The Ames City Council voted on a zoning change for social service providers in the Single-Family Conservation Overlay (O-SFC) district.
The proposal, requested by Matt Mitchell of Ames Romero house, would allow social services in the O-SFC if they receive a Special Use Permit.
The Romero house website states, “We offer daytime assistance where guests in need can share food, fellowship, and other amenities. Our founding principles are solidarity with those experiencing poverty, hospitality to them, and community with them. As a Catholic Worker community, and 501c3 Non-Profit organization, we offer hospitality to those seeking assistance.”
The Romero house, located at 709 Clark Ave., wants to move to 702 Clark Ave., but current zoning rules prohibit such uses.
The O-SFC zoning was created in the 1990s to protect single-family neighborhoods near downtown from higher-density and non-residential uses.
Residents at a public meeting Oct. 8 expressed concerns about the potential impact of the change, including fears of increased crime, neighborhood instability and a rise in social service facilities. Several Ames residents also spoke on Tuesday night, with some objecting to the zoning change and others advocating for it.
The council was given five options:
- Allow social service providers with a Special Use Permit throughout the O-SFC. This original proposal would apply broadly but lacks limitations to the number or location of new facilities.
- Restrict social service providers to areas near commercial zoning, such as the 600 block of Clark Avenue and portions of 7th Street and limit to one new site.
- The “Mayor’s Alternative” would rezone 702 Clark Ave. and another nearby property, allowing social service providers without changing the overlay rules. This would also require new hearings and approvals.
- Create a new zoning category for social service providers, which would define specific standards for such uses, including rules for building modifications, location criteria and separation requirements.
- Deny the proposal entirely. This would leave the current O-SFC zoning unchanged and require social service providers to serve in other areas.
“I would like to move option five that we deny the request, which is not to say that at some point in the future, we don’t return to this in a different form,” Ward 3 Rep. Gloria Betcher said. “I don’t think that this is going to solve homelessness, and I appreciate everything that the Romero house does for the community, but that shouldn’t be how we’re making zoning decisions.”
At-Large Rep. Anita Rollins seconded the motion. Rollins said she does not have enough information to make a confident decision and that “we would not have some unintended consequence that is also of importance to the council to address.”
At-Large Rep. Amber Corrieri responded, saying she “came into this meeting tonight prepared” to support Betcher’s motion and deny the request.
“I keep coming back to the question of, what is the right thing to do?” Corrieri said. “We need to ask the question of what we want the neighborhood to look like, but we also have to ask the question of what kind of community we want to be. I cannot let process get in the way of what I think is the right thing to do, and so I’m not going to vote for the motion. I support option three.”
Ward 1 Rep. Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen voted against the motion to deny the request and favored option two.
“We are undertaking a study on homelessness, so I hope that folks are hearing that too,” Beatty-Hansen said. “We are going to keep looking at this issue because we recognize that we do need a comprehensive approach and there are other things that are needed in our toolkit when it comes to addressing that. This is not going to be the only conversation we have on this topic.”
Ward 2 Rep. Tim Gartin also voted against the motion and spoke in favor of option two. He said, “The conversation doesn’t have to end with simply one solution. I think that this conversation and this turnout indicates that we need to have a much broader conversation.”
Ward 4 Rep. Rachel Junck voted against the motion and said she favors a compromise.
“I think with the importance of social services in our community, we should find a way for the Ames Romero house to keep providing these services, so depending on the council, I’m more supportive of alternatives two and three,” Junck said.
A new motion to approve option two passed 4-2. The council will review the proposed amendment and approval at its Dec. 10 meeting.
Additional Measures
The council unanimously voted to allow temporary events, like the Renaissance Fair, at 1400 South Fourth Street under a Special Use Permit. This process includes a public hearing to ensure events fit well with the nearby areas by setting specific conditions for each event.
The council also approved amending the city-wide ownership housing new construction urban revitalization plan to create an incentive program for net-zero-ready, all-electric homes with solar installations. The program requires homes to use electric systems exclusively and install solar arrays covering at least 50% of projected energy use, with additional abatements.
An update on the construction of Steven L. Schainker Plaza was given, with most done except the ice-skating ribbon. Landscaping and final touches will be finished by spring 2025 and the Plaza will open once everything is complete.
