Ames City Council members spent over three hours Tuesday night debating two developmental issues facing Ames residents — the University-Impacted Overlay District and the Urban Fringe Plan.

The proposed plan for the University-Impacted Overlay District, which includes architectural requirements for neighborhoods surrounding the Greek houses and Campustown, was put on hold until October after council members asked City Planner Jeff Benson for clearer stipulations and definitions of design requirements.

“There were several questions raised by council — issues regarding balconies, the lax restrictions regarding the sorority/fraternity area compared to the west area and building heights,” said Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco. “Council and staff weren’t prepared to go through with the plan.”

Ames Police Chief Loras Jaeger also voiced concerns on the balcony issue, which has been prompted by numerous complaints.

“People consistently throw items off of balconies, and we can’t differentiate which balcony. When we can identify it, people won’t answer their door,” Jaeger said.

Tedesco said during ride-alongs with police on three different Saturdays, they received complaints each night.

Ames residents also spoke up requesting clearer guidelines in order to maintain compatibility with the existing buildings.

“More absolutes need to be given so developers know absolutely what the guidelines are,” said Gloria Betcher, 531 Hayward Ave. and chairperson for the Historic Preservation Commission.

Matt Randall, vice president of Randall Corporation, 420 S. 17th St., said he was concerned with the 30 feet setbacks for commercial businesses along Welch Avenue and Lincoln Way outlined in the plan.

“Anytime you squeeze businesses in one way, they grow the other way,” Randall said, gesturing growth upwards. “When that happens, in this case, you have structural issues.”

Councilman Matthew Goodman expressed frustration when the council moved to table the discussion until October, but agreed that clearer stipulations were needed.

Council members also discussed the next step for the Urban Fringe Plan, a land-use policy for the outlying two-mile radius around the city. This plan involves four central jurisdictions — Ames, Gilbert, Boone County and Story County — and Benson said a meeting among the jurisdictions is scheduled for next week to revise and agree to a plan.

Benson said he expects the plan to be ready to be voted on by all four jurisdictions by August.

Both Goodman and Councilman Russ Cross said it would be a good idea for the council to hold an internal meeting with city staff to go over the plan.

The meeting, tentatively scheduled for July or August, would establish what the council would like to see in the next version of the plan.