[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299074,"mediaKeyId","2498903-91e627a95ce986506d80e60094edd4b2","parentId",2498903,"title","Des Moines Council approves multiple consent items; approves RTB Renovations rezoning and adopts code changes on stormwater and hearings","audioSeconds",4920,"startMs",1304000,"endMs",6224000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2498903-91e627a95ce986506d80e60094edd4b2&start=1304&end=6224","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2498903-91e627a95ce986506d80e60094edd4b2/thumbnail_1304000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299074/Des-Moines/Polk-County/Iowa/Des-Moines-Council-approves-multiple-consent-items-approves-RTB-Renovations-rezoning-and-adopts-code-changes-on-stormwater-and-hearings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299074-31d31707ea733109940a211165d3cc9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183974&Signature=lkn0AkKnWz39KAj3vzJFVDpVkRf30jIuh4l0yHpvY7URYVqzNwqeBtu3ygwYWlDjqXot0grvjQ044sJd14hGPIl4mRbVVEtF4v~2yZ1KDbQjuV3ebprw6RJNbpa0RaFabbmyWUbD5ykcnPs9JK~UxKCECTvRw2aPhhfwNFZTwRQnRXhWR4mSOHgMxDt~qLU~9Svfwp5~tsdi9oviP1pPSvfxZhSXEA31sJZ1~oQDmqB8PKZ4anNJajSmF5Alx1tvZN5zjTTp5I8ZOBBLaQtreu-R9zGIxoWeDkcLomTfSL1bqdDnq03BIuqX5XA-1xVIx40Jf5pTqJsVbVqF4iD9WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Des Moines ","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Des Moines City Council on Jan. 27 enacted a package of consent and ordinance items, including conveyances, street vacations and multiple municipal code amendments. Most consent items passed on a single roll‑call vote; several ordinance changes related to stormwater and hearing procedures passed on final reading.

Votes and key outcomes (selected):
- Item 50: RTB Renovations LLC (Rodrigo Casares, officer) — Council approved amendments to Plan DSM and rezoning for property at 2625 Cottage Grove Ave. to change future land use to high‑density residential and rezone N5 to N5‑4 (limited) to permit reuse as up to four dwelling units. The council approved both first and final readings after the applicant and neighborhood discussion; vote 7‑0.

- Items 45–49 (consent/conveyances and vacations): The council approved conveyance of excess city property west of 2720 Logan Ave. (item 45), sale of vacated alley right of way west of 805 SE 11th St. (item 46), conveyance of excess property at 3770 and 3790 Hubbell Ave. (item 47), vacation of a portion of Mulberry Street and conveyance of a permanent easement to Cordova Holdings DSM LLC (item 48), and vacation of air rights for Carpenter Ave. adjoining 1900 Carpenter Ave. and conveyance of permanent easement to Polk County (item 49). All passed by voice/roll call; waiver requests requiring supermajorities were noted where applicable and passed.

- Items 52–54: Council adopted amendments to municipal code chapter 135 relating to public hearing sites and plan review (item 52) and adopted multiple changes to chapter 42 regarding stormwater runoff control, grading operations, and stormwater management standards for development and redevelopment (items 53 and 54). Staff noted the amendments were advanced by the city engineer and public works director; items passed on final reading with required votes (roll call showed 7 yes on each).

- Item 55: Amendment to chapter 18 (interfering with animals) passed on final reading; waiver requested by city manager and council approved 7‑0.

Consent agenda and roll calls
- The council approved the consent agenda (items 3–44) by roll call; one recorded dissent: Councilmember Voss recorded “no” on item 5. The remaining consent items passed as a single package.

Municipal Housing Agency governance
- Earlier in the session the Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board (convened before the council meeting) awarded a contract to Excel Mechanical Company, Inc. for replacement of fan coil units at Oak Park Plaza and Highland Park Plaza (board communication 205‑37); the board vote carried.

Context and implications
- The RTB Renovations approval (item 50) was highlighted by council praise for the applicant’s renovations and neighborhood engagement; staff and council framed that conversion from a higher‑density dilapidated structure into a lower-density multifamily product could be a form of affordable housing rehabilitation when supported by neighborhood associations and appropriate design review.
- Code amendments on stormwater mirror a broader city push to update grading and stormwater standards; council adopted final readings with the city engineer and public works director supporting waivers and adoption.

