Des Moines zoning changes allow development of housing on faith-owned and similar property types
Recent changes to the City of Des Moines' zoning code will reduce red tape for developing housing on vacant or underutilized land, including on faith-owned land. On November 3, Des Moines City Council approved zoning changes that will allow between 3 and 8 housing units on land that is zoned for certain public, civic, or institutional uses (P1 & P2 Districts) including religious and school locations, among others.
Allowable housing units could be built "by right," reducing the approvals needed. Des Moines has a form-based code, so the types of housing to be allowed will need to conform to one of four types of housing corresponding to P1 & P2 Districts as defined in the zoning code. Those types are defined by their characteristics (their "form") and include certain smaller apartment buildings, row houses, cottage courts, and house-scale multi-unit buildings designed to be compatible with residential neighborhoods.
These housing types are broadly called "missing middle" because they occupy a range of options between a single-family home and a large apartment building. Their design features help them to blend seamlessly into existing neighborhoods where more housing is needed.
The photos below show two of many buildings cited by the city as representative of housing types this policy change allows. The city cautions that these photos are examples and may not reflect every aspect of current zoning code.
The opportunity for religious institutions to develop a modest number of housing units on land they own may be of special importance as a growing national movement "Yes in God's Back Yard" or YIGBY sees more faith-based organizations considering ways they can extend their missional purposes into the community by providing housing.
Such developments were contemplated by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund in our report, Housing Sites of Opportunity, which was released this spring. PCHTF estimates these zoning changes could apply to more than 200 faith owned properties in Des Moines.
Des Moines' current zoning changes were part of the latest package of smaller updates and improvements to the city's overhauled zoning code first passed in 2019. The most recent code amendments become effective November 20.
