As the Des Moines City Council discusses plans for downtown, the contentious issue of increasing building heights has come up again.
Looking to improve the downtown, the council discussed doing an analysis of the parking downtown and the impact, if any, the 35-foot building height has on development downtown.
Many residents who live along 8 Avenue and 10 Avenue were worried about what they described as a wall of buildings blocking their view, if the building height in the downtown is increased from 35 feet to 65.
"Yes, I have a beautiful view, but I do not want to take the financial hit of not being able to sell my house because there is a wall of buildings in front of it," said Des Moines resident Victoria Nichols.
Ken Klose told the council that increasing the building height would only help developers, not residents.
"The City Council was elected to represent the residents not the developers," Klose said.
Any change to the building height requirements in the zoning code would require a public hearing, Mayor Bob Sheckler said. If the council looks at changes the building heights downtown residents living in the impacted area would receive notice of the hearing.
Councilwoman Carmen Scott, who is the chair of the economic development and finance committee, said it is a little premature to be worried about an increased building height in downtown Des Moines, but that it is totally appropriate to give the council feedback.
"Nobody has decided there is going to be a wall of tall buildings anywhere," Scott said. "It's not going to happen."
Scott said she wanted it made clear this analysis would be for the purposes of discussion only. It was the hope of several council members the analysis would put an end to the discussion of building height once and for all.
Councilman Scott Thomasson, who is against increasing the building height, disagreed.
"We will never be done with this," Thomasson said. This was the fourth time the issue has come up during his 20 years on the council, he said.
"I am frustrated because I have fought it for 20 years," said Thomasson. Speculators may not make money if the building height is not increased, he said, but that is not what Des Moines is about.
Councilmember Matt Pina said the three times the issue was brought before the council before it was dropped too early.
Pina said he is frustrated there is no vision for the downtown. He said he wanted to move forward with the analysis so they have the necessary information. Pina said he wants the public involved in creating the vision for downtown.
The motion to do an analysis of parking and building heights in the downtown area passed 4-2. Thomasson and Councilman Dan Sherman voted against, Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Kaplan was absent.
