[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6349825,"mediaKeyId","2236228-d9ce60f401ea00d3f0d125c7461b88d2","parentId",2236228,"title","Council approves Val Air Ballroom changes, CDBG plan amendments, Habitat plat, Legacy Woods site plan, proclamations and park hour update","audioSeconds",334,"startMs",1498000,"endMs",1164000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2236228-d9ce60f401ea00d3f0d125c7461b88d2&start=1498&end=1164","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2236228-d9ce60f401ea00d3f0d125c7461b88d2/thumbnail_1498000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6349825/West-Des-Moines-City/Polk-County/Iowa/Council-approves-Val-Air-Ballroom-changes-CDBG-plan-amendments-Habitat-plat-Legacy-Woods-site-plan-proclamations-and-park-hour-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349825-e935d09d264a15e212072e1375b3da2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084494&Signature=nG~tzPfEBDIifnrOeK8ggXC1jeXpYbJc9BNuAWA2JtN6u8oAhded7k8wNPnNib2Xbt8oMYW-jSU9ifj4CYE-jA1Gmdi3ZRD1CDTwHFVvzGtJgRkBlN5e5YJ3gNEFR835gzuwjDP3RlIeAbHZPSwfLxjwpSVrQNuLBV-kErakS03psKvDbLj8VV6~~Ka-G1wuUaIN23CG-u6s70cTqCY8H3~ovkWJ1tK6PgOhmbB~sTJ98PlDxfDP33NXDTtMeUi8DpE3CEaz2mTtBPMuWEDyanPeycKYKFiI4huED1k77S-GWHLMY1i62hCEhUXNBp2YwNaOZjiv6gphiZ0cuSib9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Des Moines, Iowa","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","The West Des Moines City Council on Jan. 6 approved a slate of consent and new business items, including a PUD amendment for the Val Air Ballroom, two proclamations, amendments to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plans, and development approvals for Habitat for Humanity and the Legacy Woods nature sanctuary.

Val Air Ballroom: Council approved ordinance amendments to the Val Air Ballroom Planned Unit Development at 301 Ashworth Road, including adjusted hours for the basement restaurant/bar and four conditions of approval addressing concert hall capacity, pre‑opening bar hours, balancing concert and restaurant occupancy, and traffic circulation. The council conducted the required readings, waived the third reading and adopted the ordinance (motion passed unanimously during the meeting).

Proclamations: The council approved proclamations for Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month (January 2025) and for Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 20, 2025) and posed for photos with sponsoring organizations. Speakers thanked police and partner agencies for anti‑trafficking work and urged community service on MLK Day.

CDBG plans: The council held a public hearing and approved amendments to the 2022–23 and 2023–24 annual action plans for the Community Development Block Grant program. Staff reported no written comments were received in advance and thanked Christine and the team for advancing stormwater and related projects funded by CDBG dollars.

Locust Plat (Habitat for Humanity): The council approved the final plat for 11205 Locust Street to create three lots for single‑family development by Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity; the resolution passed unanimously.

Legacy Woods Nature Sanctuary: The council approved a site plan for parking and walkways at Legacy Woods (Grand Avenue) and accepted associated legal documents, with a condition deferring implementation of parking‑lot screening until completion of a comprehensive planting plan. Project presenters described preserving a historic archway and removing an older chain‑link fence as part of phased construction.

Park hours ordinance: The council approved first reading of an amendment to City Code Title 7 (Park Regulations) to standardize park hours citywide; the ordinance advanced after council discussion about safety and potential future tweaks.

Why it matters: The items advance a mix of public safety and community development initiatives, from preserving and improving historic and natural assets to aligning grant‑funded projects and formal proclamations recognizing public awareness and service days.

