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