Des Moines, which has been undergoing growing pains as lawmakers work on revitalizing the City, and it’s tax base, grew a little bit taller tonight.
In a highly impassioned discussion Des Moines City Council voted 5-2 on Thursday night to raise the building height downtown.
Councilmember Scott Thomasson described the changes, which he voted against, as a wholesale change to the downtown.
“This is going to drastically change the character of the downtown, and the City,” Thomasson said. “This ordinance will effect the change some of you are hoping for, but it is not the change the City needs or wants.”
Councilmember Matt Pina said he has lived in Des Moines for 40 years, and he finds the direction the city is heading in concerning. He said he used to ride his bike as a kid around 7th Ave. and the vacant lots he rode passed then are still there.
“We have to have ordinances in place that encourage people (to redevelop),” Pina said.
This is the first time in 15 years that raising the building heights in downtown Des Moines has been seriously discussed. Thomasson and Councilmember Dan Sherman voted against the ordinance raising building heights, both saying it was not the right way to go with the downtown.
The ordinance that was passed raises the base height of the QFC block on Marine View Drive to a maximum of 55 feet. The rest of Marine View Drive on the west side from 219 to 227 St. is 35 feet and along 7th Ave. from 218 to 226 the maximum height allowed is 45 feet.
A maximum of three buildings along 7th Ave. could utilize a height bonus to reach a maximum height of 55 feet. From 219 to 220 three buildings could be as tall as 45 feet.
Another major, and contentious change was determining a building’s height from the highest sidewalk grade, instead of determining it from the average sidewalk height. This could potentially allow buildings to go up higher than they have before.
Councilmember Dan Sherman, who lives on 8 Ave., originally ran for council 15 years ago, to fight increasing building heights. He had some strong words for the council on Thursday night, before the passing vote he knew was coming.
Sherman told the council the majority of citizens did not want the increase in density the increased building heights will bring. He said they have been against a statistically valid survey because they know what’s best and they don’t want to hear what the citizens want.
“A lot of what the government is doing is based on hysteria of financial fears,” Sherman said. “Mistakes are being made, including this ordinance.
Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Kaplan said change is going to happen whether they want it to or not. The ordinance is the council’s way of guiding that change in a way they want.
“If we are going to be inflexible about things nothing will ever change,” Kaplan said. “I’m proud to say I can support this.”