Votes at a glance: Val Air Ballroom PUD amendments — adopted (5‑0); Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month proclamation — adopted (5‑0); Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation — adopted (5‑0); CDBG action plan amendments resolution — adopted (5‑0); Locust Plat final plat for Habitat for Humanity — adopted (5‑0); Legacy Woods site plan — adopted (5‑0); Park regulations first reading — adopted (5‑0).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - January 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 6 meeting the West Des Moines City Council approved a group of development, grant and ceremonial items, including a Val Air Ballroom PUD amendment, CDBG plan amendments, a Habitat for Humanity plat, a Legacy Woods site plan and two proclamations.","taxTitle","West Des Moines City, Polk County, Iowa","taxId",4973,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6349830,"Council approves temporary parking staging in Valley Junction after debate; moves staging area closer to building",1510,2430000,3940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2236228-d9ce60f401ea00d3f0d125c7461b88d2&start=2430&end=3940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2236228-d9ce60f401ea00d3f0d125c7461b88d2/thumbnail_2430000.jpg","/articles/6349830/West-Des-Moines-City/Polk-County/Iowa/Council-approves-temporary-parking-staging-in-Valley-Junction-after-debate-moves-staging-area-closer-to-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349830-cb79c00ac7c397c4e01f22ee1823dadc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084494&Signature=S2AXpNUSoi1yZKhUZnqaoKKZNGJpLYKkj7uuo7D4zPT4plOL8L3LAStvzDim~Q8FtShpC7DGTTednzAV1t-xSjanGaBGgk8xRMwbEsj1W-4g4nKEWyaFqPnR14PHDvGEUX4S3A0RN-SR6Np6dSfXjmZzfrfr8j-~533abBeGQ4vKEZa1FQgWzvFSHPi72LgWK7e3YcypJm7iHrdGs-O-LQL~-FcKaofEU~8DhfD-FgqO87zJbI4ZN-tPjjokJBWXKO6rLW8V6xAl4DiqEgYsMxMIDuJ2Xl6Saxb5Z7s7EWcWaiVFNBZrRsF4HbFXWk-elN8HcLKwizpgzIICNPmQLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Des Moines City Council on Jan. 6 approved a modified temporary parking and staging arrangement in Valley Junction for work at 214 Fifth Street, after a spirited public hearing and subcommittee review.

Legendary Construction representative Curtis Mayfield asked the council to allow four city parking stalls close to the project site for staging materials and trailers during a façade and mural renovation. At issue were which stalls could be used, whether staging should block a breezeway used by employees and visitors, and how to protect pedestrian safety during work.

The Historic Valley Junction Foundation’s Executive Director Steve Fribben told the council that Valley Junction business owners supported closer staging, and that no special events were scheduled for the parking lot while the work would be done. Mayfield said crews would remove trailers and equipment nightly and that much of the material would be moved by hand; he offered to cordon off work areas during working hours.

Council members debated whether to preserve stalls closest to businesses for customers, whether the breezeway should be closed during work for safety, and whether staging should be moved farther from storefronts. An initial motion to permit the staging area in the subcommittee‑recommended location (farther from the alley) failed 2-3. Councilman McKinney then moved to relocate the permitted staging area as far east as feasible, next to the alleyway by the building; Councilwoman Hardman seconded. The council approved that motion 4-1 (Councilman Trevillian opposed).

The final approval directs staff to prepare the lease documents for the relocated blue‑rectangle staging area shown to the council, with conditions including contractor cleanup, removal of trailers each night and coordination with events and snow‑removal needs. The council required that the contractor close or cordon off the immediate breezeway while work is active and that staging not block customer parking during events.

Why it matters: The decision aims to reduce labor and hauling distances for contractors while balancing business access and pedestrian safety in an historic commercial district. Council members said the compromise resulted from public‑services subcommittee work plus neighborhood outreach.","After a lengthy discussion about safety, business access and construction staging in Valley Junction, the West Des Moines City Council voted 4-1 to allow a temporary parking staging area shifted to the east, nearer an alleyway, for a façade/mural project at 214 Fifth Street.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6349834,"West Des Moines council adopts 2C preliminary design for Ashworth Road after months of debate",6514,4004000,10518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2236228-d9ce60f401ea00d3f0d125c7461b88d2&start=4004&end=10518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2236228-d9ce60f401ea00d3f0d125c7461b88d2/thumbnail_4004000.jpg","/articles/6349834/West-Des-Moines-City/Polk-County/Iowa/West-Des-Moines-council-adopts-2C-preliminary-design-for-Ashworth-Road-after-months-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349834-4eca2c6d99d473ed5ad2acc07c094c0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084494&Signature=MqSFBLmI9M5-ZWRO05Z-4MgQEpOfHtI8QaM08QZe8Ilxz10oPPQjX0R2BtigSnk4cKSsgjPD6wtM-McqpYqUpG6a5pCmKkvn7ZbpmEibfyiNk7J7o46MpNUI~VxNlFSlnFBhR33PMZQ810HfVFQBbWx2a4yPrlq6W5bLIX7nvM0hnDghwGe0gNJ5LTZslPvBjxbVjlW5SRZGehYGbqg82f1nzML0QWXXypQdatFXpKDQs9cklosdtX2EIJMRL04Lx7-EByZfxrE0ioWc4-hnmyAkgfD82TSzyfLM9XS2g7ewdxV25H34JpnPpD13pPujx0WQm1JfgH47xDFBSb6mcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Des Moines City Council voted 4-1 Jan. 6 to adopt preliminary design option 2C for Ashworth Road between Nineteenth Street and 20 Second Street, a compromise that engineers and residents said balances safety, cost and right‑of‑way impacts.

