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Alley Vacation - 2003

As of June 2003, the City of Indianola is offering property owners a chance to own an alley adjacent to them for a temporary cost of $1.00 plus the administrative cost of $100.00 per deed issued. This includes:  All attorney fees incurred by the City of Indianola including deed preparation, publishing fees and recorder fees.  Surveying fees are not included in the $100.00 administrative cost and all charges for surveying will be paid by the purchaser(s) if needed.

Every alley vacation situation is unique. In some cases common access agreements and/or special use agreements may require the assistance of an attorney at the purchaser's expense.  At the least, an alley vacation approval request requires notifying and gaining the agreement signatures of all adjacent property owners as well as notification signatures of all property owners within the block.

In all cases of alley vacation, the utility easements remain.  The purchaser will be required to allow access for all utilities located above and along the alley including, but not limited to, electric, water, sewer, cable TV, phone and gas.  To determine what utilities are located in the alley area, Iowa One Call may be contacted at 1-800-292-8989.

Complete Alley Policies and Procedures, the Agreement Form and the Notification Form are available in PDF format, or you may contact Building & Zoning at 961-9430 to request the forms.

Apply to: Building and Zoning Official
Special Note: All abutters to the alley to be vacated must agree to the proposed vacation. Notification to remaining property owners within the block is required.
Timing: Permission granted in about 60 to 90 days.

 

 


Annexation

Approval is required to voluntarily annex property to the City

Special Note: Any owner of land which adjoins the City may apply in writing to the City Council and request annexation. Applications must contain a legal description and a map showing the property location in realtions to the City (Sec 368.7, Code of Iowa)
Timing: Varies
Fee: None

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Fences and Hedges

No building permit is required.

Special Note: Although no permit is required for installation, the height and location of fences are regulated by the Zoning Ordinance. Generally, fences are limited to four feet in height in required front yards and six feet in height in all other yards. In addition, fences in required front yards are to be open type fencing. The verify fencing and hedging requirements, contact the Building and Zoning Department.

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Home Occupations

Home Occupations are regulated by the City Zoning Ordinance and require approval of the Building and Zoning Official.

Timing: Varies
Fee: None

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Parking Lot Improvements

Approval is required to construct a new parking lot, pave an existing dirt or graveled parking lot or to add on to any existing parking lot

Special Note: Guidelines for the preparation of site plans for parking lot improvements are available from the Building and Zoning Department
Timing: Varies
Fee: See fee schedule

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Rezoning Procedure

Approval is required to change the zoning of property from one classification to another.

Special Note: After review at a Planning and Zoning Commission public meeting, the recommendation is transmitted to the City Council for the first of three public hearings. All property owners within 200 feet of the property requested to be rezoned are notified for the Commission and Council public hearings
Timing: Allow approximately 60 to 90 days.
Fee: $200.00

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Sign Permit

A Sign Permit is required for the erection of permanent signs and temporary signs, except those located completely within a building

Special Note: Size, number and location of signs is determined by the Zoning Ordinance
Fee: See fee schedule

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Site Plan Review

Site Plan approval is required whenever a person, firm, corporation or other group wishes to develop any tract or parcel of land within all zoning districts, except for:

  1. any detached single-family residence and two-family residences, including any accessory structure thereto;
  2. agricultural buildings
  3. principal and accessory buildings with less than 150 square feet of total floor space, and
  4. additions to existing one-story buildings when the addition is 50 percent or less of its existing floor area and/or total floor area less than 1000 square feet, whichever is less

Site plan review requirements available from Building and Zoning

Special Note: Site plans must be submitted in detail for processing through appropriate City departments. Site plans are to indicate and include:
  1. a legal description of the parcel and common address;
  2. zoning district and dimension of parcel;
  3. location of all existing and proposed buildings and construction type;
  4. proposed off-street parking;
  5. location of existing and proposed entrances, exits and curb cuts;
  6. right-of-way width for streets abutting site;
  7. location of existing and proposed utilities, signs, lights, fences, sidewalks, wooden areas, natural drainage ways and other natural features;
  8. proposed and existing landscaping, and
  9. other features which may have impact on the site (ie., flood plain, erosion control measures, berms, sink holes, storm sewer detention facilities, ponds).
Fee: $35 if less than one acre
$70 if more than one acre

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Street Addresses

Street addresses for new and existing lots are provided through the Building and Zoning Department

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Street Vacation

Street vacation approval is required to vacate public streets.

Apply to: Building and Zoning Official
Special Note: All abutters to the street to be vacated must agree to the proposed vacation. Notification to remaining property owners within the block is required.
Timing: Permission granted in about 60 to 90 days.

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Subdivision Procedure

Subdivision approval is required to subdivide any parcel into two or more lots within the City and within two miles of the city limits.

Special Note: City subdivision regulations provide for two distinct approval/review procedures for the subdivision of land. They are parcel, preliminary and final plats.
Timing: Allow 30-60 days per plat, depending on the size of the project and the quality of the submission.
Preliminary Plat Fee: $150.00 plus $5.00 per lot for more than 10 lots
Final Plat Fee: $75.00 (no fee for more than 10 lots)

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Variance Procedure

Variance approval is required to obtain a deviation from the strict application of the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance

Special Note: The developer or property owner must submit an application, along with a site plan, which is transmitted to the Board of Adjustments for a review at a public hearing. Variances are granted only when unique conditions of a property, not created by the owner, will cause undue hardship if the Zoning Ordinance is strictly enforced.
Timing: Allow four to six weeks, depending on submittal time.
Fee: $100.00

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Zoning Appeals Procedure

Appeals may be made by any person aggrieved by a decision, requirement, determination or interpretation of an administrative official in the enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance.

A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days immediately following the date of the administrative action which is the subject of the appeal. The Board of Adjustment reviews all appeals and may reverse, affirm or modify the order, requirement, decision or determination.

Timing: Allow a minimum 30 days following filing of appeal
Fee: $200.00

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Zoning Special Uses and Exceptions

Exceptions in structure use may be granted by the Adjustment Board.

Fee: $100.00

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Zoning Text Amendments

Amendments which change the text of the Zoning Ordinance must be approved by the City Council.

Special Note: The proposal will be considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission at a public meeting. The Commission will transmit its recommendation to City Council for the first of three readings.
Timing: Varies
Fee: No Charge.

 

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