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is now in the early stages of dis- cussing new design guidelines and policy for the marina district. Later in the year the city will vote on an ordinance that will com- pletely change the development guidelines in downtown as part of many projects the city hopes will revitalize the marina district. Among the possible change being discussed is raising the building height along the west side of Marine View Dr. and 7th Ave. S. Council members are discuss- ing raising the building height from 35 feet to 45 feet, with the possibility of a height bonus al- lowing buildings to go to 65 feet. Some buildings along Marine View Dr. could go to 45 feet with height bonuses. Many council members spoke out against the proposal. "It is a question of whether we are continuing the character of the town," Councilwoman Carmen Scott said. ''I don't feel comfort- able with what is being proposed." Staff said because of the grade change, buildings along the avenue are on average 20 feet lower than the buildings on the drive. Also being discussed is the pos- sibility of turning 7th Avenue into the main street of Des Moines. To encourage this, the city is discus - ing not regulating where the build- ings have to sit on the lot. allow- ing for outdoor seating and other measures. The city is also looking at going away from their prescrip- tive design guidelines and using a more flexible method. Council- man Matt Pina compared…

- THE EDC LAND USE COMMITTEE1 THE COUNTY CITilEN GROUP WHO WILL WORK WITH INTERESTED RESIDENTS1 WILL MEET ON APRIL 121 9:00 A.M. AT THE COMMUNITY OFFICE MEETING ROOM. THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THE ORGANI- ZATION OF COMMITTEES BASED ON RESPONSES FROM INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRES AND WILL OUTLINE FUTURE MEETING SC~EDULES. - THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMJTTEE (WITH CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES ELEANOR LEE AND JEAN PIHLMAN) WILL HOLD ITS MONTHLY MEETING ON APRIL 171 2:00 P.M. AT THE AIRPORT CONFERENCE ROOM. - THE IECHNI~AL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL CONDUCT ITS MONTHLY MEETING APRIL l/1 11:00 A.M. AT THE COMMUNITY OFFICE MEETING ROOM. PLANNING ACTIVITIES: CONSULTANTS1 PORT AND COUNTY STAFFS ARE WORKING ON DATA COLLECTION AND FIELD STUDIES WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT TOGETHER AFTER SIX MONTHS (PROBABLY AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER) AS A PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. THIS IS NECESSARY SO THAT PREDICTIONS CAN BE MADE CONCERNING FUTURE IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR ATTACKING EXISTING PROBLEMS. - NOISE1 AIR QUALITY AND WATER CONSULTANTS W·ILL BEGIN FIELD TESTING AND MATHEMATICAL COMPUTATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND IMPACT. NOISE CONSULTANT1 ROBIN TOWNE AND ASSOCIATES1 WILL BE TAKING PRELIMINARY NOISE MEASUREMENTS THROUGHOUT THE AREA DURING APRIL TO AID IN DETER- MINING THE LOCATION OF SOME b0 MORE PERMANENT TESTING STATIONS. - COUNTY PERSONNEL ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION AND MAKING FIELD OBSERVA- TION PERTAINING TO SOILS AND GEOLOGY AS WELL AS UP-DATING LAND USE INFORMATION AND MAPS FOR THE AREA. PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS1 SUCH AS CONDITION OF HOUSING1 POPULATION1 ETC.1 ARE ALSO BEING STUDIED. UW URBAN…