plan for the Pella Historical Society to build a 700-square-foot trolley garage and to convert about 0.12 acres of gravel to Portland cement concrete at 712 Washington St., but only after the applicant meets several conditions.
Planning staff told the commission the site is designated “Downtown Mixed Use” on the City’s Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map and supported approval with conditions because alley ownership and utilities need resolution. Staff’s conditions — recorded in the minutes — require that alley ownership be established and the alley be paved to Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) standards, an electrical easement be granted to the City per Electric Department requirements, written approval for paving be provided by the owner of Lot 3 (706 Washington St.) and deposited with the Planning and Zoning Department, and that no trolley bus operations may commence before the alley is paved per the site plan.
Brad Uitermarkt, president of Garden & Associates, said the alley is actually Lot 5 and that the question of ownership complicates the project. Jessi Galligan, Pella Historical Museums Director, said the group expects to complete exterior updates to the existing building but does not plan to open it for Tulip Time this year; she said current plans call for offering trolley tours two to three times per day on Mondays through Saturdays, though she did not project ridership numbers. Commissioners asked about the project timeline and stormwater; Uitermarkt said stormwater runs east toward Main Street. Bob Zylstra, speaking in favor, said paving a gravel alley in the central business district would be an improvement.
Commissioner Joe Canfield moved to approve the site plan with the listed conditions; Commissioner Julio Chiarella seconded and the motion carried 6-0. The approval allows the Pella Historical Society to proceed toward final permitting and the certificate of occupancy process once conditions are met.
