Commission approves consent items and adopts 2025 meeting schedule; new commissioner introduced

The Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission approved routine business items at its Oct. 3 meeting, including prior meeting minutes, a consent agenda site‑plan request, and the Planning Department’s proposed 2025 meeting schedule.

Staff read a consent agenda item for 2370 Emma Avenue (a request from Steve Construction LLC for a public‑hearing site plan and a Type 2 design alternative to permit 45% front‑yard impervious area where the code allows 25%). No members of the public or commissioners requested removal from consent, and the commission approved the consent agenda.

Planning staff presented a draft 2025 calendar and proposed cancelling the first meeting in January, potentially skipping a March meeting during spring break, and shifting the June meeting to avoid Juneteenth and the July 3 holiday. Commissioners moved and approved the proposed schedule.

The commission also briefly introduced newly appointed commissioner Jane Rongerud, an associate professor at Iowa State University’s Department of Community and Regional Planning and a Des Moines resident since 2010. The meeting adjourned after the committee reports.

These routine approvals advance administrative scheduling and allow the Planning Department to proceed with review of items on the consent agenda and calendar planning for 2025.