Ending: The council concluded the Jan. 27 meeting with a lengthy public speaking period on other city matters, including the city manager’s proposed budget and questions about the recently reorganized Office of Sustainability; council scheduled additional budget engagement events and will consider the proposed FY2026 budget in coming weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Des Moines Council Meeting 1-27-25","oneSentenceSummary","At the Jan. 27 meeting the council approved consent conveyances and easements, approved a rezoning and plan amendment for 2625 Cottage Grove Ave., and adopted amendments to city code relating to public hearing procedures and stormwater management.","taxTitle","Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa","taxId",4694,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299076,"Council continues rezoning hearing for 5702 Grand Ave., directs staff to draft conditions including 8-unit limit",4605,1481000,6086000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2498903-91e627a95ce986506d80e60094edd4b2&start=1481&end=6086","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2498903-91e627a95ce986506d80e60094edd4b2/thumbnail_1481000.jpg","/articles/6299076/Des-Moines/Polk-County/Iowa/Council-continues-rezoning-hearing-for-5702-Grand-Ave-directs-staff-to-draft-conditions-including-8-unit-limit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299076-2bc9266d01816bfa96bf6173cc1deffe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183974&Signature=Ic5CoUMV1F4OE9ngxCsNyeeynQJ1QR1HoJ33Unj4Kg83ToK3JlbQKzZv6XiAjZfJ2I7gN5bjuv~pSm6gyItaeXlYTfWeRBM3UuNeaqRx1Fat6uk5OITO71Y5c-eNEmAGoPUsGJM1ujg5~3gUgjVS3BQkoYoHbef8ZkKINmeTKfP~fluyvcj7LSpkKF2mF3wbHJaioTDndbv6szokywpk2ByuK8iCCK2X6zZgelWhvNqJ883UFAo6OWEcbszUGUczj0Z~S~0I-xGMG64F87JrbyiZNDLzHq~FDSPo7cST85O-Dc7t~UfV2CvMnImuGm75FWZOkSDuPxzptSJPHrGbIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Des Moines City Council members voted unanimously on Jan. 27 to continue the public hearing on a rezoning request for 5702 Grand Ave., and directed the city manager, legal staff and development services to prepare legislation and conditions for approval. The action followed an extended public hearing in which neighbors, planners and the applicant debated tree removal, neighborhood character, stormwater and parking.

The applicant, Adam Seeran of Faithful Moments LLC, told the council he reduced the proposed project from an original 15 units to nine units presented at the Plan and Zoning Commission and then to an eight-unit design after additional neighborhood meetings and design changes. “We lowered the density down to 9 units,” Seeran said, and later, “after more consideration and thought, I’ve reduced the project down to 8 units.”

The council’s continuation instructs staff to return Feb. 10 with recommended conditions and legislation. Cody Christiansen, director of Development Services, told the council that staff’s likely approach would be to rezone the property with use limitations consistent with N3C zoning and to allow up to eight units, with the design to be approved by the Planning and Urban Design Administrator. “The proposal…is to rezone, but limit the uses to what’s allowed in the N3C zoning, with the exception of…up to 8 units,” Christiansen said.

Why it matters: The parcel sits on Grand Avenue, a four‑lane corridor designated in Plan DSM for selected corridor density. Neighbors argued the parcel is a stable single‑family area that should not be spot‑rezoned, while supporters and the applicant argued the infill would provide housing stock and clean up a blighted building. The council’s action keeps the public hearing open while staff and the applicant work to reconcile design, stormwater and tree mitigation details.

Key details and council direction
- Unit cap: Council members asked that any return include a firm cap of eight dwelling units (applicant proposed that reduction during the hearing).
- Design and uses: Staff indicated recommended conditions would restrict uses to those allowed in N3C zoning and require buildings to meet code/design approvals by the Planning and Urban Design Administrator.
- Stormwater: Council requested a staff briefing on how the project’s stormwater detention meets city code and serves the neighborhood; public works staff previously said compliance with the stormwater ordinance is expected to improve drainage overall.
- Trees and mitigation: The applicant presented an arborist report identifying 11 oak trees onsite, with five to be removed and six retained; staff said tree mitigation rules require planting 39 replacement trees based on caliper requirements for the trees proposed for removal.
- Parking and buffering: Councilmembers asked that the revised plan include additional guest parking and buffer/green space shown in the applicant’s most recent drawings.
- Next hearing: Feb. 10, 2025 (public hearing remains open). Staff will prepare specific ordinance language and conditions for council consideration.

Public comment highlights
- Neighbors and resident groups: More than a dozen neighbors and neighborhood organizations spoke in opposition, citing character and scale, tree canopy loss, grading and fill (one speaker called the proposed grading a “12-foot hill” above natural grade), increased traffic and parking on narrow neighborhood streets, and potential for conversion to short‑term rentals under NX2-type zoning. Speakers referenced Plan DSM and the 2019 zoning update as reasons to preserve single‑family character.
- Petition and turnout: Speakers said the neighborhood circulated a petition with roughly 650–655 signatures opposing rezoning; the Westwood Neighborhood Association reported a vote of about 70 residents at a meeting opposed to the change.
- Support for infill: Other residents and one council member said the parcel’s corridor location and proximity to transit make it a reasonable site for additional housing and that reduced unit counts and design changes represented meaningful compromise.

What remains unresolved
- Specific ordinance language and the exact list of conditions (beyond the eight‑unit cap) will be drafted by staff and the city attorney and returned to council on Feb. 10 for final consideration. The public hearing remains open.

Ending: The council’s Jan. 27 vote kept the hearing open and set a path for staff to formalize the conditions the council discussed, including an eight‑unit cap, stormwater engineering details, parking provisions and tree mitigation. Final action will occur at a subsequent meeting after the conditions and revised plans are submitted and publicly posted.","After more than three hours of public comment, the Des Moines City Council voted 7-0 to continue the public hearing on a rezoning request for 5702 Grand Ave. and directed staff to return Feb. 10 with conditions including a limit of eight dwelling units, stormwater details and parking improvements.","actionData","errors"]

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Des Moines Council approves multiple consent items; approves RTB Renovations rezoning and adopts code changes on stormwater and hearings

Council continues rezoning hearing for 5702 Grand Ave., directs staff to draft conditions including 8-unit limit