Page 159 - Des Moines - Zoning, Planning and Design Ch 134, 135

DRAFT 135-1. BUilDiNG tYPeS

Roof Types

the eave with no discernible cap. appurtenances are permitted on tower roofs.
1. No more than 1/3 of the front facade may i. tower roof. The tower may be capped by the
consist of an interrupting vertical wall. parapet, pitched, or flat roof types.
2. Vertical walls may extend no more than 8 feet
above the top of the eave.
e. Occupied Space. Occupied space may not be
incorporated behind this roof type.
F. rooftop Appurtenances. With the exception of
solar panels, any rooftop appurtenances must be
located behind the interrupting vertical wall with no
visibility on any street elevation drawing.
1.17.6 tOWer 1
A tower is a vertical element, polygonal (simple),
rectilinear, or cylindrical in plan that may be used only
in addition to other roof types. Refer to Figure 1.17-C.
A. Quantity. The number of towers permitted on each
building type is specified in the building type tables.
Tower locations may be located on the front of the
building, visible from the street, or may be functional
towers located beyond the facade.
B. tower Height. Tower height is measured from the
top of the parapet or eave to the top of the tower
shaft not including the tower roof. Maximum height
of the tower is equal to the height of one upper
floor of the building to which the tower is applied.
Tower height is additional to the maximum height of
the building type.
c. tower Width. Maximum width along all facades is
one-third the width of the front facade or 30 feet,
whichever is less.
D. tower Spacing. Towers must be spaced a minimum
of 60 feet apart in any direction and a minimum of
120 feet along any street frontage facade.
e. transparency. Towers that meet the minimum Tower Width
floor-to-floor to height of the building type and are Permitted
located within 30 feet of a facade must meet the Roof Type
minimum transparency requirements of the building.
F. Horizontal Shadow lines. An shadow line is Tower
required between the 4th and 5th stories of any Height
tower and below the roof of the tower.
G. Occupied Space. Towers may be occupied by
the same uses allowed in upper stories of the
building type to which it is applied, unless otherwise
expressly stated in this ordinance.
H. rooftop Appurtenances. No rooftop

1 Steeples are not included in a tower, but could be
approved on top of a tower if meeting “special roof types”
section 1.17.2. Figure 1.17-C. Example of a Tower

CITY OF DES MOINES CHAPTER 135: PLANNING AND DESIGN DRAFT 135-1-67