Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Casper here. McDougall here. Krabenhoff. Shonack.

Is there a motion to approve the February agenda? So moved. Seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.

Those against, same sign. If you'll recall, we had a couple of items from the January meeting that we need to first address. I would uh ask the commission to address item 6A, the election of officers first so that a new chair is elected to run this meeting. Is there a motion to remove item 6A from the table so that we may then uh proceed with nominations for chair, vice chair, and cog policy board alternate? Is there a motion to do that? So moved. Is there a second? All in favor say I.

I. I. Those against, same sign. Is there a motion for chair for the coming year? I'd like to make a motion that Robert Seagull serve as our chair moving forward. There a second to that nomination. Second. Are there others to be nominated or discussion? Hearing none. Those in favor of the motion may signify by saying I. I. Those against same sign. Moving on then. Is there a motion or nomination for vice chair for the coming year?

I nominate Lindsay as vice chair. Is there a second nomination? You second it. Is there is there any further nomination to the post? Thank you. Hearing none. Those in favor of the nomination as stated, please say I. I. Those opposed, same sign. Congratulations. Is there a motion for nomination for the Cog Policy Board alternate? I nominate Lindsay. Is there a second? Oh, there it is. Okay. Second. Nomination's been seconded. Is there any other discussion or nomination to this post?

Hearing none. Those in favor of the nomination signify by saying I. I. Oppose. same sign. That will take care of the first item having been removed from the table and taking care of the appointments for the coming year. Now that we have a new chair, we need a motion to remove item 5A from the table. Is there a motion to remove from the table 5A? Second. Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor may say I. I those

against same sign. That brings us to the request of new singular wireless PCS LLC for conditional use permit to install temporary wireless telecom telecommunications tower at 1817 111th Street North. City Planner Houston, would you please provide the commission with an overview of this particular item? Thank you, Chair Seagull. Assistant City Planner Ethan Y Ethan Jon will present this item.

Uh, thank you, Chair Seagull and Commissioners. Uh, this item was tabled at the January 5th planning commission meeting as we awaited the results of a proof of need study as required by city code. A Terra Consulting Group on behalf of New Singular Wireless PCS LLC is requesting a conditional use permit for the installation of a temporary ballastmounted 120 ft telecommunications tower within the CC Community Commercial Zoning District at 181711 Street North. The request is to install the temporary tower at the site for one year to ensure that AT&T can provide adequate wireless service to the surrounding area while they pursue independent permitting and construction of a permanent tower at the same site. One public comment was received from a Morris regarding questions about the design of the tower. The commenter had stated there were no concerns with the design. So staff suggests that the planning commission recommend approval to the city council um the conditional use permit and related findings of fact contingent on the conditions listed in your packet. Please do let me know if you have any questions.

Are there any questions from commissioners? Are there any additional public comments regarding this request? Since this is a continuation of the January meeting, it is first in order that we have a motion to close the public hearing. Is there a motion to close the public hearing? So moved. Second. Second. Those in favor signify by saying I. I. I.

Those against same sign. Public hearing is closed. Is there any other discussion or a motion for this item? Putting it a different way. Are is there a motion to approve this recommendation? I'll make Go ahead. I move to approve with the condition stated. Or contingency stated. Is there a second? No. Second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Those in favor signify by saying I.

I. Opposed. Same sign. That brings us to the minutes of the January 5th, 2025 meeting. Is there a motion to amend or approve the minutes for the January 5th meeting? Move to approve. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. Those in favor signify by saying I. I. I.

Those against, same sign. for items not on the current agenda agenda. Are there citizens to be heard here this evening that would like to speak at this time? Any citizens to be heard on items not on the agenda? Hearing none, that will bring us to our public hearings scheduled for this evening. First item is a request of M. Heiner on behalf of Youthworks for a use permit for housing shelter at 502 and 512 3rd Avenue South. Is there a motion to open the public hearing? So moved.

Second. Second. Those in favor by signify by saying I. I. Against. Same sign. City planner Houston, would you please provide the commission with an overview of this particular item? Thank you, chair. Uh, assistant city planner Forest Steinhoff will present this item.

