Renaissance Zone Authority - February 26, 2025 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 26, 2025.
The Renaissance Zone Authority members present or absent were as follows:
Present: Deb Mathern, Reid Middaugh, Brian Larson, Tony Grindberg, Dr. Dean Bresciani, Commissioner Dave Piepkorn, Mayor Tim Mahoney (via conference call)
Absent: Prakash Mathew
Chair Mathern called the meeting to order.
Item 1: Minutes: Regular Meeting of December 18, 2024
Member Piepkorn moved the minutes of the December 18, 2024 Renaissance Zone Authority meeting be approved. Second by Member Bresciani. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 2: Review application from DH Ventures, LLC (rehabilitation) located at 508, 510, and 512 Broadway North
Planning Coordinator Maegin Elshaug presented the staff report for a rehabilitation project at 518, 510, and 512 Broadway North.
Discussion was held on the building materials, and Downtown Mixed-use requirements.
Member Bresciani moved to recommend approval to the City Commission to approve the application submitted by DH Ventures, LLC and to grant the property tax exemption, the State income tax exemptions, as allowed by the North Dakota Renaissance Zone law contingent upon completion of the project and verification of costs. Second by Member Piepkorn. On call of the roll Members Piepkorn, Middaugh, Larson, Grindberg, Bresciani, Mathern, and Mahoney voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Mathew. The motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Review application from Cass Clay Community Land Trust (rehabilitation and new construction) located at 717 3rd Avenue North
Planner Luke Morman presented the staff report for a rehabilitation and new construction project at 717 3rd Avenue North.
Discussion was held on the building being on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mr. Morman noted that the project does not require state or federal review unless federal funds are being used.
Member Piepkorn moved to recommend approval to the City Commission to approve the application submitted by Cass Clay Community Land Trust and to grant the property tax exemption, the State income tax exemptions, as allowed by the North Dakota Renaissance Zone law contingent upon completion of the project and verification of costs. Second by Member Grindberg. On call of the roll Members Middaugh, Larson, Mahoney, Grindberg, Bresciani, Piepkorn, and Mathern voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Mathew. The motion was declared carried.
Item 4: Review application from Lennon Lofts, LLC (new construction) located at 214 and 220 6th Avenue North
Planner Chelsea Levorsen presented the staff report for a new construction project at 214 and 220 6th Avenue North.
Discussion was held on the location of parking, and ownership of the adjacent parking lots.
Member Bresciani moved to recommend approval to the City Commission to approve the application submitted by Lennon Lofts, LLC and to grant the property tax exemption, the State income tax exemptions, as allowed by the North Dakota Renaissance Zone law contingent upon completion of the project and verification of costs. Second by Member Middaugh. On call of the roll Members Bresciani, Grindberg, Piepkorn, Larson, Middaugh, Mahoney, and Mathern voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Mathew. The motion was declared carried.
Item 5: Modifications to Project Staff Reports
Planning and Development Director Nicole Crutchfield and Ms. Elshaug spoke on the memo in the packet regarding application scoring and updating the structure of the scoring system.
Discussion was held on project review goals, history of the scoring, process of updating the Renaissance Zone plan, and viewing an example of the current scoring versus the new proposed scoring.
Ms. Elshaug noted that currently no new legislation has been introduced at the state level pertaining to the Renaissance Zone. She also updated the Board that the 2024 Renaissance Zone plan was approved in December and a copy was provided to all Board Members as a laydown item.
Ms. Crutchfield provided a brief update on the meeting held February 25 between the Renaissance Zone Authority, the Economic Development Incentive Committee, and czb Consultants regarding the Land Development code update.
Item 6: Adjourn – Next Meeting: March 26, 2025
The time at adjournment was 8:34 a.m.