City staff outline 'middle housing' outreach and next steps toward ordinance as growth target discussed

Des Moines community-development staff briefed the City Council on Jan. 23 about two recent outreach events for the city’s middle‑housing efforts and described the early policy choices that will be part of a forthcoming ordinance.

Rebecca Deming, community-development director, said staff held a stakeholder meeting for developers and utilities and a public evening session. Presentations and posters used at the meetings were posted to the project website (desMoinesmiddlehousing.com), staff said, and attendees discussed a range of housing types and processes.

Why it matters: State planning requirements and local growth targets are prompting municipalities to consider allowing more middle-housing types (duplexes, triplexes, cottage housing, four‑units with affordability). Staff said Des Moines must plan for a growth target of about 3,800 homes over 20 years and anticipate allowances such as permitting two units per lot or up to four units per lot under certain conditions (for example, if one unit is deed-restricted as affordable or if the lot is within a quarter mile of major transit).

Questions and next steps: Council members asked about areas that might be affected by the quarter-mile-from-transit rule, and staff said the map focuses on corridors served by King County Metro RapidRide and Sound Transit light rail corridors. Staff said the outreach produced mixed feedback but a recurring preference for cottage-housing and smaller multiplexes. Staff directed participants to the project website and asked the public to continue providing comment as ordinance drafting proceeds.

Ending: Staff said they will continue to gather feedback and present proposed ordinance language for council review at a future date.