West Des Moines council approves plats, zoning changes and bond authorizations
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Summary
At its April 6 meeting the council approved multiple ordinances, preliminary plats and bond authorizations including a $44.7 million LOST bond authorization and a $15.19 million general obligation bond authorization; most measures passed unanimously (5-0).
The West Des Moines City Council on April 6 approved a set of development, zoning and financing actions that the council described as routine and noncontroversial.
Key votes at a glance - Dowling Catholic High School PUD (1400 Buffalo Road): Council completed second reading, waived the third reading and adopted the ordinance amending the planned unit development (unanimous 5-0). - Lounsbury Grand West: Council repealed the Sweet Shots PUD and assigned commercial zoning to the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and Interstate 35 (West Grama Properties LLC); actions completed by second reading, waiver and adoption (5-0). - Bond authorizations: Council approved resolutions to take steps toward issuing taxable general obligation local option sales tax bonds not to exceed $44,700,000 and general obligation bonds not to exceed $15,190,000 (each motion approved 5-0). - OPN Architects: Approved a professional services agreement for amphitheater restroom work; council noted staff raised private funding to reduce costs (5-0). - Preliminary plats and site plans: Council approved Grand Shores preliminary plat (five lots, one buffer condition), a Dutch Bros site plan and preliminary plat for a 986 sq. ft. coffee shop with drive-through, and a Lounsbury property plat with conditions regarding grading, utilities and a future stoplight agreement (all approved 5-0).
Why it matters: The measures advance commercial and recreational development across the city and set steps for significant debt financing through bond issuance; council members emphasized private‑public partnerships and long‑term economic benefits.
Public input and debate: Most items received little or no public comment at the meeting and were described by council members as having no outstanding issues. Councilman Lotes and others thanked staff for reducing costs and moving projects forward.
Procedural note: For items where a second reading and waiver of the third reading were recorded, the council followed statutory procedures to adopt ordinances in final form when no outstanding issues were reported.
What’s next: Items approved will proceed to implementation steps and project-specific permits and agreements; several approvals included conditions (for example, the Grand Shores buffer allowance into a public utility easement and a developer agreement for a future stoplight on Lounsbury property).
