A divided City Council referred changes to the Land Use Policy Plan — including involuntary annexation — back to staff to adopt policy text after the mayor cast an affirmative vote to break the tie.

Councilmen Russ Cross, Daryle Vegge and Steve Goodhue approved sending all eight resolutions back to staff. Council members Riad Mahayni, Judie Hoffman and Sharon Wirth voted against the motion in order to consider each recommended change on its own.

“We’re not looking at any specific involuntary annexation projects tonight, we’re just setting a policy,” Goodhue.

Residents addressed concerns about annexation and the environmental effects of extending a sewer line in the area along Worle Creek.

Joe Pietruszynski, Ames city planner, said major capital improvement plans to the southwest of Ames are “more consistent with the plan.”

“Those improvements not only serve existing growth, they serve the future of our community,” he said.

The southwest area is an “efficient place for growth” due to its accessibility by roads and its downward gravitational flow, Pietruszynski said.

“Services can be provided there at a lower cost,” he said.

Mimi Wagner, 1106 Harding Ave., requested the council take caution when developing near streams.

“Although economic decisions are really critical, we also need to remember the stream and creeks left … are really precious resources,” Wagner said.

Alan Munson, 4001 Dartmoor Rd., presented a petition with 1,095 signatures of people who oppose the sewer line running through Worle Creek, and more signatures were coming, he said.

The City Council voted to refer the Worle Creek issue back to staff to find alternatives to the sewer line. The staff was requested to report back to the council at its Dec. 16 meeting.

“The City of Ames has mapped the environmentally sensitive areas in the City of Ames,” Hoffman said. “I think we have been proactive in that way and I strongly suggest we do that outside the city.”

Due to high costs of moving infrastructures to the southwest area, Herb Harmison, 2692 Meadow Glen Rd., said the city should have a clearly defined reason for annexation. Cosmetic reasons, such as jagged city boundaries, are unreasonable purposes, he said.

“It seems to me the city should avoid involuntary annexation at all possible costs,” Harmison said.

David Atwood, ISU physics and astronomy lecturer and resident of 2732 Meadow Glen Rd., said if the southwest area including Meadow Glen was annexed, it would be very costly for the residents and the city.

“Retired neighbors dependent on fixed income may be forced from their homes,” he said of the cost to residents.

Cross said the decision by the council only refers the changes back to staff so language for the proposed policies can be adopted. When the language is brought back to the council, it can adopt, reject or amend the language, he said.

“When we send these [recommendations] to staff to draft language, that’s not the end of it,” he said.

At Tuesday’s meeting the City Council also approved suspension of parking restrictions in Campustown for Nov. 28 and Nov. 29 for an after-Thanksgiving shopping promotion.

The next City Council meeting will occur at 7 p.m. Nov. 25 in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Ave.