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Zoning board approves covered solar parking at 200 East Court to support downtown redevelopment
Summary
The board unanimously approved a conditional use for a non‑accessory covered parking lot topped with solar panels at 200 East Court, finding the project compatible with downtown mixed‑use goals and subject to site‑plan, building and operational conditions including public parking hours and site plan review.
The Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to allow a covered surface parking lot with a solar array at 200 East Court, finding the non‑accessory parking and major utility use consistent with the downtown DX‑2 district and staff recommendations.
Senior planner Frank Dunn Young told the board the proposal would combine three parcels into a roughly 36,960‑square‑foot site with about 121 surface stalls (including accessible stalls) and a solar canopy expected to generate approximately 0.08 megawatts. Staff said energy produced by the array would be delivered to MidAmerican Energy and that the project is intended to support redevelopment of the nearby former federal court annex (110 East Court) by providing tenant parking and additional downtown capacity.
Architects Elizabeth Ritchie and Doug Wells, who represents the building owner, said the design uses brick panels and complementary materials to tie the canopy to surrounding facades and that the applicants accept staff conditions. They told the board they will comply with site plan review, engineering and traffic studies required by city codes.
A downtown resident, Carol Maher, urged the board to prioritize housing and pedestrian‑oriented mixed use over new parking inventory and criticized the concept as encouraging car trips. Staff and applicants replied that the board’s action approves the use; detailed circulation, landscaping and compliance with parking and site‑plan standards will be addressed during subsequent reviews.
Board members acknowledged concerns about adding parking stock in a mixed‑use district but concluded the covered solar parking would aid a significant redevelopment and that environmental benefits of a solar canopy were positive. The board approved staff‑recommended conditions, including that the parking and utility use operate in tandem, the lot be available to the public outside core business hours (minimum between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m.), and that construction follow applicable site plan, building and fire codes. The motion carried 7–0.
The approval requires final site‑plan review and permits before construction begins.
