School Board Approves Breckenridge Sale Despite Objections to Development Plan

A group of residents concerned about how 900 new neighbors might change their lives urged the Ames Community School Board Monday to find a local buyer for the 48-acres of property that served as a middle school until it closed in 2005.

Breckenridge Land Acquisition/Aspen Heights of Austin, Texas; was the highest bidder of the land at a Dec. 7 auction, offering $2.3 million. A local company Hunziker was the only other bidder.

During Monday's public hearing regarding board approval of the sale, residents of the College Creek-Old Middle School neighborhood association said they feared that Breckenridge's development would lead to an even greater number of inebriated people walking past their homes, leaving trash behind and urinating in their yards as they left Campustown at night. But ultimately the board voted unanimously in favor of the sale, saying it would be wrong not to accept the highest bid.

At previous school board meetings, Breckenridge representatives said they hoped to build a 900 bedroom development consisting of Craftsman style town homes, houses and duplexes that management would rent by the room on the three parcels of middle school property. This would require a change in zoning and the developer would also have to tear down the former middle school as part of the deal.

People who live near the proposed development are concerned about the density of the plan and how 900 additional college students would impact their lives and said they would rather have a development of single family homes instead.

About nine people spoke against approving the sale and filed a petition with 350 signatures objecting to the sale. Tami Hicks, a Century 21 Broker, who represents the developer, spoke in favor of the sale.

Resident Julian Birch said the development would not only add to foot and vehicle traffic but would also destroy a recenlty constructed walking bike path. 

“It's entirely wrong and an affront to our city that a distant corporation would exploit our town,” Birch said.

Kathie Whattoff told the board that she bought her home on South Wilmoth 24 years ago expecting that she would always be next door to a middle school.

Whattoff said the board didn't consider a proposal from a local developer Dickson Jensen.

“One can only follow the money to see why it happened this way,” she said adding that the apartments weren't even needed in Ames.

Hicks, who spoke last in the hearing, told the board that the Austin company first approached the board in May of 2011 and that the development was still in the planning stages.

“There are plenty conversations still to be had,” Hicks said.

The board, some reluctantly, voted 6-0 to approve it. Board President Dan Woodin, who was not present due to ongoing cancer treatments, said in a statement that the board's integrity is at stake and said the board should approve the sale to the top bidder of the public auction.

Board Member David Putz said he wasn't pleased with the outcome of the auction but said he agreed with Woodin saying that the auction was the appropriate process and felt obligated to approve the highest bid.

Before voting to approve the sale Board Member Bill Talbot reminded residents that the land is still zoned for single-family which is what many requested during the public hearing.

“Should Breckenridge want to alter that zoning, the city will determine whether it's in the best interest … Let the City Council handle it,” Talbot said.

Residents of the neighborhood left unhappy. One man, who didn't speak during the public hearing, told the board he hoped board members were struck by lightning as he left the board meeting.