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Planning Commission - August 4, 2020 Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Planning Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

The Planning Commissioners present or absent were as follows:

Present: John Gunkelman, Mary Scherling, Rocky Schneider, Melissa Sobolik, Scott Stofferahn, Jennifer Holtz, Dawn Morgan, Art Rosenberg

Absent: Maranda Tasa

Chair Gunkelman called the meeting to order and stated that Item E.2 will begin at 3:30 p.m. He noted if the prior items conclude before that time, a recess will be taken until 3:30 p.m.

Business Items
Item A: Approve Order of Agenda
Member Schneider moved the Order of Agenda be approved as presented. Second by Member Stofferahn. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Item B: Minutes: Regular Meeting of July 7, 2020
Member Schneider moved the minutes of the July 7, 2020 Planning Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member Rosenberg. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Item C: August 19, 2020 Brown Bag Luncheon: Cancelled

Member Holtz present.

Item D: Public Hearing Items

Item 1: North Fargo Industrial Addition
1a. Hearing on application requesting a Zoning Change from AG, Agricultural to LI, Limited Industrial on the proposed North Fargo Industrial Addition. (Located at 3701 40th Avenue North and 4201 and 3261 County Road 81 North) (Holmquist Family LLC; Ronald K. Holmquist; Diane and Robert K. Jonely/Ryan Companies): APPROVED

1b. Hearing on an application requesting a Plat of North Fargo Industrial Addition (Major Subdivision) a replat of a portion of the East Half, Section 15, Township 140 North, Range 49 West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, Cass County, North Dakota. (Located at 3701 40th Avenue North and 4201 and 3261 County Road 81 North) (Holmquist Family LLC; Ronald K. Holmquist; Diane and Robert K. Jonely/Ryan Companies): APPROVED
Planning Coordinator Donald Kress presented the staff report stating all approval criteria have been met and staff is recommending approval. He noted that an updated plat was distributed to the Board.

Member Stofferahn moved the findings and recommendations of staff be accepted and approval be recommended to the City Commission of the proposed 1) Zoning Change from AG, Agriculture to LI, Limited Industrial, and 2) Subdivision Plat, North Fargo Industrial Addition as outlined within the staff report, as the proposal complies with the 2007 Growth Plan, the Standards of Article 20-06, and Section 20-0906.F (1-4) of the Land Development Code and all other applicable requirements of the Land Development Code. Second by Member Rosenberg. On call of the roll Members Holtz, Scherling, Morgan, Stofferahn, Rosenberg, Schneider, Sobolik, and Gunkelman voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Tasa. The motion was declared carried.

Item 2: 2750 Main Addition
Hearing on an application requesting a Plat of 2750 Main Addition (Minor Subdivision) a replat of a portion of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 11, Township 139 North, Range 49 West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, Cass County, North Dakota. (Located at 2750 Main Avenue, 25 27½ Street South, 66 28th Street South, and 120-124 28th Street South) (Northwestern Equipment, Inc/Neset Surveys): APPROVED
Mr. Kress presented the staff report stating all approval criteria have been met and staff is recommending approval.

Member Schneider moved the findings and recommendations of staff be accepted and approval be recommended to the City Commission of the proposed Subdivision Plat 2750 Main Addition as outlined within the staff report, as the proposal complies with the Standards of Article 20-06 of the Land Development Code, and all other applicable requirements of the Land Development Code. Second by Member Sobolik. On call of the roll Members Schneider, Scherling, Holtz, Sobolik, Stofferahn, Morgan, Rosenberg, and Gunkelman voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Tasa. The motion was declared carried.

Item E: Other Items
Item 1: Annexation of approximately 110.23 acres of a portion of the East Half, Section 15, Township 140 North, Range 49 West of the 5th Principal Meridian, Cass County, North Dakota. (Located at 3701 40th Avenue North and 4201 and 3261 County Road 81 North) (Holmquist Family LLC; Ronald K. Holmquist; Diane and Robert K. Jonely/Ryan Companies: APPROVED
Mr. Kress presented the staff report stating all approval criteria have been met and staff is recommending approval. He noted that an updated plat was distributed to the Board.

Member Rosenberg moved the findings and recommendations of staff be accepted and the Planning Commission find that the proposed annexation of a portion of the East Half of Section 15, Township 140 North, Range 49 West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, Cass County, North Dakota to be consistent with the 2007 Growth Plan. Second by Member Holtz. On call of the roll Members Schneider, Sobolik, Stofferahn, Rosenberg, Holtz, Scherling, Morgan, Gunkelman voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Tasa. The motion was declared carried.

At 3:13 p.m., the Board took a recess until 3:30 p.m.
After recess: All Members present except Member Tasa.

Item 2: Land Development Code Diagnostic Workshop
Planning Coordinator Aaron Nelson introduced the Lisa Wise Consulting Group, and provided and overview of the Land Development Code Diagnostic to date.

Project Manager Kathryn Slama gave brief introduction and introduced the team members working on the project from Lisa Wise Consulting: Roger Eastman, David Bergman, Adam Pisarkiewicz, and Scott Harmstead with SRF Consulting.

The team presented a project overview including elements of the analysis review, key findings, the comprehensive plan, economic analysis, legal analysis, and next steps. Ms. Slama provided a timeline for the project moving forward, including additional work sessions with the Planning Commission in the fall and winter.

Board discussion was held regarding form-based zoning, increased density being economically feasible, public space, missing middle housing issues, pocket parks, best practices, and predictability.

Assistant Director of Planning and Development Mark Williams stated that this project is a two-phase process, and the current phase one involves looking at the current code and making recommendations. He noted this will help to identify how to move forward.

City Commissioner Arlette Preston spoke noting the importance to make this community more economically sustainable for the future, and that these conversations impact development.

Mr. Nelson stated any additional thoughts or comments can be sent on to City Staff.

The time at adjournment was 4:23 p.m.