Fargo Planning Commission Meeting: December 5, 2023
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Fargo Planning Commission Meeting: December 5, 2023
The Fargo Planning Commission met on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 3:00 PM in Commission Chambers. The meeting included public hearings on a conditional use permit for a telecommunications tower, a zoning change and plat for a downtown mixed-use development, and a minor subdivision. Presentations were also given on the Downtown InFocus plan, the FM Regional Housing Study, and the Fargo Growth Plan. All voting members present (8-0) approved each agenda item, with Member Brett Shewey absent. Note: The agenda listed Member Dawn Morgan as absent, but minutes and voting records show she was present and voted; this discrepancy may be a clerical error.
Consent Calendar
- Approve Order of Agenda – Approved after noting Item 1 continued to January 2, 2024, and Item 4 withdrawn.
- Approve Minutes – Minutes of the November 7, 2023, meeting approved.
Public Hearings
- Replat of Block 5, Southview Villages Addition – Continued to January 2, 2024, at the applicant’s request. No public hearing held.
- Parks Third Addition (Telecommunication Support Structure Setback Reduction) – Applicant: Terrapact Digital Asset, LLC. Hearing on a Conditional Use Permit to reduce the setback from 200 feet to 120 feet from residential property for a 50-foot monopole in the LC zoning district. Staff recommended approval with conditions: height ≤50 feet, setback ≥120 feet, opaque fence ≥6 feet around base, and permit termination if use ceases for 12 months. Applicant representative Brian Pattengale explained site selection due to existing fiber infrastructure. No public opposition. Motion to approve passed unanimously (8-0).
- Cityside Addition (Zoning Change and Plat) – Applicant: Sterling Properties LLLP/Goldmark. Request to change zoning from MR-3 to DMU (Downtown Mixed Use) and plat a major subdivision with alley vacation. Properties at 202–212 6th Ave N and 509–515 3rd St N. Staff reported compliance with land development code and neighborhood plans. Applicant representative Patrick Vesey stated no immediate development plans; the change was to enable future mixed-use. No public opposition. Motion to recommend approval to City Commission passed unanimously (8-0).
- Gamma Fargo Addition – Withdrawn by applicant. No hearing.
- The Pines at the District Fifth Addition (Minor Subdivision) – Applicant: Landco Fargo, LTD/Goldmark Commercial. Request to replat Lot 1, Block 2 into two lots at 4265 53rd Ave S. LC zoning with conditional overlay carries over; no zone change. No direct access to 52nd Avenue via negative easement. Three inquiries with no concerns. Motion to approve passed unanimously (8-0).
Other Items
- Downtown InFocus Presentation – Director Nicole Crutchfield presented an update on the implementation report card, noting 60% of the 2018 plan completed. Key barriers: capacity, financing, and philosophical clarity. Proposed 20 action items focused on inclusive growth, design, public financing, communication, and coordination among agencies. Discussion included homeless population, mixed-income housing, need for a downtown grocery store, family-friendly dwelling sizes, performing arts center, and City Hall Plaza activation. Comments still accepted; adoption recommendation expected January 2024.
- FM Regional Housing Study Presentation – Director Crutchfield highlighted key findings: Fargo is among the fastest-growing regions (19% population change), housing supply is behind national averages (1.5 jobs per housing unit), and there is a critical need for all housing types, especially affordable units for low-income households. Over the next 10 years, Fargo needs approximately 16,000 housing units, with 7,000 expected within city limits. Discussion included regional task force formation, timeline for land use policy changes, and potential funding strategies. Adoption recommendation expected January 2024.
- Fargo Growth Plan Update – Director Crutchfield reviewed the plan process, noting completion of Phase 1 and transition to Phases 2/3. Small group meetings scheduled for the following week to review preferred growth path. Over 800 online survey responses and about 100 in-person comments received. The plan will inform land development code updates expected in 2024-2025.
Key Outcomes
- All voting items approved unanimously (8-0) with Member Shewey absent.
- Meeting adjourned at 4:15 PM.
- Next steps: The Commission will take up the Downtown InFocus Plan and FM Regional Housing Study for adoption recommendations at the January 2024 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everybody. We'll call the planning commission meeting to order. There are the couple announcements or changes on the agenda here. Item number one, the replay to block five, the Southview Villages edition. This has been uh continued or not continued. Yeah, continued to the January 2nd, 2024 meeting. So we'll see it next year. Um if anyone has questions on that, then feel free to contact the the staffing department and see what's up. Items number four A and four B, the Gamma Fargo edition and Prax Second Edition. This was withdrawn. So there'll be no action on either of these items today. Um if you have questions about them, please contact the planning department in the meantime. Um otherwise, I'll look for a motion to approve the order of agenda. So moved. Second. Got a motion and second, any discussion. Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Motion passes, or any opposed, I guess. Motion passes. Um moving on to item number two, then we'll ask Brad up to the podium. Oh, the minutes. Yeah, sorry. Okay. Sorry, minutes from the November seventh meeting. Everybody have a chance to review those. Move to approve. Motion to approve second. Motion second, any discussion. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed, same sign. Minutes are approved. All right. Sorry, Brad. Now moving on to you. No worries. Good afternoon, Commissioner. Brad Garcia with the uh far planning and development. And our first item, which is item two on the agenda, is the parks third edition. This is a request for a conditional use permit to reduce the uh the telecommunication support structure setback requirements for a uh for a facility in a limited commercial uh zoning district. And uh, this is specific to the setback for the pole itself, which uh encompasses uh like a cellular network uh infrastructure antennas and things like that. And just to orientate where the uh the project is located, uh this is the Ascension or Sanford South Clinic over here to the east. Uh Censure Medical Center is over here on the west, the side. And then uh 25th Street South is to the east and 32nd Avenue South, just to kind of orient where this is located. And actually, this is just a portion of uh that lot one is where the proposed condition use permit would be located, which is just this uh small parcel here. And this is facing north uh towards thirty second from thirty third Avenue South. And again, these are the the existing uses here in the adjacent properties too are utility uses. Um I think they're all telecommunications uh utilities, private utilities.
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