A process that began two and a half years ago might be nearing completion after the Des Moines City Council voted unanimously on April 26 to update and make changes to their Shoreline Master Plan.

The updated plan will now go to the state for a second review.

New state guidelines and updated requirements mandated revisions to the old plan. The original Shoreline Master Plan was adopted in 1988.

A draft of the city's Shoreline Master Plan was reviewed by lawmakers in 2006 and sent to the state. The changes made to that draft included minor language changes to comply with the state provisions, establishment of a marine buffer, and a balance between environmental protection and restoration with public access and water dependent uses.

Several council members, including Dave Kaplan and Carmen Scott, as well as Mayor Pro Tem Scott Thomasson, expressed discontent with the length of time that the project the Shoreline Master Plan has taken.

Kaplan added that he is not happy with the state telling local government what they want done, then not providing state funding for the changes they want made.

"I just think it all goes to remarkably awful extremes," said Scott.

Thomasson voiced concern that the Master Plan is straining the council's ability to make certain changes because of wording in the document.

"Either we have said too much, or we haven't said enough," Thomasson said about the Master Plan.