If one's good is two better? Maybe, if you're playing poker-or building the second Anthony's restaurant located in the Des Moines Marina, a proposal now in preliminary negotiations.

Yes, that's two Anthony's in one not-so-big marina. The nearby public boat launch is planned for shut down. Anthony's proposes a 6,000 square foot building housing a "Hearthfire Grill" restaurant featuring items cooked over real wood-burning coals or natural gas.

A few years ago, Harbormaster Joe Dusenbury agreed the best use for that area is a small store and a sandwich, ice cream or fish and chips restaurant with a public observation area on the deck.

Local folks love Anthony's, but two in one marina? That's a far cry from a small restaurant and convenience store. What happened?

That one popular, if overused, government phrase: "revenue-generating."

The Des Moines City Council's Municipal Facilities Committee, Dan Sherman, Scott Thomasson and Carmen Scott, heard Dusenbury's Hearthfire proposal and directed the concept to the full council.

If approved, construction will require digging down several feet down to accommodate a basement. The building's entrance will be four feet above parking level with the building close to the limit of 35 feet.

The open boat yard will be used for parking with a stairway and elevator going up the bank to Cliff Avenue into the small Overlook Park.

Inquisitive minds ask, "Why two Anthony's next door to each other? Why is that allowed on prime public waterfront?

Lane Hoss, Anthony's vice president of marketing, said, "This is nothing new. Everett's marina has both a Home Port, built in 1984, and a nearby Hearthfire Grill since 1990 successfully."

Recently Anthony's built the same in both Bellingham and Olympia.

Hearthfire features grilled steaks and chicken. Home Port specialties are seafood. For menu details, visit www.Anthonys.com or call 425-455-0732.

Life is like playing draw poker, win some, lose some. Musical artist Kenny Rogers reminds us in song, "You gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em."

City of Des Moines leaders are betting on "generating more revenue" from Anthony's second marina restaurant than the public boat launch.

Dusenbury said, "I'm all about revenue. The average launch annual income is about $60,000. Operational/labor costs are about $80,000 per year resulting in a deficit balance.

"Anthony's Hearthfire is estimated to generate $40,000 to $50,000 annual marina income plus a percentage of their gross. The city has historically leaned on the marina for income."

The dry storage sheds are one of the best marina moneymakers. Removing any of those is loss of easy income. I was surprised to learn replacement of moorage docks is not happening for another 10-12 years.

Maybe real losers to the closed launch are young families and retired folks with small boats on trailers trying to launch at Redondo's crowded back-in launch area.

Have you seen the maneuvering required just backing a trailer across that main street to the water while watching for boardwalk pedestrians? Try that with age-related arthritis neck pain.

Soon there may be no middle class, only rich or poor.

No formal agreement between Anthony's and city officials has been reached. It's anticipated the city will present a draft lease proposal on Jan. 11.

The earliest opening of Anthony's Hearthfire Grill would be spring 2009.

But it's Anthony's or something else occupying this precious land. Natural resources must be protected, such as disrupting beach sands below the marina floor, storm water drainage from the hills to Puget Sound and tell-tale soggier than ever soil.

Many natural springs are here. I've personally watched them being filled with straw, rocks and cemented over to stop the flow of surface water-in the name of development.

Experts know how to stay barely within regulations. At some point Mother Nature is saying, "That's too much! '

Elected leaders must be sure of one thing: That this prime property achieves it's highest and best use in the name of public property.

Land development is about kids' futures. They're taught to read, write and operate computers. Let's show them how to preserve their earth starting with this New Year.

Thought for the Day: "If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive" - Dale Carnegie.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!