Due to their Expertise, the City [should be] Protecting Residential Corridor
Character is the central theme of the City of Des Moines' Land Use Plan, entitled DES MOINES 2020 COMMUNITY CHARACTER PLAN.
A large portion of this document is devoted to protecting the existing character of our neighborhoods. The discussion about neighborhoods starts with a history of the architectural development, fully explores the reasons for decline in residential areas, and formulates a plan for protecting neighborhoods.
In this document we are told that Des Moines' traditional neighborhoods have an existing character worthy of protecting.
Beaverdale is identified by the City as a specific district that, according to this document is a "highly imaginable neighborhood" that upon entry, you know that you are there.
According to our Land Use Plan, efforts to protect community character like that found in Beaverdale are central to
to the City "remaining a viable community."
The planners warn us that residential corridors should not lose their character...*
Rice Field is identified by the City as located in a protected residential corridor on Beaver Ave from Adams to Amick avenues.
*Excerpt of presentation to the board of Plan and Zoning given in defense of protecting Rice Field as green space.
Compiled by Bruce Butler, a former BNA president.
Real Threat of Encroachment into R-1 60 residential zoning
Rice Field is located at the south end of the City's protected residential corridor on Beaver Ave between Adams and Amick Avenues.
Each end of the residential corridor is bordered by a senior-housing developments.
This senior-housing development is located across the street from Rice Field.
Each end of the residential corridor is bordered by a senior-housing developments.
This senior-housing development is located across the street from Rice Field.
This senior housing development at Amick and Beaver--adjacent to the north end of the residential corridor--is no longer filled by seniors:
Protecting Rice Field Protects the Integrity of the Residential Corridor on Beaver
Protecting Rice Field from development protects against:
- increase in traffic
- threat to pedestrian friendly corridor
- loss of home values
- commercial encroachment on residential
- decay in housing stock
- congestion
- increase in courier/delivery trucks
- loss of architectural integrity
Below are some of homes built as early as 1915 within the R1 60 residential corridor-- the corridor continues for 4 blocks and is located between two separate business zones:
Side Streets of Beaver Avenue's Protected Residential Corridor
This corridor is crucial in protecting the tranquility of the side streets that feed into Beaver Ave.
It is important to not overlook the side streets of Wallace Lane, Ashby, Adams, Ovid and Amick Avenues that feed into Beaver. These side streets are composed mainly of single-family residences.
The 2020 Plan placed the Rice School site within a "residential protection corridor". At the time this plan was adopted, city leaders knew that Rice Elementary School was to be demolished. WIth this knowledge, they still placed the Rice School site within a "residential protection corridor."
The 2020 Plan states, "The continuation of single housing appears a better longterm use for these corridors than increased density housing."
The 2020 Plan also addresses this concern: "Incompatible developments have an impact both on the economic value of neighborhoods and quality of life." The plan goes on to explain that increasing residential density can overload the street and utility systems, further causing decay and disinvestments. It is also noted that new developments are often built in an incompatible architectural style. In both cases the quality of life is reduced for existing and future residents.
Preserve, Protect, Enhance Rice Field
The City's 2020 Plan is the long-ranged plan that drives decisions made by city leaders. It is the official guidebook (paid for with public funds) for land use and development decisions in the City of Des Moines.
The 2020 Plan states, in Underlying Principles, "The natural environment in the city is a precious resource that should be preserved, protected and enhanced. Because the economic benefits of environmental degradation are temporary, and the economic and environmental benefits of environment protection are long term, economic development gains should not be made at the expense of the environmental assets of city and the neighborhoods."
Authors of Des Moines 2020 Community Character Plan
Prepared by the Des moines Plan and Zoning Commission
Adopted by City Council on August 7, 2000
Sub-committee Members
Mayor Frank Cownie--chair
Dan Flaherty
Fran Koontz
Becky Morelock
Dave Schladtszky
Mailyn Staples
Brook Wennerstrum
Staff:
James M Grant, Community Development Director
Gary Lozano, Planning Administrator
Mary Neiderbach, Project manager
Debra Smith, Urban Designer
Mary kay Wilcox, Planner
Jeanne Cox, Planning Technician
Ryan Bergman, Planning Technician
Suzanne Drummond, Intern