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Des Moines Zoning Board moves bar conditional use to consent, continues liquor-store variance after notice error
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Summary
The board moved a bar conditional-use at 515 Euclid to the consent agenda and approved consent items; it also continued a liquor-store separation-variance appeal at 3921 East 14th Street to allow corrected mailings after staff notification errors, following applicant concerns about business impacts.
At its monthly meeting the City of Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment moved a conditional-use request for a bar at 515 Euclid Avenue to the consent agenda, approved multiple consent items, and granted a staff-requested continuance for a separate liquor-store separation-variance appeal after staff acknowledged mailing errors.
Planning staff (Frank Dun Young) told the board that the applicant for Item 4, a conditional use to allow bar operations in an existing 650-square-foot building at 515 Euclid, had agreed to recommended conditions and separation distances, and staff asked to move that item to the consent agenda. No audience members objected and the board voted to move the item to consent; the consent agenda (Items 1, 2 and 4) was approved by motion 7-0.
Staff also reported that a notice-mailing error affected Item 5 (appeal for a variance of required separation distances for a liquor store at 3921 East 14th Street, Item 539). Frank Dun Young said some mailings within the 250-foot notification radius were returned or missing address information and recommended continuing the appeal to the December 18 hearing so notices could be corrected.
Fernando Vega, who identified himself as a commercial agent with eXp Realty and one of the applicants for Item 5, said the applicants had conducted outreach and had some neighbor support but were disappointed by the delay, noting that "many moving parts go on when you're starting a small business and ... life savings are put into a small business." Chair Mel Pins acknowledged the concern but the board agreed to the continuance so all required recipients can be notified.
By the numbers: Item 4 described use of a 650-square-foot building for on-premises sales of alcoholic liquor, wine or beer; Item 1 relates to public-recreation work near Berglund Marina (vicinity of 21100 Sailor Road); Item 2 is an amendment to a conditional-use permit at 2142 East Market for a junk and salvage yard. Item 5 (variance at 3921 East 14th Street) was continued because some addresses within the required 250-foot notice radius did not receive mailed notice.
Next steps: The continued Item 5 will be heard at the December 18 Zoning Board meeting after staff corrects mailings; applicants and interested neighbors will have an opportunity to appear then. The applicants for Item 4 and other consent items will receive written decision orders in roughly one week to support any building or sign-permit applications.
