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

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…