Representatives of RDG Planning & Design took the time during Tuesday’s Ames City Council meeting to have a workshop discussing the Ames Plan 2040. 

The Ames Plan was created in 2018 by the Ames City Council, who said it was necessary to construct in 2018 due to large changes in Ames’ population. The current Land Use Policy Plan was not expectant of such a large increase and is being updated to adapt to the urban development.

The purpose of the plan is to adapt Ames to the increasing population. The increase in population has outgrown the abilities and utilities of Ames and has made the newly overgrown city due for reconstruction.

Between 2000 and 2017, Ames has experienced a population increase of more than 14,000 residents, both student and non-student. With an assumption of this trend continuing at a steady rate, Ames is preparing to be home to more than 74,000 citizens by 2040, including students.

The council considered the necessity for the different types of housing, acknowledging that citizens of all generations live in Ames.

Within the meeting, Corey Scott, community and regional planner, primarily filled the council in on the most recent updates of the status of the plan. This meeting specifically focused on the outreach to the public.

RDG has hosted multiple open houses for the Ames public to have the opportunity to voice their concerns. Scott shared that the attendance and feedback from these events has been pleasing.

Aside from open houses, RDG has given the community the resource of an online public input website. The website has received more than 400 comments and concerns from the public. The website has been open since Feb. 5 and will be open until April 15.

Regarding the comments from the public, RDG has narrowed them down to categories of concern. Most comments involve the Ames environment, an increase in employment and the appearance of Ames.

The members of RDG assured the council that it is taking every public comment into consideration, and have the best interest of the community in mind.

It was mentioned within the presentation a plan to increase the amount of multi-family housing in Ames and focus on commercial growth and development near the North Grand Mall. This was decided from the results of a poll open to the public asking the community what kind of change they would like to see in Ames within the next 20 years.

The Ames public was not heard from at this meeting; however, RDG encourages the public to keep reaching out with concerns. The council will meet with RDG again April 23 to further discuss the Ames Plan 2040.