City Engineer Brian Hemesath and consultants from Shive Hattery and Engineering Services presented five design families at Monday’s meeting and at earlier public information sessions. Option 2C uses 11‑foot outside lanes with a 1‑foot curb offset, an 11‑foot inside lane (12‑foot two‑way left‑turn lane in the center in the corridor), a 4‑foot lane shift at key intersections and 7.5‑foot parking stalls. City staff said the plan would reduce total right‑of‑way acquisition to about 8,400 square feet and affect nine adjacent properties, compared with larger takings under the straight‑lane alternative.

“It was a very long process of outreach — public meetings, a subcommittee review and one‑on‑one discussions with property owners,” Hemesath told the council. He said engineers preferred a straight‑lane configuration for driver expectation but that 2C met the city’s safety and design needs while reducing impacts to private property.

Residents who live along the Ashworth corridor urged narrower lanes and other design choices to slow traffic. Shane McClinton, a resident and neighborhood organizer, presented a multi‑criteria analysis prepared by neighborhood volunteers that ranked options by right‑of‑way taken, lane shift magnitude and safety; he recommended an 11‑foot lane option with modest lane shifts. Sreejan Kareem, who lives on 20 Eighth Street, told the council that posted speeds on local streets exceed limits and said narrower lanes help calm traffic.

City staff and the city attorney discussed statutory design and construction immunity under Iowa law. City Attorney Greta Truman told the council that immunity applies when a project is “built in accordance with generally recognized engineering or safety standard criteria” and that deviating from such standards could increase legal exposure. Hemesath said the 2C configuration preserves recognized design standards while minimizing property impacts.

Council members weighed competing aims: minimizing right‑of‑way takings for adjacent property owners, meeting federal/state program and design standards, preserving pedestrian safety and minimizing construction disruption. Councilman Kevin Lowitz moved to adopt option 2C; Councilman McKinney seconded. After discussion the motion passed 4-1 (Councilman Trevillian cast the lone dissent).

Council members said they would monitor post‑construction traffic and pedestrian conditions and reserved the option to return later for minor refinements or additional safety work at intersections. City staff said construction staging, snow removal and utility relocations influenced the final recommendation and would be part of the next design phases.

Why it matters: Ashworth Road is a major arterial that carries local and regional traffic. The chosen plan is intended to maintain safe travel speeds and turning capacity while limiting the amount of private land the city must acquire. The council’s decision sets the preferred corridor template that engineers will use for right‑of‑way negotiations and final design.

Votes and next steps: The council adopted 2C, directing staff to proceed with final design and property negotiation under that option. Staff said they will return with project schedule and acquisition offers as the design advances.","The City Council voted 4-1 to adopt preliminary design option 2C for Ashworth Road (Nineteenth Street–20 Second Street), choosing a lane‑shift compromise that reduces property takings while keeping 11‑foot travel lanes and a 12‑foot two‑way left‑turn lane.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Val Air Ballroom changes, CDBG plan amendments, Habitat plat, Legacy Woods site plan, proclamations and park hour update

Council approves temporary parking staging in Valley Junction after debate; moves staging area closer to building

West Des Moines council adopts 2C preliminary design for Ashworth Road after months of debate