History
/ Overview
The
first zoning ordinance for the City of
Des Moines was adopted in 1926. A completely
new zoning ordinance was adopted in 1953
and updated in 1965. The 1965 version
of the zoning ordinance has been amended
over 240 times since its adoption. The
current ordinance contains provisions
for 31 zoning and overlay districts, provisions
for administration and enforcement, provisions
for special permits, off-street parking
and loading, nonconforming uses and structures,
and signs.
On
August 7, 2000 the City adopted a new
element to the comprehensive plan titled
The
Des Moines' 2020 Community Character Plan.
The Plan specifically calls for the development
of “a new zoning ordinance that
includes classifications for the land
use categories adopted in the plan. These
classification and associated development
regulations should provide for flexibility
in accommodating the various land categories
as described in the 2020 Plan. The zoning
ordinance will incorporate standards for
development consistent with the concepts
of the 2020 Community Character Plan including
but not limited to commercial development,
parking, landscaping, used car lots, salvage
yards and signage.”
Thus,
the City is conducting the first comprehensive
update of the zoning ordinance in over
35 years.
The Zoning Ordinance Update Steering Committee
has directed a revision of the current
zoning ordinance based upon the following
Principles / Tenets:
·
Creating and maintaining a flexible code.
· Creating a code that is “user-friendly”.
· Creating a code that addresses
the impact of development on surrounding
properties.
· Creating a code that provides
illustrations that demonstrate code requirements.
· Creating a code that provides
text that is logical and concise.
· Creating a code that provides
text that is legally defensible and compatible
with State and Federal regulations and
court decisions.
On
January 27, 2003, the Des Moines’
City Council approved an agreement for
consulting services with RDG Crose Gardner
Shukert, Inc. to assist in coordination
and preparation of the revised Zoning
Ordinance.
