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Council approves Wesley Holmes master plan amendment for new 106‑unit Creekside building
Summary
After a staff presentation and applicant remarks, the council unanimously approved resolution 25-120 amending the Wesley Holmes master plan to allow a 106‑unit independent living Creekside building and related site improvements; applicant expects construction to begin in Q1 2026.
The Des Moines City Council unanimously approved draft resolution 25-120 on Dec. 11 to amend the Wesley Holmes master plan (project LUA 2025-0026), clearing the way for Phase 5 of the Wesley campus.
Senior planner Jason Wyke told the council the proposed Creekside Building would add a 106‑unit independent‑living building (roughly 65 feet tall) with a lower-level parking garage of about 106 spaces, additional recreational amenities (including a pickleball court and expanded landscaping) and a maintenance building. Wyke said staff reviewed the plan and found it meets municipal code standards for critical areas, infrastructure capacity (water, sewer, stormwater) and site and architectural design criteria, and that additional details will be reviewed during the building‑permit and design‑review phases.
Applicant representatives from AHBL and Senior Housing Partners described the site design and landscaping: Wayne Carlson (AHBL) said the plan proposes 99 new trees on the campus with a 3:1 replacement standard for 22 trees removed, and Steve Nourness (developer) said the project responds to demand (a reported wait list of about 390 people). Nourness provided the project cost and schedule: total development cost roughly $93 million, construction portion just under $60 million, with construction expected to start in the first quarter of 2026 and last about 19 months.
Deputy Mayor Steinmetz disclosed a potential appearance-of-bias (a family member on the Wesley waiting list) and the mayor confirmed participation was allowed after disclosure. Council member questions focused on archeological surveys and Ecology comments about arsenic; staff said standard inadvertent discovery plans apply and that Ecology's comments trigger normal cleanup and review steps.
Council member Mahoney moved to approve the resolution subject to the conditions listed in staff materials; Council member Nutting seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
What happens next: The project will proceed to civil and building-permit review where staff will apply the detailed standards Wyke cited. Conditions of approval listed in the resolution and staff report remain applicable.
