Plan DSM amendment approved to let Jefferson apartments add three buildings on Southeast 14th

The Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission voted to amend the city’s Plan DSM land‑use designation for property near 3710 Southeast 14th Street, clearing the way for the expansion of an existing apartment complex by three 12‑unit buildings, a net increase of 36 units.

Bert Dross, planning staff for the City of Des Moines, told the commission the property is already zoned NX2 and that the requested Plan DSM change is intended to align the future‑land‑use map with that zoning so a site plan can be approved. “We feel that the Southeast 14th Street corridor is the appropriate location for high density residential,” Dross said, and noted the applicant revised an earlier proposal from four new buildings to three.

Greg Danielson, representing the ownership group, said the owners have invested in the property and are aiming to be thoughtful about design and neighborhood impacts. “We’ve invested somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000 to $700,000 in the property over the course of the last 18 months,” Danielson said, and said the reduction to three buildings reflected feedback on parking and stormwater detention.

Several nearby residents urged the commission to reject the amendment or require stronger mitigation. Yvonne Morris, a 36‑year resident of East Thornton Avenue, said traffic and limited street access were her chief concerns: “We are very concerned as a neighborhood because of the traffic is our first concern.” Bernie Leopold, who lives directly behind the site, said new buildings would “literally would be towering over my fence” and raised worries about noise, trash and loss of green space used by children. Donna Davis, who said she has lived on East Thornton for 56 years, disputed staff’s map depiction of access points and said only two usable entrances exist to the complex.

Staff and the applicant told commissioners the Plan DSM step is limited to land‑use designation; a future site‑plan review will address stormwater management, screening, landscaping and driveway spacing. Staff said the site‑plan process should prevent the additional units from becoming a nuisance for surrounding property owners.

After closing the public hearing, a commissioner moved to adopt the staff recommendation to amend Plan DSM for the site; the motion passed. The commission’s action amends the land‑use designation only. Any zoning, site‑plan approvals or enforcement on maintenance and access will be handled as separate steps or through the planning administrator’s review.

The next procedural step is site‑plan review and any necessary permitting before construction can proceed.