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Commission reviews proposed boundary change with Des Moines that would shift maintenance responsibility for a Marine View access point
Summary
Staff told the Normandy Park Parks Commission that the city of Des Moines has proposed a boundary change so a parcel currently inside Normandy Park would become Des Moines property, which staff say would allow Des Moines to directly address stormwater and trail maintenance; the council tabled action pending HOA outreach.
A staff member briefed the Normandy Park Parks Commission on Jan. 21 about a multi-party property and boundary issue at the city’s south end that affects an access point into Des Moines Beach Park.
Staff explained that a parcel currently inside Normandy Park’s municipal boundary is owned in fee by the city of Des Moines, creating a situation in which Des Moines owns property physically located within Normandy Park. That mix of ownership and local homeowner association (HOA) arrangements has complicated long-running stormwater and maintenance work on a forested hillside trail that provides access to the beach.
"What will help is if the city council changes the property line for Normandy Park because then the city of Des Moines can be the perimeter and can also work with the HOA to fix the situation on their property and not have to, like, work with the city of Normandy Park to make those changes," the staff member said, summarizing the staff view that moving the boundary would streamline permitting and maintenance responsibilities.
Staff said Des Moines recently advanced the boundary change to its council and that Normandy Park’s council decided to hold the item for further discussion. Commissioners asked whether the HOA and affected property owners have been contacted; staff said the council wanted more outreach to the HOA before final action and anticipated the matter returning to a study session in the near term.
The commission discussed practical implications: if Des Moines assumes ownership, the city would carry maintenance responsibility for the trail and hillside where slides and drainage problems have occurred; Normandy Park would retain the ability to preserve public access points but could avoid duplicate permitting for improvements. Commissioners also flagged the need to confirm HOA consent and said staff would follow up with the city manager and report back.
Why it matters: changing the municipal boundary would transfer operational responsibility for trail repairs and stormwater mitigation to Des Moines, which staff said could simplify coordination with the HOA and speed repair work. The commission did not take a formal vote; the council-level action remains pending.
Speakers quoted in this article appear as recorded in the meeting transcript.
