Planning commission backs rezoning of city‑owned Chesterfield site for Joppa housing village

The Des Moines City Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 16 recommended rezoning more than 10 acres near 2501 Morey Street to RX‑1 to allow a mixed‑use village proposed by Joppa that would provide permanent small homes and associated services for people who have been chronically homeless.

Sriyoshi Chakraborty, planning staff, described the site as city‑ and Wastewater Reclamation Authority‑owned land currently zoned in multiple districts (EX, P2 and I1) with multiple future‑land‑use designations. Staff said the applicant submitted a required large‑scale development plan describing a phased project with a retained community building (a former school), surface parking retained in part, demolition of an on‑site greenhouse and conceptual locations for permanent and temporary homes. Staff recommended support of the rezoning, subject to a condition that principal users be limited to those in the approved large‑scale development plan to the satisfaction of the planning and urban design administrator.

Applicants Joe Stevens and Jim Hackberg of Joppa described a phased plan for about 59 units in phase 1, including five small "guest cottages" for volunteers. Hackberg said unit sizes proposed for residents would range about 192 to 384 square feet with full bathrooms and utilities, and that the retained former school building would be repurposed as a community services hub with commercial kitchen, clinic/meeting space and storm shelter. He said the design team is BSB Design and noted Joppa is a certified replicator of Austin's Community First Village model.

Jim Hackberg said Polk County supervisors voted to award $1,280,000 toward the project's development and that the city manager had been directed to develop a lease‑purchase agreement to go before City Council. "The city council voted to have the city manager develop a lease purchase agreement with us for the land and that will go to vote with at the city council on Monday," Hackberg said.

Public comment included support and caution. Kevin Williamson of 730 Southeast 20 Seventh Court praised Joppa's model and encouraged commissioners to visit the group's existing site. Ryan Andrini, a nearby property owner and business operator, said he supported the project but raised concerns about concentrations of residents with mental‑health or substance‑use issues and asked about enforcement, inspections and backup plans. Andrini said he has experienced encampment and drug‑use issues in the area.

In response, the applicant said the design would include a fenced, gated perimeter with security cameras and license‑plate readers, onsite staff and volunteers living in housing among residents, and a transportation plan that includes van service and bus passes. Hackberg and Stevens said residents would pay rent (designed to be affordable and flexible) and participate in a dignified work program; applicants emphasized the intent to operate the site as permanent housing rather than a temporary shelter. "This is not a homeless resource center... These are permanent homes for permanent residents," Hackberg said.

Commissioners also asked about flood risk for a nearby water feature; staff said the feature is within a protected area and the applicant slated adjacent land to remain open space. Commissioners moved to approve the rezoning recommendation; the motion passed by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally or named mover and seconder. Staff conditions remain in the record and the matter will proceed to City Council for final action on the lease and any city funding or land transfer.