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Des Moines staff outline land‑use and housing updates for comprehensive plan periodic review
Summary
City planners reviewed proposed edits to the land‑use and housing chapters of the city’s periodic comprehensive plan update under the Growth Management Act and presented map corrections to align land‑use designations with current zoning; council indicated consensus on the recommended map changes and next steps toward public hearing and adoption.
Des Moines community planning staff briefed the Committee of the Whole June 5 on updates to the city’s comprehensive plan land‑use and housing chapters as part of the 10‑year periodic update required by the Growth Management Act.
"The comp plan is required to have a periodic update every 10 years under the Growth Management Act or GMA," Community Planning Director Rebecca Deming told the committee, noting the deadline and the schedule for additional elements. Staff described the comp plan as a 20‑year policy document that sets goals, policies and strategies to guide land use and development.
Deming and Development Services Manager Laura Chichico walked members through proposed changes driven by state and regional requirements, updates to housing and job targets, incorporation of the Housing Action Plan and equity considerations, and revised countywide planning policy alignment. Staff presented redlined chapters for land use and housing and asked the council for directional consensus before the public hearing.
On the land‑use map, staff recommended a set of targeted changes to remove split or inconsistent land‑use/zoning designations and to bring the comprehensive‑plan map into conformance with enacted zoning. Examples presented included converting Marine District/Mixed‑use map overlays to a single multifamily or commercial designation in areas where zoning already requires that use, and updating parcels near 220th and Cliff Avenue to expand project limits for potential grant pursuit. Staff also recommended reclassifying a vacant parcel in Woodmont to commercial to match zoning and updating a waterfront park parcel to “public facilities.”
On housing, staff said the chapter integrates state law changes, the city’s Housing Action Plan and county guidance. Council discussion included language tweaks to acknowledge neighborhood‑oriented commercial development opportunities across multiple corridors, and a request to include a note recognizing local programs that support acquisition and preservation of income‑restricted housing.
Council members generally indicated consensus to proceed with the chapters as presented and for staff to bring the transportation element in August and the full package to a public hearing in September, assuming no major changes are requested.
Ending: Staff will incorporate the agreed text edits, update the land‑use map to conform with existing zoning where directed by council, proceed with the transportation element, and schedule the public hearing and adoption steps later in the summer.
