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Board approves floodplain variance for unfinished river cabin at Edgewater Beach Road
Summary
Des Moines County supervisors approved a variance allowing completion and occupancy of a mostly finished river cabin at 400 Edgewater Beach Road after staff and DNR data found the raised structure would not cause a rise in the flood elevation; the action follows a staff report that the building’s lowest finished floor exceeded minimum flood clearance.
The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on June 30 approved a variance that will allow an almost-completed river cabin at 400 Edgewater Beach Road to be finished and occupied after county staff and state data found it would not increase flood elevations.
Staff told the board that construction had proceeded without required county floodplain permits and that the property sits in the regulatory floodway. An engineering elevation certificate submitted by the owner showed the structure’s lowest finished floor is about 7 feet above the minimum required elevation. County staff said the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provided data supporting a "no-rise" determination, and DNR concurrence was obtained before the board vote.
How the variance was framed: county staff said the floodplain ordinance prohibits new permanent residences in the floodway unless a variance is granted and the variance criteria are met, including a no-rise finding and DNR concurrence. In this case, staff said the building’s elevation and the DNR analysis satisfied those conditions, and the board treated the vote as a formality to regularize the situation.
No members of the public spoke in opposition during the public hearing, and staff said they received no public comments after the newspaper notice. The board moved to close the public hearing and then voted to adopt resolution 2026-041 approving the variance.
The vote recorded on the motion included affirmative responses by board members who cast votes during roll-call; the resolution was adopted. The variance allows the mostly completed structure to be occupied once finished, subject to any remaining building- and health-code approvals.
The board’s action underscores that while county officials will enforce permit requirements, the local variance process can be used when an engineering record and DNR review show a proposed development will not alter flood elevations. The county staff emphasized that building without a permit created additional work and potential liability that the permitting process is intended to prevent.
The board did not discuss any penalties for the initial failure to obtain permits; staff said they had been working with the owner and DNR to reach the current outcome. The resolution and staff report are on the county’s public record; additional follow-up or inspections will be set as needed.
