The Ames City Council voted Tuesday to hold off on plans to rezone a 21-acre plot of land in southern Ames for condominiums, based on concerns from ISU administrators and Ames residents.

The council approved plans for a less controversial zoning change in the same area and deferred a decision on the condominium land at its Tuesday meeting after several arguments. The land sits between Cedar Lane, State Avenue and is south of Oakland Road.

The Friedrich Company has plans to develop 96 acres of this land into low-density single family units. The other 21 acres are intended to be medium-density condominium homes.

Community members voiced concerns about traffic increasing in their neighborhoods as a result of the number of people — about 1,000 — the development would be capable of housing. Concerns were also raised about the aesthetic value of the surrounding countryside being blocked out by large condominiums, the glare from street lights that would be erected and the destruction of a vintage barn on the proposed construction site.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, spoke on behalf of the university and the community because he lives on Oakwood Road, near the proposed development site. Madden said he was mainly concerned about the effect the development would have for nearby university property. Madden said building on the site could change the area’s watershed, which could potentially cause runoff from the development to flow on to university land.

The land nearby is used for agricultural education and contamination from runoff would hamper education, he said.

Madden’s wife, Beverly, voiced her concerns, as well, to what she calls an ironic use of the land in question.

“We’ve lived in this neighborhood for almost 30 years. Years ago, we contacted the owner of the land about purchasing the land. His reply to us was that he valued the view of the countryside out his front window too much to sell it in his lifetime,” Beverly said.

She said the irony of the situation was that the view would be blocked by the development.

The council voted to rezone the land for the single-family dwellings but voted down the hearing to rezone the northern 21 acres of land for medium density condominiums. An amendment was made on this hearing to have the Friedrich Company, community members and city staff meet and discuss a compromise.

Councilman Steve Goodhue called for the amendment and suggested the developers have a 50- to 60-foot buffer zone between existing communities off of Oakwood Road and Cedar Lane as well as a less dense condominium development. Friedrich’s plans call for a 25-foot buffer zone.

Representatives from Friedrich made a presentation to the council, reassuring council members and residents that the development would be a tasteful and valuable addition to the community. Friedrich officials argued the condominiums they propose on building would not harm the aesthetic value of the land.