Neighbors have beef with proposed Des Moines meat market

The Des Moines City Council will further consider Fareway's proposed meat market in Beaverdale next week. It's caused a stir among neighbors, so we're highlighting possible solutions to a few of the objections raised.

Why it matters: Redevelopment is important, but so are our neighborhoods. Potential problems could be minimized if the right fixes are found.

Catch up fast: Fareway's proposal would redevelop the former US Bank site at the corner of Beaver and Urbandale avenues into a stand-alone meat market.

• The plan calls for removing one of the neighborhood's brick homes and rezoning to allow for parking.
• DSM's Plan and Zoning Commission rejected the zoning request, saying the proposal didn't adhere to the city's land-use plan.
• The City Council unanimously sided against P&Z, directing city staff during a meeting last week to make the project work.

Here are some of the red flags people have raised:

Traffic: Much of the concern is linked with traffic entering the store parking lot off 41st Place, a residential street that runs behind the site.

• A possible solution: What if there wasn't access to the parking lot from 41st Place?
• P&Z member Greg Jones suggested the idea during a meeting in April, but he acknowledged it could be an inconvenience for drivers.

Brick house: Some neighbors are concerned that Fareway's plans to remove a home off 41st Place will negatively impact the area's character.

• A possible solution: Move the home to a nearby vacant lot.
• Fareway "is exhausting all available options" to preserve the home, spokesperson Emily Toribi told Jason.

What's next: City staff will make official recommendations before the City Council on Monday. The meeting starts at 4:30pm.

• Construction could begin as early as summer with a spring 2022 opening.