Highland Park nonprofit seeks rezoning to add five homes at 3851 Sherman Boulevard; neighbors cite flooding, parking concerns

The Highland Park Community Development Association asked the Des Moines City Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 2 to recommend rezoning 3851 Sherman Boulevard so the group can renovate an existing house and build a duplex and two accessory dwelling units, for a total of five residential units.

Planning staff recommended conditional approval, saying the applicant revised an earlier plan that proposed seven units and had created too much impervious area. ‘‘With the updated proposal, staff does think that this proposal is appropriate in this area,’’ Sriyoshi Chakraborty, planning staff, told the commission.

The rezoning request would change the parcel’s zoning from N3A (neighborhood district) to NX1 (neighborhood mixed), allowing the mix of dwelling types proposed. Under the applicant’s revised plan the parcel, about 0.9 acres, would retain the existing single-family house, add a duplex fronting Sherman Boulevard, and include two accessory dwelling units behind the principal structures. Staff outlined conditions for approval, including limiting the lot to a maximum of five dwelling units, requiring substantial compliance with the submitted development concept to the satisfaction of the…