Renaissance Zone Authority - February 22, 2023 Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Renaissance Zone Authority of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

The Renaissance Zone Authority members present or absent were as follows:

Present: Deb Mathern, Chad Peterson, Dr. Dean Bresciani (via conference call), Reid Middaugh, Commissioner Dave Piepkorn, Commissioner Arlette Preston

Absent: Steve Swiontek, Prakash Mathew

Chair Mathern called the meeting to order.

Item 1: Minutes: Regular Meeting of October 26, 2022
Member Peterson moved the minutes of the October 26, 2022 Renaissance Zone Authority meeting be approved. Second by Member Preston. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Item 2: Review application from Great Plains NP Holdings. LLC (New Construction) located at 602, 610, 636 and 650 Northern Pacific Avenue North
Planning Coordinator Maegin Elshaug presented the staff report for a proposal to construct a mixed-use residential and commercial building, and noted staff is recommending approval as the proposal meets the guidelines and all required approval criteria.

Strategic Planning and Development Director Jim Gilmour spoke on the proposed parking arrangements.

Discussion was held regarding the parking arrangements, the parking ramp, Renaissance Zone goals, current and proposed future property taxes on the property, and number of bedrooms in the proposed apartment units.

Applicant representative Keith Leier, Kilbourne Group, spoke on behalf of the application.

Mr. Gilmour spoke further on the conducted parking study.

Discussion continued on apartment sizes, use of parking spaces more efficiently, and the multiple owners/uses in the project.

Ms. Elshaug noted that the application may be broken up into two applications in the future to allow for the different timelines of the different ownerships in the project.

Member Piepkorn moved to recommend approval to the City Commission of the application submitted by Great Plains NP Holdings, LLC and to grant the property tax exemptions as allowed by the Renaissance Zone law contingent upon completion of the project and verification of costs. Second by Member Peterson. On call of the roll Members Piepkorn, Middaugh, Peterson, Preston, Bresciani, and Mathern voted aye. Absent and not voting: Members Swiontek and Mathew. The motion was declared carried.

Item 3: Other Business
No other business was presented.

Item 4: Adjourn – Next Meeting: March 22, 2023
The time at adjournment was 8:15 a.m.