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Marina District Planning

The future of the City’s Marina District, formerly known as the downtown, is bright. City leaders are excited at the potential for positive change in this neighborhood area as the Des Moines City Council took another significant step in fulfilling one of its top strategic economic objectives—making the Marina District a more viable neighborhood which is energized by new business opportunities, inclusive of new and different housing types, and creates a destination that will support tourism by linking business areas flanking Marine View Drive and 7th Avenue South with City assets and amenities found and planned for within the Des Moines Marina and Beach Park.

On June 30, 2011, Ordinance No. 1514 was adopted by the Council. This Ordinance changes existing zoning regulations to provide for increased development opportunities in the Marina District area. Under the Ordinance, select geographic areas along 7th Avenue South now have an increased base building height up to 45 feet and the property commonly known as the “QFC shopping center” has a base building height of 55 feet.

There are also provisions within the Ordinance that provide for possible bonus heights up to 55 feet for up to 3 building projects that are located within a separately defined sub-area which involves portions of 7th Avenue South and 6th Avenue South. In addition to different building height regulations, the Ordinance tempers possible building mass and scale impacts by incorporating project design standards under a maximum floor area ratio approach instead of the current prescriptive method.

Another key feature of the new code change is a Public Benefit System to help measure and evaluate how property owners that request additional height would contribute to improvements or components deemed beneficial to the public. Finally, increased side yard setbacks for properties developing adjacent to identified public view corridors and more flexibility for angled parking within streets fronting new businesses and development is also addressed in the new regulations for the Marina District. To view the contents of Ordinance 1514, please click this link: Marina District Ordinance

Information related to the proposed changes to the D-C Downtown Commercial Zone that City Council is considering is provided below:

Draft Ordinance 11-011 – City Council’s 2nd Draft

Draft Ordinance 11-011 – City Council Requested Amendments

Marina District Zoning On-line Public Comments

Substitute Draft Ordinance 11-011

Summary of Public Comments from the April 30, and May 4, 2011 Open Houses

Summary of Dot Exercise from April 30 and May 4, 2011 Open Houses - Updated

Public comments sent via mail or email

Information presented to and discussed with the Planning Agency is provided below:

Notice of SEPA Determination - Downtown Commercial Zone Text Code Amendments

Marina District Stakeholder Group

The Marina District Stakeholders Group is an important part of the planning process for the Marina District. They are charged with making recommendations on land use policies, development regulations and implementation strategies for the Marina District planning area. The stakeholders come from a variety of backgrounds. There are representatives from each of Des Moines’ nine neighborhoods, Arts Commission, Planning Agency, community organizations, and transportation agency staff. A series of three Stakeholder Group meetings were held in Fall 2010. The resulting ideas and recommendations of the Stakeholder Group helped influence Council Finance and Economic Development Committee work on the Marina District Planning.

Stakeholder Meetings

Marina District Design Guidelines

On July 29, 2010 Des Moines City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1486 approving the “Marina District Design Guidelines” for the Downtown Neighborhood. The document blends a sense of public vision with concrete and easily understood guidelines for designers and developers as they evaluate, plan, and implement development projects in the downtown waterfront core. This document is but one part of an overall revitalization strategy for the Marina District that will influence the pattern and the "look and feel" of the new environment we shall see and experience in the future.

Information presented to and discussed with the Planning Agency is provided below:

Adopted Marina District Design Guidelines - July 29, 2010

Planning Agency Meetings