Fargo Planning Commission Regular Meeting - July 6, 2023
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Fargo Planning Commission Regular Meeting - July 6, 2023
The Fargo Planning Commission met on July 6, 2023, at 3:00 PM in City Commission Chambers. The meeting covered five development proposals and two annexations, all recommended for approval by staff and passed unanimously (9-0). The commission also discussed the ongoing Growth Plan update and encouraged public input via an online survey. The meeting adjourned at 3:53 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the order of the agenda as presented (unanimous).
- Approved the minutes of the June 6, 2023, regular meeting (unanimous).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke for or against any agenda item. All public hearings were closed with no testimony.
Discussion Items
1. EOLA Addition (Items 1a-1c)
Proposal: Zoning change from GC with PUD to GC with amended PUD, amendment to PUD Master Land Use Plan, and major subdivision plat (EOLA Second Addition) including a waiver for reduced street right-of-way (77 ft instead of 80 ft). Located at multiple addresses near 24th Avenue South and 45th Street. Staff (Planning Coordinator Maegin Elshaug) presented, stating all criteria met and recommending approval contingent on Fargo Park Board approval. Discussion on public streets, right-of-way width, sidewalk width (10-ft trail proposed). Member Dawn Morgan declared she is President of Fargo Park Board for transparency. Motion by Scott Stofferahn, second by Jennifer Holtz, to approve as staff recommended. Unanimous (9-0).
2. Airport Second Addition (Item 2)
Proposal: Conditional Use Permit to allow residential living in LC (Limited Commercial) zoning district at 1919 University Drive North. Conversion of 24,000 sq ft of former office space into 19 residential units, resulting in 94 total units in the building, with at least 1,200 sq ft remaining commercial (including existing drive-thru). Staff (Maegin Elshaug) recommended approval with conditions: maximum 94 units; any expansion or use change requires review; minimum 1,200 sq ft commercial space must remain. Applicant representative Nate Vollmuth (Goldmark Design & Development) spoke, noting the building was previously occupied by NDSU and the owner will attempt to lease the remaining 1,200 sq ft for a year before potentially requesting conversion. Discussion on national trend of office-to-residential conversions. Motion by John Gunkelman, second by Thomas Schmidt, to approve with conditions. Unanimous.
3. 46th Avenue Industrial Park Addition (Items 3a-3b)
Proposal: Zoning change from AG (Agricultural) to LI (Limited Industrial) and major subdivision plat for a two-lot industrial park at 3336 52nd Avenue North. Includes right-of-way dedications and a concurrent owner-initiated annexation (14.20 acres). Staff (Donald Kress) recommended approval. Discussion on future street connections, proximity to sewage lagoons and airport, and FAA restrictions on residential uses near airport. City Engineer Brenda Derrig spoke on engineering aspects. Applicant representative Andrew Thill (Lowry Engineering) present. Motion by Brett Shewey, second by Dawn Morgan, to approve. Unanimous.
4. University South Fourth Addition (Items 4a-4b)
Proposal: Zoning change from MR-3 with C-O overlay to MR-3 with C-O overlay and GC (General Commercial) with C-O overlay, and minor subdivision replat of Lot 1, Block 1, University South Second Addition (former Kmart site at 1376 Oak Manor Avenue South). Lot one reserved for senior housing, lot two for commercial use. Staff (Brad Garcia) presented, recommending approval with updated conditional overlay text, including a modification to allow dumpster facing a stormwater pond. Motion by Jennifer Holtz, second by Scott Stofferahn, to approve as staff recommended. Unanimous.
5. Village West Fourth Addition (Item 5)
Proposal: Minor subdivision plat (replat of part of Lots 5-6, Block 1, Village West Addition) at 902 40th Street South. Existing overflow parking lot and undeveloped area, no zone change. Staff (Luke Morman) presented, recommending approval. Motion by John Gunkelman, second by Thomas Schmidt, to approve. Unanimous.
Other Items: Annexations
- D1: Annexation of 14.20 acres (portion of Section 14) – part of the 46th Avenue Industrial Park property. Staff (Donald Kress) recommended finding consistency with 2007 Growth Plan. Motion by Gunkelman, second by Morgan. Unanimous.
- D2: Annexation of 80.40 acres (portions of Sections 28, 29, 32) – includes Veterans Industrial Park area and additional properties; city-initiated. Discussion on West Fargo lift station on property. Staff found consistent with Growth Plan. Motion by Maranda Tasa, second by Stofferahn. Unanimous.
Growth Plan Update
Chair Rocky Schneider and Assistant Director Mark Williams provided an overview of the Fargo Growth Plan process. A survey is available at fargogrowthplan.org. Commissioners encouraged public participation. Discussion on how the housing study (released in bits) may affect the growth plan, especially regarding affordable housing and density. Staff will promote the survey via social media and stakeholders.
Key Outcomes
- All five public hearing items (EOLA Addition, Airport Second Addition, 46th Avenue Industrial Park Addition, University South Fourth Addition, Village West Fourth Addition) were approved unanimously (9-0) with conditions as noted.
- Both annexation findings (D1 and D2) were approved unanimously as consistent with the 2007 Growth Plan.
- The meeting adjourned at 3:53 PM.
Meeting Transcript
We'll call the meeting to order here. If everybody could uh have a seat. Thank you, Planning Commissioners. Um, you have the agenda before you item number A is to approve the order of agenda. If I could have a motion. So move. Second. Motion second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor. Aye. All right. Aye. Any opposed? They are approved. Item B, the minutes from our June 6th meeting. Everybody have a chance to review those. Any motion to accept? So move. Motion is there a second. Second. Motion second. Any discussion. Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carried. Um before we move on to public hearing items. Uh, we are in the midst of a growth plan uh development, and there is a website on the screen, Fargo Growth Plan dot org. And I don't, Mark, if you could just maybe spend a couple seconds showing how people can provide input into that plan.org. I tried dot com earlier, it also works, just so everybody knows if you mistype. Yeah, in essence, um we're jumping the gun a little bit here, but uh the the city of Fargo Growth Plan process is this there's a survey that's gone out, and um, we're really urging people to be involved and and get online and fill out the survey. And um, the the uh website of WWE dot Fargo Growth Plan dot org is where you would locate this. Um not a hundred percent right here. Uh maybe not. Not a hundred percent. So there will be a survey on where the link for the survey is. We haven't been getting very good turnout right now on that survey. Um, but we're gonna be doing some more pushes. Um, I'm not I'm not a hundred percent sure where where the actual survey is. We'll take a look for this because we'll be sending this out on social media and other other venues. So hopefully everybody watching this meeting or has interested in the city of Fargo, and our our growth will take an opportunity to provide some comments and input. Yep. Moving on to hearing item number one. I believe Megan will come to the podium. Good afternoon, Chair and Commission. Item number item number one is titled Eola, second edition. This is an application for a major subdivision, which includes a subdivision waiver for a reduced street wide right of way, a zone change, which would um keep the base zoning district of general commercial, but modify the plan unit development overlay.
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