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City of Des Moines is planning for 2040 and beyond

The PlanDSM Comprehensive Plan was approved on April 25, 2016. With a vision of how the City will evolve for the year 2040 and beyond, PlanDSM is a policy basis for additional planning efforts, land use decisions and prioritizing capital projects. Key initiatives of PlanDSM are being implemented by the City including, but not limited to, the City Council's Strategic Plan (GuideDSM), approval of the City’s first Transportation Master Plan (MoveDSM), approval of the City’s Park and Recreation Master Plan (LiveDSM), approval of the City’s neighborhood revitalization strategy (InvestDSM) and approval the City’s Zoning Ordinance, Planning and Design Ordinance and Citywide Zoning Map.

About the Plan

PlanDSM | Creating Our Tomorrow is the City of Des Moines' Comprehensive Plan for how it will grow into the future. It consists of a vision statement of values the City considers important for the future; goals and policies for eight different Plan elements; a separate element addressing social equity; an implementation chapter describing how the Plan can be realized; and, a Future Land Use Map.

PlanDSM Steering Committee

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Reports & Plans

Chapter 134: Zoning As of December 2021
Chapter 135: Planning and Design As of December 2021
In-chapter navigation now available through hyperlinked text.
How to Review the Zoning, Planning, and Design Ordinance and Map (3 MB)

GuideDSM: City Council's Strategic Plan
InvestDSM: Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative
LiveDSM: Parks and Recreation Master Plan
MoveDSM: Transportation Master Plan
PlanDSM: Creating Our Tomorrow (6 MB) Adopted April 25, 2016
PlanDSM Future Land Use Map (10 MB) Adopted April 25, 2016
PlanDSM Existing Conditions Workbook (5 MB) February 2015

Zoning Ordinance

The City’s Zoning Ordinance, Planning and Design Ordinance and Citywide Zoning Map implement the policies of PlanDSM by preserving and enhancing the existing character of the City’s neighborhoods, emphasizing urban design and quality development; providing a more user friendly format and providing greater predictability in development for neighborhoods and developers.