Plans are moving forward on development of a new Microsoft Corp. data center in West Des Moines.

The city’s Plan and Zoning Commission approved amending the comprehensive plan land use map and the zoning map to allow development of Microsoft’s Project Ginger West at 11100
Booneville Road. Nearly 98 acres of the land is zoned for office; 90.5 acres is zoned for a business park. Under the change, the 188 acres would be zoned light industrial.

The West Des Moines City Council must also approve the change before it is adopted.
Microsoft plans to build two new data centers in West Des Moines. The other one – Ginger East –will be located on about 130 acres south of Iowa Highway 5 and north of South County Line Road, kitty-corner from Mcirosoft’s Alluvion data center.

The commission this week also approved the site plan for Des Moines University’s new West Des Moines campus at 8025 Grand Ave. The first four structures built on the site will include a parking ramp, a health and well-being building and 258,000 square feet of space for classrooms, laboratories and offices.

Construction of the buildings is expected to begin this spring with completion slated for late 2022.
The site plan now goes to the council for its approval.