Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission recommends denial of rezoning for 5702 Grand Avenue after hours of neighborhood testimony

On Dec. 19, 2024, the Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission recommended denial of a rezoning request for 5702 Grand Avenue, sending a negative recommendation to City Council after extensive public testimony.

Planning staff presented the request from Faithful Moments LLC to amend PlanDSM and rezone the 0.893‑acre parcel from N3C to NX2 to allow redevelopment as multi‑household housing. Staff said the original proposal submitted to the city was 15 row‑home units; after staff review and negotiations the applicant revised the concept to nine dwelling units in two buildings and staff recommended approval with conditions that would, among other requirements, cap household living uses on the site at nine units and require substantial compliance with the submitted development concept, architectural character and buffering. Staff also noted utility constraints (no sanitary sewer directly on Grand Avenue adjacent to the site) and routine permitting requirements including grading permits, an erosion control plan and compliance with the city’s tree removal and mitigation ordinance (Chapter 42).

Developer Adam Sheeran told the commission the project is an infill “missing‑middle” housing type consistent with corridor densification goals in PlanDSM and argued…