As Des Moines works to re-envision it's downtown it struggles to blend its vision without being too restrictive on the businesses that are already there.

Earlier this year the council discussed design guidelines for downtown, called the Marina District. Now the Council is looking at updating the code for allowed uses in the Marina District.

At the September 2 Council meeting one of the changes being considered is the number of bays an auto repair shop is allowed to have. In the draft of the ordinance being considered by the Council the number of bays would be limited to one bay for every 7,500 square feet.

In a previous version of the ordinance the number was flatly capped at two. The Council considered this a hardship on the businesses.

In a previous draft ordinance it was also written the auto repair businesses downtown could only have one car stored outside waiting to be repaired. The language is changed in the last draft ordinance to say number of cars awaiting repair cannot exceed the minimum number of parking spaces allowed by the City's parking code.

It became clear the City had a business in mind while creating the new regulations when Council Member Scott Thomasson mentioned Winton Auto Repair, located on the corner of 216 Street and Marine View Drive. He described the Auto Repair shop as an eyesore and a problem.

Assistant Planning, Building and Public Works Director Dan Brewer said, "We are not out to get the business itself." He said the goal was to keep it up to the Councils view of downtown Des Moines.

Council Member Dan Sherman asked Staff to add restrictions into the ordinance adding restrictions to control liquor establishments. "Some of our liquor establishments have been a problem," Sherman said.

Specifically Sherman was referring to the All Star Sports Bar, Which he said he was afraid to walk by at night. He said the City bent over backwards for them, essentially removing the onsite parking requirements for them, and in return the City was rewarded with a business where there have been fights, stabbings, over-service and service to minors.

Other Council Members did not share Sherman's concerns. Council Member Melissa Musser said while she has not been in there she has friends who go there, and she said she is not afraid to walk by it. She also mentioned the increased business to the Dog House, who have adjusted their hours for the bar crowd.

City Manager Tony Piasecki said currently they only have restaurant liquor licenses issued downtown. He said if you limit the number of nightclub and tavern licenses you couldn't limit the number of restaurants.

Musser said she did not want to limit establishments in the downtown, when the City does not who they could get to come in there.

Sherman's motion to include liquor license restrictions failed 4-1. Mayor Bob Sheckler and Council Member Carmen Scot were absent.