Des Moines Register
11-09-07
Waterbury looking to protect oaks
Neighborhood wants to preserve its trees
By TOM BARTON REGISTER STAFF WRITER
The word "infrastructure" to Des Moines planners, engineers and contractors
generally constitutes streets, sewers, curbs and sidewalks. But in the Waterbury
Neighborhood, the term takes on a new connotation - one envisioned by
arborists that includes leaves, branches, limbs and trunks.
The neighborhood's 100-year-plus oak trees would receive special protection
under a neighborhood strategic plan approved Tuesday by the Polk County
Board of Supervisors.
The idea, which also has been approved by the Des Moines Plan and Zoning
Commission and the city's Neighborhood Revitalization Program, spells out a
long-range plan that focuses on enhancing the strengths of the neighborhood,
including preservation and reforestation of the area's tree canopy.
"When we talk infrastructure, we talk trees. Sidewalks, street, curbs and trees are
all the same to us," said C.J. Stephens, co-chairwoman of the planning
committee that drafted the strategic plan. "We wanted to look forward as a
community to improve the neighborhood and establish an identity, which calls for
the preservation of the tree canopy oaks."
The Waterbury Neighborhood is a residential area of 1,100 households bounded
by Interstate Highway 235 on the north, Polk Boulevard on the east, Grand
Avenue on the south and 63rd Street on the west.
It also includes the homes with Des Moines addresses nestled between 63rd
Street and Walnut Creek.
The area used to be a woodland near the banks of Walnut Creek until 1917,
when F.C. Waterbury bought the land and had it developed for homes. The
neighborhood was the first in the city built to the topographical layout of the land,
which allowed for the preservation of the area's oak trees.
Iowa State University's forestry extension office "has told us in 25 years, the
vast majority of the oak trees could be gone," said neighborhood association
board President Bill Green. "We want to prevent a neighborhood that looks like
the suburbs with no trees. We need to be planting new trees so they'll be
maturing as the oaks die out."
Waterbury is among the five most recent neighborhoods chosen to participate in
the Neighborhood Revitalization Program and develop a neighborhood plan. The
city's planning staff and Waterbury residents formed a planning committee in
August 2006 to identify issues and goals for revitalizing the area. The group met
every three to four weeks and held two neighborhood-wide input meetings in
September 2006 and June of this year.
The plan addresses land-use concerns, housing issues, public infrastructure
needs and commercial development.
Once approved by the Des Moines City Council, the plan will become part of the
city's 2020 Community Character Plan.
The plan is scheduled to be included on the council's Nov. 19 meeting agenda.
Public infrastructure needs identified in the plan also are included in the City's
Capital Improvement Budget through the Neighborhood Infrastructure
Rehabilitation Program, which provides improvements "above and beyond" the
city's annual street, curb and sidewalk maintenance program.
"It is one of the immediate impacts for being involved in the Neighborhood
Revitalization program," said Kyle Larson, with the city's community development
department. "It gives the neighborhood association some direction. ... This gives
a collective set of goals for future association members and new residents."
Waterbury will receive $682,500, which the association has designated for street
repaving and sidewalk and curb repairs.
"That was the top priority," Stephens said. "We are an active neighborhood with
young families, pregnant mothers and elderly who do a lot of walking."
Of Des Moines' 51 recognized neighborhood association, 19 have strategic plans
like that created by Waterbury, and 11 of those have successfully completed the
process by accomplishing most of the activities in their action plans.
Reporter Tom Barton can be reached at (515) 284-8211 or tbarton@dmreg.com