West Des Moines council approves multiple zoning and development actions, waives some site-plan landscaping for Microsoft data center

The West Des Moines City Council on Aug. 4 approved several zoning and development items, adopting ordinance amendments and authorizing development actions across the city.

The council adopted an amendment to the Jordan Creek Crossing specific planned ordinance (second reading and final adoption) to clarify parking and buffering regulations. The council also approved a zoning-map change initiated by the city affecting a parcel at the southeast corner of I‑35 and Grand Avenue (Iowa DOT and Clark Properties), following extensive subcommittee review; both actions passed on recorded votes of 4‑0.

The council held a public hearing and approved the first reading of a rezoning request for Hope Landing at the northeast corner of Stagecoach Drive and South 80th Street; the Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval (5 yes, 2 absent). No public speakers addressed that item at the hearing.

Houston Cemetery: the council held a public hearing and approved a first reading to rezone the southwest corner of Mill Civic Parkway and South 80th Street to open space, with two explicit exemptions noted by staff. The first exemption would permit a cemetery as a permitted use rather than only as a conditional use in open-space zoning; the second would allow the parcel to be noncompliant with certain bulk regulations in the open-space district. Resident Marilyn Mueller, whose property is adjacent to the cemetery, spoke in support and asked that the rezoning not encroach on her trees and plantings. Mueller said she had historical ties to the cemetery and praised city staff for documenting the site.

Conveyance: the council approved a resolution to authorize conveyance of about 2.8 acres at the south terminus of Napoleon Avenue to Wendover Reserve LLC; no written comments were received on the public notice and the council approved the conveyance 4‑0.

Microsoft data center: the council approved a major modification to the site plan for Microsoft DSM (11100 Booneville Road) to allow construction of an additional data-center building. The approval included three conditions: a waiver from the city's standard requirement to plant trees in parking-lot landscape islands (allowing shrubs instead) and permission to use gravel around industrial buildings to provide maintenance access to utility structures; staff said the changes reflected security and operational concerns consistent with earlier phases of the project. One council member abstained from the Microsoft vote, citing a potential conflict of interest (a colleague at the member's firm works on the project); the item passed 3‑yes, 0‑no, 1‑abstention.

Council discussion: council members described the zoning changes as compromises reached after deliberation and outreach; one member thanked residents and staff for constructive engagement on the I‑35 corridor zoning. No ordinance amendments were reversed or tabled at the meeting.

Decisions and next steps: the council completed final readings and adoptions where appropriate, advanced first readings where required, and authorized the property conveyance. Staff will continue to implement the approved site plan modifications and to process the rezoning readings and conditions as required by city code.