Johnston City Administrator Jim Sanders is leading an effort to review building and fire codes in Greater Des Moines and determine whether there is way to make them more consistent.

The effort is one of several initiatives spawned by Capital Crossroads. As far as codes are concerned, there might not be a more common trigger for developer unease, aside from building permit fees, than the uneven application of items such as sprinkler systems that are considered important in one city but not another.

Sanders said 11 of 16 communities invited to participate in the Central Iowa Code Consortium are on board with the project, and the remaining five have indicated their support.

“We have a strong group,” he said.

The effort started with a focus on fire codes, but was broadened to include building and maintenance codes.

All of those codes have resulted in the creation of seven subcommittees, each with seven members with four representatives from the public sector and three from the private sector.

Those committees will look at codes concerning electrical and energy services; fire; international building codes for new and existing commercial buildings; international codes for residential buildings, mechanical, plumbing, fuel and gas services; swimming pools, spas, and residential property maintenance; and a committee that will cover the overlap between fire and building codes.

Ultimately, recommendations will be made for common codes. However, each city will have to decide whether to adopt the codes, Sanders said.

“If we can narrow them down and get more consistency, it’s going to be better for everybody,” he said.

The effort also is a positive mark on efforts to promote regional cooperation, he said.

“Everyone has been very open to the process. … A lot of the heavy lifting is going to happen now,” Sanders said.