Unless provided otherwise in this ordinance, all general performance standards and provisions set forth in title 9, "Zoning", of the city code for the Residential Estates (RE) Zoning District shall apply to any development within the Dowling Catholic High School Planned Unit Development. To the extent that the provisions of this section conflict with or are more restrictive than similar provisions provided elsewhere in the West Des Moines zoning ordinance, the provisions of this section shall control.
A. Use: The property is intended to be developed as an educational institution campus. Elementary and Secondary Schools (SIC 8211) and associated accessory uses and structures, such as, but not limited to administrative buildings, sports fields, parking lots and transportation related structures and fueling facilities shall be permitted (P) with the approval of the appropriate review and approval body.
The current single-family use within lots adjacent to 17th Street acquired by the school shall be allowed to continue indefinitely if rental certificates and inspections in accordance with city code are maintained. The use of the dwelling structures for any use other than single-family shall be approved by the city and abide by all building and fire code requirements. Redevelopment of the property shall abide by provisions outlined herein.
B. Setbacks: Primary education buildings shall be setback a minimum of one-hundred feet (100') from all property boundaries. Structures for accessory uses shall be setback a minimum of fifty feet (50') from all boundaries except the north (Buffalo Road) which shall abide by primary building setbacks.
C. Buffering: A minimum thirty foot (30') wide buffer shall be provided on school property adjacent to 17th Street and Buffalo Road or the rear yard of a single-family lot along the east side of 17th Street. A minimum of one (1) overstory tree, two (2) understory or evergreen trees and six (6) shrubs shall be provided for every thirty-five (35) linear feet of buffer. Earthen berming shall not be required within the buffer. Said buffer shall be installed at such time that an improvement of some kind (such as construction of parking or building or implementation of athletic fields) is made to the area sharing a boundary with property adjacent to either 17th Street or Buffalo Road. Vision triangles at all intersecting vehicle and pedestrian pathways shall be maintained.
D. Off Street Parking & Loading Areas: Unless otherwise modified here within, all off-street parking and loading/service areas shall comply with title 9, chapter 15 of the city code.
1. Off-street parking lots shall be setback a minimum of forty feet (40') from all boundaries unless part of a shared parking lot with an adjoining property.
2. All off street parking and loading areas shall be sited and landscaped to screen visibility thereof from adjoining single-family dwellings on 17th Street and Buffalo Road not under the school's ownership.
3. Through the use of earthen berming, landscape vegetation, solid fencing or a combination of these, parking areas shall be screened year-round to a minimum height of three feet (3') in order to prevent headlights from vehicles within parking areas from shining into adjacent residential properties. Access drives from off-street parking areas onto adjoining streets shall be located to prevent headlights from shining directly into a residential dwelling not under the school's ownership.
E. Lighting: With the exception of sports field lighting, all overhead light fixtures within the site, including along circulation drives and within parking lots shall be a downcast fixture design with no exposed bulbs. If deemed necessary, the appropriate shields shall be incorporated into the fixture to direct the light to the intended target within the school's property and eliminate visibility of the light itself from residential properties along both 17th Street and Buffalo Road. All building mounted lighting shall include shields to direct the light down and to the intended target. No unshielded wall packs shall be allowed without specific permission from the city. (Ord. 2389, 12-2-2019)