Ames could run into conflict with other communities as it expands its borders with new subdivisions and development.

The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet to discuss land use policies concerning Ames’ outlying areas Wednesday with the goal of minimizing those potential difficulties.

Students, developers, environmentalists and city residents are invited to the meeting, which covers land use planning and procedures for the two-mile circumference around the city limits of Ames — Ames’ urban fringe area.

“The land use plans have several government entities that are trying to hammer out what would be acceptable and what wouldn’t,” said Mike Espeset, a committee member.

The land being discussed overlaps with the cities of Gilbert and Kelley and is located in Boone and Story counties.

Jennie LeGates, the committee chairwoman, said that the land in question can be difficult to zone because some land overlaps two cities and developers need to get approval from both places for the plans.

“[Policies] give some degree of certainty of what to do with the land,” she said.

The committee is trying to put together an agreement of the cities’ government entities, LeGates said.

She said maintaining farmland and wildlife and controlling growth were important issues.

The urban fringe area impacts existing land owners the most in the area, LeGates said.

But Espeset said the project is important to everyone. Some of the land being discussed is owned by Iowa State and is wildlife area used for research, he said. Also, busing for local schools and building septic systems may not be properly planned at this point, he said.

If Ames eventually annexes some of this property, the city would inherit any need for upgrades or improvements.

“We can’t alter the environment for research,” LeGates said. “But if the university decides to sell, we’d know what to do with the land.”

LeGates said other important areas include keeping valuable farmland instead of creating subdevelopments while annexing other land for future development.

“If it’s not planned for or built carefully, it can be costly,” she said.

Small acreages of may be reserved for people who want to live outside the city while still being close to it, LeGates said.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers at City Hall, 515 Clark Ave.