Plan and Zoning Commission approves rezoning for Joppa Village homeless-housing project

The Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission on Jan. 16 approved a rezoning request from Joppa Ministries that will change about 10.3 acres near 1661 County Line Road from EX (mixed-use) to RX1 (mixed-use) and revise the PlanDSM future land-use designation from Business Park to Low–Medium Density Residential, paving the way for a planned community of permanent and temporary homes and an on-site community building.

Staff recommended approval subject to conditions including extension of water, sewer and street improvements and improving County Line Road to an urban street standard from Bridal Drive to the eastern extent of the subject property. Ryoshi Chakraborty, planning staff, told the commission the site is within the Water South Neighborhood Association boundary and that staff supports the rezoning provided the applicant complies with the zoning conditions outlined in the staff report.

The rezoning would allow an initial phase of housing that the applicant estimates at roughly 54 dwelling units, with total build-out potentially ranging from about 80 to 107 units depending…