Council advances Metro Ice sale: staff supports rezoning 5.9 acres to PUD for resale to building owner

The council considered a request to amend the comprehensive plan and rezone about 5.9 acres of city-owned land adjacent to the Metro Ice facility so the building owner (DM Rink Partners) could purchase the land and own both building and site. Assistant Community Development Director Christy Bales explained that the city entered into a lease with the building owner in 1996 and that the ice facility ceased operations about two years ago. The proposed rezoning from R‑1S (single-family suburban) to PUD would allow staff and council to specify permitted uses for the site and allow certain recreational and wellness programming while excluding larger assembly uses such as exhibit halls and conference-center uses.

Staff said the current land‑use designation in the forward Urbandale plan shows the property as parks and open space; staff recommended a public/semi‑public future-land‑use designation with PUD zoning to reflect the potential private ownership and the types of uses expected. The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the proposal because it involves parkland and had considered the sale in February.

Christy Bales said the DM Rink Partners asked for a list of uses appropriate for the site; staff supported a narrower set of additional uses tied to recreational and wellness programming. The Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed the request and recommended approval. There were no public letters or phone calls in opposition at the time staff presented, and the council moved to the first reading of an ordinance reflecting the change.

Outcome: council moved the amendment and the first reading of the associated ordinance; staff will continue to refine the PUD master plan and the ordinance language for subsequent readings and any required further hearings.

Quote: “Staff is supportive of the rezoning from R‑1S to the PUD designation,” Christy Bales said, noting the PUD master plan will include site-plan constraints and permitted uses appropriate to a recreational/sports facility.