Ames City planning commission recommends approval of ISU Research Park Phase 4 preliminary plat

The Ames City Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve the preliminary plat for ISU Research Park Phase 4 at 4200 University Boulevard, including a waiver permitting multiple direct access points onto University Boulevard and an agreement to complete a second water main within 10 years.

City planning staff described the parcel as a single development lot with an adjoining outlot that would remain in agricultural production and said water and sanitary sewer would be extended from the north. ‘‘We are recommending approval, with the waiver for multiple access points and an agreement for completing the water main looping that will be provided with final planning,’’ a city planning staff member said during the presentation. Staff also said the project’s private stormwater facilities will convey to regional detention north of the site.

The staff presentation noted the subdivision standards generally discourage direct access onto arterial streets, but supported the waiver in this case because the parcel is large and the proposed entrance spacing meets statewide urban design standards; a traffic study showed no additional turn lanes or other improvements are needed. Commissioners asked about potential agricultural‑equipment use of the access points, spacing relative to an existing farmstead access, and whether future road construction would be paved. Staff replied the farmstead access was preexisting and specific spacing standards did not apply, the road extension is a future phase and no dedications are required with this plat, and private stormwater lines are planned to convey to the regional facilities.

The applicant was not present for the item and no members of the public testified. After questions and discussion the commission moved to approve staff’s Alternative 1 recommendation: a favorable recommendation to council with the waiver for multiple access points and the water‑looping agreement to be completed with final planning. A voice vote was taken and the chair declared the motion passed.

Procedural votes earlier in the meeting included adoption of the agenda and approval of the minutes from 01/07/2026; those motions were approved by voice vote. The commission closed the meeting with a scheduling note from staff about the next meeting in early February and then adjourned.

What happens next: the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Ames City Council for final action. The applicant and staff will address final engineering and the water‑main looping agreement as part of the final plat and permitting process.