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Commission backs narrow‑lot 12‑unit plan at 821 Southeast 7th with strong neighborhood opposition
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a narrow‑lot 12‑unit multifamily project at 821 SE 7th, subject to conditions limiting units to 12 and requiring substantial compliance with the submitted concept; neighbors raised concerns about parking, flooding and scale.
The Des Moines Planning & Zoning Commission voted to forward a recommendation to City Council approving a rezoning and land-use amendment for a vacant lot at 821 Southeast 7th Street to allow a 12-unit multiple‑household residential building, conditioned on substantial compliance with the applicant’s narrow‑lot concept and a maximum of 12 units.
Staff presenter Sriyoshi Chakraborty described the lot as about 0.193 acres and said the applicant submitted a narrow‑lot stacked design that would provide 12 units with tuck‑under parking and a maximum of three and a half stories in places. "Staff is recommending approval subject to the condition that there shall be no more than the 12 units as proposed," Chakraborty said, and added that the applicant must demonstrate substantial compliance with the concept form and character.
Applicant Daniel Doyle and the project architect described the concept as an effort to insert modestly denser housing near downtown without podium-scale massing. Designer Dan Drentel described a single central entry, tuck‑under parking that yields nine on‑site spaces (staff said 12 would be required), and material choices intended to break up massing.
Public comment was predominantly opposed. Neighbors raised multiple concerns, including inadequate parking relative to unit count, alley congestion, winter ice problems on nearby road grades, a history of increased flooding/runoff after prior nearby infill, loss of views and neighborhood character, and potential tax impacts. Multiple long-term residents urged single‑family housing over a three‑story building. Several speakers emphasized that the notice-area opposition (by area) exceeded 30 percent, which staff noted would require a supermajority at City Council.
Commissioners debated whether the narrow‑lot approach was an appropriate transition adjacent to downtown, with some praising the design solution for small lots and others questioning whether the lot was too small for 12 units and whether the proposal truly fit neighborhood character. Staff clarified that if the applicant cannot meet the concept and parking requirements, the number of units could be reduced under site plan review.
After deliberation the commission moved and passed staff’s recommendation to forward approval with the articulated conditions. The rezoning will now go to City Council for final action, where the supermajority requirement will apply given the measured opposition percentage.
