The City of Des Moines has scheduled an administrative hearing for Oct. 21 on the proposed demolition of the former Landmark on the Sound property owned by Zenith LLC, while clarifying what authority the city holds in shaping the future of the site.
The City has three options for responding to a permit application:
- Deny the permit
- Approve the permit without conditions
- Approve the permit with conditions to mitigate the impacts of the project
“No building plans were submitted with this application, so it is outside the City’s legal authority at this point to establish any conditions on what may be built on the property,” City Manager Katherine Caffrey said in a Sept. 12 follow-up statement to residents after the Aug. 21 community meeting.
Caffrey noted that city staff has spoken briefly with the property owner about ensuring public access and historical commemoration on the site, but the owner has not shared development plans.
Property use and zoning
The site is currently zoned as “Institutional Campus,” which allows for uses such as colleges, universities, educational facilities, and retirement facilities. If the property owner seeks a rezone, the process would involve multiple steps, including public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council.
While the city cannot force a property owner to submit plans until a building permit application is filed, any future development would be subject to the city’s design review standards and state environmental law.
Demolition and mitigation requirements
The demolition permit requires Zenith Properties to follow specific mitigation measures, including noise and dust control, traffic management, wildlife and habitat protection, proper disposal of hazardous materials, and installation of an on-site historical interpretation feature with public access.
The company is also required to contribute $1.2 million to a preservation fund for city-owned or managed landmarks.
Caffrey emphasized that while the city cannot guarantee future development or prevent financial risk if the owner abandons plans, it will “work with the property owner to ensure that the property is maintained according to City code and that any development is an asset to the community.”
The Final Environmental Impact Statement concluded that restoring the former building was not financially feasible. A market analysis supporting that conclusion is included in Appendix E of the report.
Details about the Oct. 21 administrative hearing, including a Zoom link, will be posted on the city’s website.
Read our previous coverage of this issue here.
