Latest news with #GrandForksCityCouncil
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks moving ahead with first changes to nonconformity property rules since 1980s
Jun. 1—GRAND FORKS — The city of Grand Forks is moving forward with the first overhaul of its nonconformity code in nearly 40 years. The changes received their first approval from the Grand Forks City Council on May 19, but have been discussed for several months. This will be the first time the city has changed rules governing nonconforming lots, structures and zoning uses since the current land development code was created in 1987. The current code has been described as punitive, heavy-handed and unclear. "Particularly with our small lots, our residential small lots, we had quite a few in our older neighborhoods — small, affordable homes," Grand Forks planning manager Andrea Edwardson told the council. "They're getting caught in the financial transactions, because if you have a nonconforming status, typically you cannot receive financing." The changes also align city code with changes in North Dakota Century Code. A law passed by the Legislature that goes into effect later this year, HB 1500, will allow many noncomforming property owners — who previously had issues — to more easily rebuild or repair their homes. The new law and the new city code don't allow all nonconformities to rebuild. The changes allow for rebuilding to match a current structure and format if it meets the uses laid out in zoning, doesn't encroach on public rights of way or neighbors, and meets building codes. Grand Forks' change goes one step further and would allow for most property owners to rebuild, both residential and commercial. Again, owners will have to still meet structural and encroachment rules, but would clear many of the hurdles of needing to go through the city variance process. The nonconformities affected by the change fall into three categories: * A nonconforming land use: The property's activity is not allowed by the designated zoning of a property, like residential homes in an industrial area or commercial in a residential zone. Nonconformities often occur when the city changes the land use. * A nonconforming lot: The property's dimensions no longer meet the requirements of the code. This is common in older parts of Grand Forks, where lots are on average smaller and minimum dimensions have increased over time. * A nonconforming structure: The use is permitted, but the structure doesn't meet land use requirements for setbacks, impervious surfaces or some other requirement of code. Nonconforming lots and structures can go through a variance process through the city's Board of Adjustments, but it's a process that can take several weeks from initial application to final approval. Nonconforming land uses require zoning map ordinance changes, which also take several weeks between the Grand Forks City Council and the Grand Forks Planning and Zoning Commission. The changes to code will likely make the processes clearer, if not easier for many. "We're essentially saying those north-end properties that existed before our current zoning code, if you're allowed within your district in terms of activity, we want to make it a little bit easier should anything happen," Edwardson told the Herald. "We want to make this easier for you to have housing financing options and open that door up a little bit more." Additionally, the city is reaching out to several property owners on the north end of Grand Forks that have been identified as being eligible for rezoning so they're no longer nonconformities. Forty-three properties that are along commercial corridors, but don't face the corresponding thoroughfares tied with the commercial zoning, have had letters sent saying they could apply to be rezoned from commercial to residential. The Planning and Zoning Commission will review applications in July.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Grand Forks City Council recommends moving forward with Greenway improvements south of 47th Avenue
Mar. 24—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks City Council recommended beginning the bidding process for improvements to the far southern end of the Greenway during its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night. The council voted 6-1 to move the recommendation to its next meeting, with council member Rebecca Osowski dissenting. The improvements will focus on the area between 47th Avenue South and 62nd Avenue South, roughly the southern limits of the Greenway. This area wasn't originally developed when the Greenway was built 20 years ago, since it was outside the city limits at the time. "(Residents) like to go fishing down there; there's a nice, flat area along the river bank, but it has also been an area that's been vandalized and some unwanted activity has occurred there," Water Works Director Melanie Parvey said. "We feel that it'll be a nice enhancement and it would then allow our police department to be able to access this area a little bit more readily than they can now." The improvements proposed include extending the paved trail, improving the fishing area and adding trash cans, all largely supported by nearby residents, according to a survey conducted in 2023 by the city. The total improvements are currently estimated at around $500,000, with construction to occur this year. Some of the proposed improvements, like a parking lot at the lift station off Desiree Drive and a playground at 47th Avenue South, have been removed from the plan. The parking lot in particular was disliked by residents, with 54% of all respondents and 74% of Desiree Drive residents disliking those improvements. The area is the closet park space to the Shady Ridge neighborhood and when asked by the council, Parvey said that the space isn't very large. "Anybody who bikes along the river and wants to fish could definitely come and utilize that space," Parvey said. "It's just not a very big space but it's well used by those that have found it and like to utilize it." The funds for the project will come from a mix of flood protection and Greenway maintenance funds, a garrison diversion grant the city received and stormwater cash reserves. Osowski, who is often critical about using flood protection funds for these types of projects, again urged caution. "I do have a concern, once again, with us pulling out of our flood protection and our cash reserves to pay for a nice lookout," Osowski said. "I mean, we're going to spend like $6.5 million down on the Greenway and now this just added on another half a million dollars." The city is planning improvements to the Greenway between DeMers and Minnesota avenues following a successful grant application through the National Park System's Outdoor Legacy Fund Program. The nearly $3.5 million grant requires a one-to-one match and there are also additional costs for bidding and construction. Total construction costs for the Greenway improvements downtown are estimated at around $5.5 million. In other news, the council: * Won't have a meeting next week. The council will next meet on April 7 for its first regular meeting of April. * Approved purchasing a shredding machine for the landfill for $641,450 to be paid over five years. The machine will allow the city to more easily handle demolition and construction debris. Not having to contract the service out means the city can save thousands of dollars a year alone on shredding tree branches, with the cost per ton being lowered from $39.25 to $3.29 per ton.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Grand Forks City Council says it opposes legislation on creation of military impact zones and commission
