Opinion ID: 1309738
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: applicability of municipal zoning ordinance provisions

Text: III. A second array of assigned errors concerns applicability of several West Des Moines zoning ordinance sections to issuance of the special use permit. Plaintiffs contend all of the provisions discussed herein apply but were violated by the Board. Alternatively, they assert the Board's failure to state more specific findings and reasons for the controverted decision makes it impossible to determine whether relevant ordinance provisions were applied at all. While there may be merit in the latter contention, our holding, supra, precludes reversal on that basis. By contrast, defendants maintain none of the disputed ordinance clauses are applicable. In the alternative, they contend findings adverse to plaintiffs as to each such provision inhere in the Board's decision to grant the permit. While neither theory is wholly satisfactory, we are not persuaded plaintiffs have successfully borne their heavy burden of showing [the Board] exceeded its proper jurisdiction or otherwise acted illegally. Trailer City, Inc. v. Board of Adjustment, supra, 218 N.W.2d at 646. The relevant ordinance provisions are of two kinds. First entertained are those concerning permissible uses of land as determined by the zoning district regulations governing the subject property. We shall then consider certain provisions limiting the Board's authority to issue special use permits.