money Des Moines Yacht Club can keep operating as a bar, but with some conditions
Des Moines will allow the Yacht Club, an Ingersoll Avenue mainstay, to continue operating as a bar — but with some conditions.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment on Wednesday voted to maintain the Yacht Club's conditional use permit, required for bars that don't serve food, after police and neighbors reported at least two shootings with injuries, fights and noise outside the 2617 Ingersoll Ave. night spot during the past few years.
But the permit carries new conditions. The Yacht Club must close at midnight, stop using a patio on the north side of the building — instead having the smokers who are its main users take their breaks on the Ingersoll Avenue sidewalk — and make the north door, which is closest to residential neighbors, an exit only. The board will revisit the conditional use permit in a year.
Board members acted in part on advice from the Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association, as well as city staff, who after speaking with the group and the bar's owners felt the conditional use permit could remain in place with the proposed amendments.
Erik Lundy, Des Moines' zoning enforcement officer, had requested reconsideration of the permit.
"The reason I've brought this to the board is because the serious nature of the activities that have occurred have certainly warranted having the board reconsider this," Lundy said Wednesday. " ... We aren't backing off that there are problems that need to be resolved with the conditional use, so certainly we think it should be amended."
According to city code, any business can have its conditional use permit revoked if it becomes a nuisance or violates conditions of the permit, such as actions that "unduly increase congestion" on neighborhood streets or failing to provide proper trash receptacles outside.
The Yacht Club also had conditions related to the now-to-be closed small patio in its parking lot, including that no food or alcohol be served and no recorded or live music be played outside.
In the past six months, police have responded to 16 calls for service outside the bar, including for shots fired, an assault, and disturbing the peace.
More: Yacht Club's operating permit in question as police, neighbors report shootings, fights, noise
Yacht Club owners say problem lies next door
Dirk DeBolt, co-owner of the Yacht Club, said those disturbances largely have stemmed from the Star gas station next door and generally don't involve his patrons.
He said that with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the gas station's parking lot "became a hangout for folks that weren’t interested in being neighborly and weren't in our bar. They were having their own party outside."
DeBolt, who has owned the 36-year-old Yacht Club with business partner Grayson Shimasaki since 2014, described the bar's patrons as friendly and neighborly. "We never have trouble inside. We look out for each other," he said.
Ling Wong, who owns the building with his brothers, told the board they installed five security cameras in November and labeled the north door as an exit only.
He said they wrote a letter to DeBolt and Shimasaki last year regarding similar issues they'd been hearing about. The Yacht Club closed for two weeks "to regroup" and has since closed at midnight.
Wong said that when the business' lease is up in 2024, his company has plans to make the midnight closure a requirement for renewal "because we want to keep it a really nice area, a vibrant area."
More: Des Moines Police: Two people shot at Ingersoll Avenue bar in Des Moines
Yacht Club patrons speak in support of club
No one spoke in support of revoking the bar's conditional use permit. Six customers, however, stood up in support of the Yacht Club, describing it as a place where the regulars know and support each other. They said it promotes live music and provides a safe environment for customers.
"I'm not saying they're perfect, because nobody is," said Bill Neibergall, pointing to a recent shooting at Whiskey River, a few blocks east on Ingersoll, and the third shooting in a week at Big Earl's Goldmine in Polk County. "But I think the Yacht Club is being unfairly blamed for things."
He said he's witnessed people at the gas station revving their car engines and playing music so loud that it shakes the windows at the Yacht Club.
More: West Des Moines bar owner claims she's being punished by the state for husband's actions
Board members vote on new permit conditions
Some board members appeared to agree. Dave Gaer said he supported imposing restrictions to help ease noise on the north side of the building but is concerned about micromanaging issues "that are not 100% (their) fault." He directed city staff to look into potential problems at the Star gas station.
Board members voted 6-0 on the new conditions. One member, Tom DeSio, abstained.
"I'm still concerned but I'm hopeful," said board chair Mel Pins. "We’ve got some nice people, nice owners, people that really support this place."
The Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet next month to officially ratify the conditions. City staff will work to get them in writing for the bar and building owners to sign.
More: Maggie's Rumble Room opens in the former Sambetti's with vintage vibes and specialty pizzas
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the building owner’s name.
Kim Norvell covers growth and development for the Register. Reach her at knorvell@dmreg.com or 515-284-8259. Follow her on Twitter @KimNorvellDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines Yacht Club keeps bar operating permit, with new conditions
