West Des Moines, IA

Development Applications:

Use the following application links to open and complete a development application. 

• Development Project Application Form
• Variance Application Form
• Zoning Exception Application Form

 Miscellaneous Applications:

• Applicant and Property Owner Signature Consent Form
• Master Plan Study Application    
• Master Storm Water Management Plan (ADP's, PP's, and new PUD's)
• Traffic Study Consent Form
• Home Occupation Permit Application
• Temporary Use Permit Application
• Sign Permit Application (for Code information, refer to City Code, Title 9, Zoning, Chapter 18, Signs)
• Tent Permit (available through Fire Department)
• Sound Permit Application (available through City Clerk's Office)
• Temporary Asphalt and Concrete Mixing Facility Application
• Zoning Verification Letter

Development Application Fees:

Use the following fee link to find development application and other fees which need to accompany the application form Fee Link

Submittal Checklist:

Use the following links to open and complete the submittal checklist for each development application type. 

• Comprehensive Plan Amendment
• Final Plat
• Major Modification
• Minor Modification Level 1
• Minor Modification Level 2
• Permitted Conditional Use Permit
• Plat of Survey
• Preliminary Plat
• Planned Unit Development (PUD) - new or amended
• Site Plan
• Zone Change

To Submit a Development Application:

All submissions are to be made by uploading files to the Development Services File Drop; email submission to the department inbox or directly to a staff member will not be allowed. Email submission will delay getting the project into review and will be redirected back to the sender to submit via the following file drop. 

The Development Services File Drop is accessed at the following link: 
https://lqfiles.wdm.iowa.gov/filedrop/DevServicesRequest

You will need to sign in with your email and a password to enter the site. You may click on “remember me’ and if your browser settings allow, you may only have to enter your password once.

Please put in the subject line a name for your project or the case planner that handled the Pre-application for the project. Add your files by either uploading or dropping in the indicated drop files area and click on the SEND button. You may submit multiple files in one submission.

Once the application is received staff will provide the total fee amount. Application fees will need to be paid prior to the plans being distributed for review. Payment may be made by calling 515-222-3620 to pay by credit card, mailing a check to Development Services at the address at the top of the first page of the application, or by visiting the Development Services Department in City Hall and paying in person.

 

Development Process:

Upon submittal of the application packet, fees, and project plans, a case planner will be assigned. Staff will distribute the project information to various city departments and outside agencies for detailed review and comment. The reviewers have 7 days to return comments to the case planner. The Case Planner will compile all comments into one letter and send it to the project’s identified Project Representative. The project’s design team addresses the comments and resubmits the necessary drawings, information, and documents to the Case Planner. This information is provided back to those departments/entities that commented for review and determination if comments have been addressed. This comment, resubmittal, review, comment cycle continues until all review comments have been addressed or a point of ‘agree to disagree’ has been reached. The project is then scheduled for consideration by the appropriate approval body (City Council, Plan and Zoning, Board of Adjustment, or Administratively by Staff).

Note, projects are not placed on and approval body’s agenda based on a submittal date, but rather only once all comments are addressed and the project is ready to proceed for approvals.

City Council and the Plan and Zoning Commission: The City Council and Plan and Zoning Commission consider site plans, area development plans, comprehensive plan and zoning requests. The Plan and Zoning Commission makes a recommendation for approval or denial and identifies appropriate conditions that may be required of a proposal. City Council and the Plan and Zoning Commission meetings are held on Monday nights except in the case of a Monday holiday, in which case they are moved to Tuesday night. The City Council and Plan and Zoning Commission alternate Mondays, thus a project can be scheduled for a Monday Plan and Zoning Commission agenda and the following Monday City Council agenda resulting in all non-public hearing items to be considered for all necessary recommendations and approvals within a 7-day period. 

Board of Adjustment: The Board of Adjustment considers Permitted Conditional Uses, Variances, and Zoning Appeals. The Board of Adjustment meets every other Wednesday in the same week as City Council meetings.

Administrative Approvals: Staff has authority to approve Minor Modifications as long as the proposed modification does not result in a deviation from minimum city code requirements. Minor Modifications can be approved immediately upon resolution of all review comments. At the discretion of the Development Services Director, a potentially controversial minor modification may go before the Plan and Zoning Commission and City Council for approval.

Staff also has the authority to approve Town Center Overlay District and Jordan Creek Town Center Site Plans. These site plans go through the standard review and comment process; however, once all comments are addressed, staff provides a memo outlining the proposed project, along with site plans and architectural elevations to members of the Plan and Zoning Commission and City Council for their review. The Commission and Council have one week to respond to staff with any concerns. If no concerns are raised, notice of the pending approval by staff is placed in the main lobby of city hall. As soon as 48 hours later, staff can hold a meeting to approve the site plan. If two members of the Plan and Zoning Commission and/or City Council desire, the site plan can be called forward for consideration at regularly scheduled Commission and Council meetings.

Public Hearing Matters: Permitted Conditional Uses, Variances, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Rezoning, and Amendments to City Code requests are all considered as part of a public hearing. Notice of the time and date of the public hearing will be published in a newspaper serving the West Des Moines community. Except for Amendments to City Code, notice of a public hearing is also mailed to all property owners within 370’ of the subject property at least 7 calendar days prior to, but no greater than 20 calendar days from the day of the meeting. Interested parties may speak during the hearing at the designated meeting or provide comments in writing to the project’s Case Planner prior to the meeting.

4200 Mills Civic Parkway, Suite 1D TEL: (515) 222-3620 FAX: (515) 273-0602 E-MAIL: developmentservices@wdm.iowa.gov