Feb. 10—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks City Council on Monday voted to oppose a bill that seeks to form a North Dakota military compatibility commission. The unanimous vote (with Trisha Lunski absent) came during the council's regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting. The legislation, Senate Bill 2398, would create four military impact zones and a commission of the governor, a public service commissioner, local government representation and military installation representation to review all land development within the zone. In the bill's current form, it would mean that for a 25-mile radius around Grand Forks Air Force Base, all local land use development would have to be reviewed. That zone would stretch from west of Niagara, six miles east of East Grand Forks city limits (around halfway to U.S. Highway 75), north of Minto and south near Buxton, encompassing all of the city of Grand Forks, most of Grand Forks County including all its incorporated cities, most of its townships and into the surrounding counties. "I think the creation of the military impact zone is probably good for our military and our community and the military compatibility commission isn't necessarily a bad thing," Council President Dana Sande said. "However, the 25-mile jurisdiction is incredibly problematic; I think it really challenges and is an infringement to our home-rule authority." Sande said he may support the legislation if there is an amendment to the bill excluding the city and its extraterritorial area, two miles outside of the limits generally. While the bill sets out a mechanism for local representation, it also likely means that almost every planning, zoning and development decision taken by any local authority would have to be reviewed by the compatibility commission. As part of its legislative priorities, the city opposes proposals that directly conflict with limiting its authority as a home-rule city. Home rule gives the city more powers to control its affairs, finances, and ordinances and means that the city is governed by its charter and state law rather than exclusively by state law. Citing the Federal Aviation Administration's compatibility zones with airports, which are five miles, City Administrator Todd Feland said there could be bigger implications if this legislation becomes law in its current state. "I think what Council President Sande is saying is the circle around the Grand Forks Air Force Base needs to probably have some further due diligence," Feland told the council. "I suspect it'll have an impact on Minot because I think their Air Force base is actually closer." Minot is approximately 14 miles from Minot Air Force Base. Most of Grand Forks is approximately 18 miles from GFAFB, but there are parts of the city — like the airport — that are closer. However, due to the way the city annexed it, the "leapfrog" annexation doesn't have an extraterritorial area like the core city does. The North Dakota Senate Committee on Agriculture and Veterans Affairs will review the proposal on Thursday in its initial hearing. In other news, the council: * Received and filed the annual report from Visit Greater Grand Forks' administration of the city's special event funding program and recommended reauthorizing the bureau to continue to administer the funds. Council member Rebecca Osowski said she doesn't understand why funds were given to UND for events, saying, "I'm starting to feel like they're a little bit of a parasite to the taxpayers of Grand Forks." UND events given money include the Feast of Nations, the Wacipi Powwow and the FIRST Lego League State Robotics Championship. * Discussed its 2025 Community Development Block Grant funds and its next consolidated action plan for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The plan and the CDBG funds go hand in hand as a way for the city to address housing concerns in Grand Forks.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks City Council gives first approval to Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa resort plan
Jan. 27—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks City Council on Monday recommended approving a letter of intent with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa for a proposed resort, casino and event center. During its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night, the council recommended, in a 4-3 vote, moving forward with the letter of intent. Council members Rebecca Osowski, Tricia Lunski and Ken Vein voted against. Conversations about the proposed casino, resort and event center have happened in Grand Forks for at least two decades. The letter of intent is designed to be the starting point for the regulatory processes and potential agreements. It lays out that the city has a role in helping serve future projects with infrastructure and that the city will be a partner as the tribe seeks approval from other entities. "We envision a broad economic development initiative that will involve numerous stakeholders from the public and private sectors, including city, county and governmental entities throughout this area," Tribal Chairman Jamie Azure said. "It must be a destination hub with multiple options to bring people from other areas." Azure added that the goal is to capture visitors, especially Canadians, who drive past Grand Forks to visit places like Fargo or Minneapolis. He said Grand Forks in particular is the right location as the tribe has deep historical ties to the area, a key factor and requirement for the tribe to operate gaming operations off reservation land. "The Turtle Mountain tribe is the only tribe that has solid, well-documented historical ties to this area," Azure told the council. "This isn't an overnight process. This will take a lot of time and a lot of effort into moving forward." The Turtle Mountain tribe has the largest enrolled population of any tribe in the state, with over 30,000 members. The tribe is headquartered in Belcourt, North Dakota, 140 miles northwest of Grand Forks along the Canada border. To open a casino in Grand Forks, changes in state regulations will need to be made as well as getting approval by the United States Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs for the project. According to Azure, Gov. Kelly Armstrong has been positive about the project and the Department of the Interior could be receptive given that former Gov. Doug Burgum is being considered as the department's next secretary. Some on the council have questions about the potential tax implications and what role the city would play; namely what the city would or would not get in property and sales tax collections as tribal lands follow different rules. Many of the details are still to be decided because what the Turtle Mountain tribe is proposing doesn't have many examples in North Dakota. "I think sometimes people feel like we're starting construction tomorrow. ... And really, in my mind, what we're doing is we're spilling a 100-piece puzzle on our table and we're putting a corner piece down to look forward to moving forward with this project," Council Vice President Danny Weigel said. However, some on the council felt like they need more information before agreeing to the letter of intent, no matter how preliminary the discussions are. "I do worry about the implications to what's here currently," Vein said. "But I feel like what I'm missing is a rollback of what we are trying to do and what are all the features." Under the current proposals, the facility would be located on the west side of Interstate 29 near the future 47th Avenue South interchange. The casino would be built on land already owned by the tribe and employ around 800 people, making it one of the largest employers in the city. In other news, the council: * Received updates from Epitome Energy CEO Dennis Egan. Epitome is expecting to close on the financing in the first half of this year and begin construction on its Grand Forks soybean plant by the end of the year. * Recommended accepting a grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration for the December 2023 ice storm. The $3.2 million in funds, designed for economic resiliency efforts, will go toward road improvements near the Epitome Energy project and 70th Avenue North.
