I understand why the Urbandale City Council hesitated before changing the comprehensive-plan designation for the proposed Buc-ee's property. A development of this size deserves careful scrutiny, particularly concerning traffic, infrastructure and compatibility with Urbandale's long-term plans.
However, I am concerned that denying the amendment — rather than tabling it and establishing conditions for further consideration — may cause Urbandale to lose a rare economic-development opportunity before all the relevant information has been gathered.
The proposed project represents more than $60 million in private investment and more than 200 permanent jobs, with reported starting wages of approximately $19 to $21 per hour. Buc-ee's current published wage scale lists many associate positions at $20 to $25 per hour, with health benefits, paid time off and a 401(k) match.
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These are meaningful jobs and a substantial private investment at one of Urbandale's most visible interstate locations. The traffic concerns are real. Buc-ee's is not an ordinary convenience store; no one should pretend otherwise. It is a regional destination that would generate significant activity. But that extraordinary draw is also the reason the proposal deserves further negotiation rather than immediate dismissal.
Buc-ee's has stated that it is willing to mitigate the traffic it creates and help develop a long-term solution for the interchange. Before closing the door, the city should determine exactly what improvements would be required, what they would cost and how much Buc-ee's would be willing to fund.
I respectfully ask the council to consider reopening or allowing a revised application under conditions that protect Urbandale:
Require an independent traffic-impact study reviewed by both city engineers and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Require Buc-ee's to fund the roadway, signal, access and interchange improvements attributable to the project.
Establish enforceable standards for traffic performance, lighting, noise, stormwater management, landscaping and 24-hour operations.
Commission a third-party fiscal-impact analysis using Iowa's actual tax laws rather than relying exclusively on figures supplied by the developer.
Use a site-specific planned-development agreement that preserves the remaining surrounding acreage for appropriate mixed-use or multifamily development.
Require a formal partnership connecting this regional attraction to downtown Urbandale through wayfinding, visitor information, downtown-business promotions and financial support for downtown marketing or improvements.
Urbandale's Downtown Master Plan calls for bold public and private investment, stronger local businesses and the creation of destinations that encourage people to gather, explore and spend time in our community.
Buc-ee's would not replace downtown, and visitors would not automatically find their way from the interstate to Douglas Avenue. But with thoughtful planning, Urbandale could use a nationally recognized attraction as a gateway — introducing millions of travelers to our downtown, local businesses, parks, events and community identity.
The question should not be whether Urbandale must choose between Buc-ee's and responsible planning. The question should be whether we can negotiate a project that delivers economic benefits while requiring Buc-ee's to address its impacts and contribute to the broader future of the city.Urbandale should be careful — but it should also be competitive, creative and willing to negotiate.
I am grateful to letter writer Jill Schlott for clarifying the accountability required of school voucher, or Education Savings Account (ESA), recipients. But significant differences in accountability between public and private schools remain.
Yes, ESA schools must be accredited by Iowa or an independent accrediting agency. But those accreditors are not equivalent. ESA recipients can use accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) or the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS), whose standards and processes have been criticized as less rigorous and transparent than the state's. Last year, Pennsylvania rejected ACSI accreditation for nonpublic schools because some requirements conflicted with state law. ACCS was founded by Idaho pastor Doug Wilson, who has made deeply troubling statements about slavery and said women should not be allowed to vote — hardly consistent with Iowa's commitment to multicultural and gender-fair education.
Schlott also conflates the financial reporting required of 501(c)(3) organizations with the accountability required of public schools. ESA critics' concern is not the financial integrity of these organizations, but whether state dollars are being used appropriately and in accordance with Iowa law.
If nonpublic school boards want Iowans to trust that our tax dollars are being well spent, they should accept substantially more rigorous oversight.
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This letter is in response to the Aug. 30 letter titled "Inside life on an aircraft carrier." I don't know when the writer served on the Abraham Lincoln, but I served from 1967 to 1997, on everything from a World War II destroyer, two frigates, a cruiser, and the newest carrier at the time, the USS George Washington. In total, it was about 13½ years aboard ships.
I enlisted after high school and after 14 years received a commission as an officer through the Limited Duty Officer program and served an additional 16 years, so I've had the opportunity to see life from both sides of the fence, so to speak.
One of the "benefits" of going to sea was how incredibly delicious the water tasted, and this was true of all the ships I served on. The Navy uses desalinization plants to make fresh water, and their systems are pretty well perfected. It's difficult to understand how jet fuel could get into the fresh drinking water tanks, as the systems are completely isolated from each other, and more difficult to believe that the senior medical Officer would not take immediate action if there ever was an incident that would allow that to occur.
As far as food, it may not have had any Michelin rating stars next to it, but the cooks had pride in what they served and did a respectable job. With the rigors of sea duty being what they are, it would be very difficult to survive on one meal a day. Four meals a day are served: the normal three and what we call midrats, for Midnight Rations, intended for those going on watch at midnight.
Twelve-hour shifts are pretty common. I had 137 men working for me and it was their choice to work in 12-hour shifts. Yes, life can be challenging on any ship at sea, and yes, the hours can be long. It is the reason why we rotate between sea duty assignments and shore duty assignments – you need the downtime.
Lastly, I wholeheartedly agree that the vast majority of our service members do a stellar job serving their country under what can be some very challenging conditions.
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I thought Sue Smith's Aug. 30 commentary "On death, human worth and suffering," expressed sentiments that were encouraging to most of us. I thank her for taking the time and effort to express them. For those who gauge life based on how comfortably it can be lived, I would suggest they keep a copy of the commentary and reflect on it occasionally. We are all evolving, whether we want to or not.
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson co-sponsored the Life At Conception Act, which declares a constitutional right to life beginning the instant any human egg is fertilized. Hinson's bill threatens to end in vitro fertilization (IVF), which has rescued many Iowans from the heartbreak of being unable to start a family. IVF involves 'test-tube' fertilization of several of the mother's eggs to ensure at least one successfully implants in the womb and results in the baby the couple so badly wants. Hinson's bill grants constitutional personhood to each of those test-tube eggs, putting those performing IVF in profound legal jeopardy.
Hinson could have refused to sponsor the bill unless it protected IVF, but she didn't. Another co-sponsor, Republican Michelle Steel, acknowledged error and withdrew her support for this extreme measure, but Hinson didn't. Hinson could have offered an amendment to the bill to protect IVF, but she didn't. So Hinson's claimed support for IVF rings hollow.Tens of thousands of Iowans have been born through IVF. Hinson is totally out of step with Iowa families, and yet she's asking us to make her our senator. Voters should reject her extremism.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Urbandale shouldn't move on from Buc-ee's so quickly | Letters