Mandan Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - October 27, 2025
Mandan Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - October 27, 2025
The Mandan Planning and Zoning Commission met on October 27, 2025, at 5:00 PM, beginning after a 15-minute delay. Commissioners present: Langing, Huber, Mutter, Horn, Mayor Frelick, Infeld, McLean, Smith, Hammond, Gardner, Renner, and Chair Robinson. The agenda included approval of previous meeting minutes, one public hearing on a building setback variance, a preliminary plat and zone change, and a tabled item.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the September 22, 2025 meeting by unanimous roll call vote (all present voting yes).
Discussion Items
1. Building Setback Variance for Lot 1, Block 2, Meadows Second Edition (4600 34th Avenue NW)
- Staff planner Rachel presented the request for a side yard setback variance from the required 5 feet to 1 foot in the RMH (Residential Mobile Home) district to allow a deck/patio. The applicant, Kesha Bauer, stated the deck would provide egress and backyard access, and the deck was already built without approval. The hardship stemmed from the home's placement, not the zoning ordinance. Staff recommended denial, finding the variance would not be in harmony with the zoning ordinance's purpose.
- Commissioners discussed safety concerns (second exit) and precedent. Staff noted that movable steps (without frost protection) could be allowed without a variance. The commission voted to deny the variance for the deck, but clarified that steps for safety egress would be permissible.
2. Preliminary Plat 'Meadowlands Third Edition' and Zone Change to RMH (92 18th Street SE)
- Staff planner Rachel presented: a 9.6-acre block east of 18th St (38 lots) and a 1.15-acre block west (5 lots) with a zone change from RH to RMH for the west block. Private street easements are 34 feet wide (24-ft travel lanes, 4-ft sidewalks, mountable curb, no parking). After staff-applicant discussions, staff found the 34-foot width workable. Two access points to 18th St are planned, including a connection to Memorial Highway (right-in/right-out) per 2014 plans, and a possible gated emergency access to Frontier Trail. A hammerhead turnaround (Y-shaped) will replace a cul-de-sac, pending fire department approval.
- Applicant engineer Abe Almer described costs (~$800k-$1M for 18th Ave) and confirmed the development would be funded by lot sales and an HOA. He confirmed the secondary access and fire truck turnaround are acceptable.
- The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the city commission, with the understanding that final details (road connections, emergency access, lot buildability) would be resolved between preliminary and final plat stages.
3. Keitel South Heart Terrace Fifth Edition – Preliminary Plat and Zone Change (Tabled)
- This item, previously tabled, was readvertised. Applicant Abe Almer reported ongoing neighbor negotiations and asked for more time. The commission voted unanimously to continue the tabling until the applicant brings the item to a future meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Building Setback Variance: Denied unanimously (7-0). Movable steps for egress allowed without variance.
- Meadowlands Third Edition Plat and Zone Change: Recommended for approval to city commission unanimously (7-0), subject to final plat conditions.
- Keitel South Heart Terrace: Tabled indefinitely pending applicant's progress.
Meeting Transcript
Roll call, please. Commissioner Langing. Commissioner Huber. Commissioner Mutter. Commissioner Horn. Mayor Frelick. Here. Commissioner Infeld. Here. Commissioner McLean. Commissioner Smith. Commissioner Hammond. Here. Commissioner Gardner. Here. Commissioner Renner. Here. Chair Robinson. Here. I'd like to thank everybody for their patience for this 15-minute delay. But uh next item, consider approval of the minutes for the September 22nd meeting. Do we have any changes? I'll second. Motion by Commissioner Renner, second by uh Commissioner Hammond for approval of the minutes of September 22nd. Any questions? None. Roll call vote, please. Mayor Frelick. Yes. Commissioner Infeld. Yes. Commissioner Smith. Yes. Commissioner Hammond. Yes. Commissioner Gardner. Yes. Commissioner Renner. Yes. Chair Robinson. Yes. Minutes are approved. We'll move on to the first of our public hearings. Item number one, consider a building setback variance for lot one block two, meadows, second edition. Jordan. Yes, good evening, Commission. Uh Chair Robinson online will be Rachel to present this for us this evening. Good evening. Thank you. Sorry for not being there in person.
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