The Ames City Council is working on a temporary ban on demolition, construction and improvements on certain Campustown properties.

On Aug. 10, the council unanimously approved the first reading of the Demolition and Development Deferral Overlay District, but the ordinance must be voted on two more times and signed by the mayor before it takes effect.

The ordinance was defeated at the July 13 meeting after a ‘no’ vote by Steve Goodhue and because some council members were not in attendance. It was placed on the Aug. 10 agenda, where all council members were expected to vote. Goodhue, however, was not present for the vote.

Jeff Benson, city planner, said the moratorium issue arose because of concern about preserving the feel and look of historic Campustown. Developers wishing to build on a historic site can submit plans to the city and receive approval to demolish a historic building in just 17 days, he said.

“The possibility of seven-story high-rises being built on Knapp Street is very unsettling,” said Sharon Wirth, the council member who brought the moratorium to vote at the Aug. 10 meeting.

Ames residents were also concerned about specific construction projects such as Chamberlain Lofts and Legacy Towers and about parking issues that could arise from further development.

Russ McCullough, who represented Ev Cochrane and Associates at the July 13 City Council meeting, said the decision to develop requires long-term planning and attaining property can take several years. According to the minutes from the July meeting, McCullough said Ev Cochrane and Associates began development on Stanton Avenue in the early 1980s and has been playing by the rules. At the meeting, McCullough said the rights of developers need to be protected.

Benson said that developers are resistant to change, but some do see a need for better planning. He said the developers position is “Generally we don’t like to be stopped.”

This development ban, which would be in effect until Jan. 1, 2005, is intended to protect historic properties until the city planners finish a land use policy plan for the University-Impacted Area. The University-Impacted Area includes property surrounding Campustown and certain areas adjacent to the Iowa State campus.

City planners are confident the new rules for the University-Impacted Area will be in place when the moratorium ends.

“Students are big stakeholders in the outcome of this project,” Benson said. “It seems logical that they would have a say in the shape of the plan.”

Benson said community and student input will be welcome at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 in room 235 of City Hall, 515 Clark Ave.