Urbandale council approves comprehensive-plan change for proposed 104-unit supportive housing; PUD ordinance to be drafted

Urbandale’s City Council on a 5–0 vote approved a change to the city’s comprehensive plan that clears the way for a proposed conversion of an Extended Stay America hotel into permanent supportive housing, but stopped short of final zoning approval and asked staff to draft a detailed PUD ordinance before any rezoning occurs.

The amendment changes the future-land-use designation of the property near Douglas and 114th Street from office/business park to mixed residential. Emily Oswiler, CEO of Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing, told the council the project would convert the existing building into 104 studio units with on-site supportive services in a roughly 10,000-square-foot two‑story addition that would house case management, a pantry, classrooms and other wraparound supports. Oswiler said the model emphasizes on-site management, 24/7 staffing or security, a dry campus and background-screening criteria for residents. “We are not a shelter; we are permanent housing with supports,” she said.

Why it mattered: councilmembers said they were weighing an urgent regional shortage of permanent…