Politics & Government
City Council Clears Way for More Low Income Housing
Critics argue action further concentrates low-income housing, but supporters say it fills a need for high-quality low-income housing in growing suburb and jumpstarts Alice's Road development.
The Waukee City Council on Monday cleared the path for a development that some residents argued would further concentrate low-income in a small area of the city and cause valuations of nearby properties to decline.
The council split 3-2 on a request to rezone to residential from commercial a 10-acre tract of land on the northwest corner of Southeast Laurel Street and Southeast Brick Drive, the Des Moines Register reports. Valley Bank owns the property.
Council members Casey Harvey, Isaiah McGee and Mike Watts supported the measure, while Shane Blanchard and Shelly Hughes opposed it.
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The request had been considered at two earlier council meetings. Monday’s vote on the third reading makes it final.
In response to critics who said the development could negatively affect neighboring property values, Watts said the project fills a need for high quality housing for people with limited incomes in a growing suburban community.
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He also thinks the development will help jump start development in another area of the Alice’s Road corridor that is zoned for commercial use.
“Rooftops have got to come before you get commercial development,” he said in the Register story. “It’s just the way it is.”Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.