Neighbors push back on proposed 12-unit development at 821 SE 7th; council hears applicant arguments

Developers seeking to rezone 821 Southeast 7th Street to allow a 12-unit multifamily building presented detailed site plans and parking proposals at the Dec. 22 Des Moines City Council meeting, while multiple neighbors urged the council to deny the change because of parking, traffic and neighborhood-character concerns.

Developer representative Jeff Gaddis told the council the team has been working with staff and provided plans and prints to council members. He said the proposal includes a concealed parking layout behind the building and additional on-street stalls to meet code requirements. “We’re looking to develop a 12 unit apartment complex on a very small infill lot with some unique architecture,” Gaddis said.

Architect Dan Bridal said the design breaks the building mass into two volumes to keep it at a compatible scale and that the ground level will include walk-up and street-facing units to activate the block. He said parking is planned partly underneath the building and that they expect to provide at least one stall per unit and the potential for additional spaces.

Neighbors who live within 250 feet told the council they fear the project will overload a one-side-of-street parking area, increase unsafe traffic through alleys and change the character of a block they described as predominantly single-family homes. “When it snows down there, immediately, we have no parking on any of the streets,” said Greg Wilson, noting snow-plow impacts and limited curb space. Giselle Rodriguez estimated the proposal could add “at least 36 cars” to the neighborhood counting additional teen drivers and visitors.

Councilmembers asked for clarifications about stair egress, parking counts and whether the design met zoning standards for point-access buildings with a single internal stair. Staff and the architect confirmed the project works within the current code allowances for three-story point-access buildings with internal stairs, and the developer said they are willing to add parking and buffering where feasible.

Some councilmembers voiced support for infill and stepped density near transit and bike routes; others emphasized the need to balance growth with neighborhood compatibility. The council moved the item for consideration and waived additional readings where allowed; the transcript shows subsequent votes on related rezoning motions on the agenda.

The council did not adopt a final decision on construction details at the hearing beyond the readings moved; staff follow-up and any required conditions will determine whether the rezoning proceeds to final adoption.