Thank you, chair and commissioners. Uh, Youthworks is requesting a conditional use permit for a housing shelter to provide transitional housing and support services for individuals 18 to 24 years old. Previously, the property operated as an assisted living facility and is currently under a purchase agreement with Youthworks. Um, one public comment has been received which was in support of the project. staff is recommending the planning commission recommend approval of the CUP and related findings of fact to the city council subject to the 10 conditions listed in the report. Um, please let me know if you have any questions and I believe the applicant is also here if you have questions for them. Are there any commission questions or comments on this particular

request? I wouldn't mind hearing from them if they want to make a statement. if you'd introduce yourself. Uh, absolutely. My name is Mark Heinard. I'm the executive director of Youthworks. And so, if if this is the appropriate time, we would just like to share a little bit of information with you about the project. Yes.

Okay. Thank you. Um, with me I have Tom Cook who's our director of operations. Um, and Matthew Benson Tu. Matthew is overseeing our homeless services um, within the Fargo Morehead area. We've provided, Youthworks has provided services for 40 years. We hit 40 years just this year um across mostly North Dakota, but we've been in the Fargo Morehead area since 1991. And our mission is to help ensure that young people have a safe place to belong and to be heard. A part of that, we're providing services to address some of the challenges that our young people in our population are facing like trafficking, homelessness, um being a runaway, um and other challenging situations. We like to think that we're focusing more on the positive strengths of youth and we're looking to build on those strengths rather than focus on the challenges that they're being faced with. So, we tend not to focus so much on what those challenges are, but I think it's important for this commission to know that's what that's the level of service. We have an emergency shelter that's operated in in Fargo and that is an emergency shelter for under 18 year olds and we provide transitional housing for young adults that are homeless. and we've got locations in Bismar, May not and Fargo. And we have been providing transitional housing in Morehead now for two years already. So this proposal is an opportunity for us to bring those services to one place so that we can have the youth that are in need of services have better access to staff to support so that they can reach the goals that they have. Um the location I think has already been shared. this within your packet. 502 and 5123rd Avenue South. It's the former ECUN um Evergreen's assisted living program. So, there are a couple things that are changing, which is obvious. We're changing the population. You know, it held senior citizens and it's going to

have young adults 18 to 24. Uh the interior use patterns are going to be different because our our staff is going to be able to provide support services, uh groups, um and assistance throughout the day. they won't be serving in a medical fashion. Um, and residents coming and going is going to change because we've got youth that will be attending school, uh, going to work, um, and going to other community events. So, there will be more people coming and going. Um, however, the building footprint is not changing, density is not changing, parking configuration, traffic generation, we do not expect to be any different. Most of the youth who um will be interested in and we will be providing housing for uh typically do not have transportation. And so this location is fantastic because they'll be able to access public transportation that would be available. Um we will have 247 staff coverage uh at these locations. Each youth that is living within the transitional housing program will get individual case management. We're going to provide life skills, uh, training and education, housing navigation, which basically is helping people find that permanent place, um, and and structured expectations for the residents so that they have opportunities to reach the goals that they've set for themselves. Our uh track record is one uh since 1991 we've provided transitional housing services within this metro area and 92% of the youth that we have been able to house have been able to not return to homelessness and have a safe and appropriate place to leave to. Um we also um anticipate using a small portion of this building for drop-in services and this would be small uh controlled access that would serve residents that are already there as well as some youth that might be in a situation where their

housing unstable and they need some supports. So we would provide them with some basic needs um like a food pantry um and other supports for them. We're going to focus though on housing stabilization. And just for clarity because um sometimes uh I I think words words definitely matter uh within this. It is housing. It's not a shelter, you know, and we do operate a shelter in Fargo, but this is not a shelter. This is transitional housing. It's designed for a young person to stay up to 18 months. In our experience over the last 40 years, most of those youth, six, seven, eight months is about the amount of time that they need before they can make it to that next level of independence for themselves. Um, any environmental or regulatory uh compliance or issues that we've done, I believe, our due diligence, um, it is categorically excluded. We have completed, the city of Morehead has completed an environmental review for HUD. There's no mitigation required. It's not in a flood plane, airplane zone. Um, and we've had a site visit by uh city of Morhead by Mike Moss. He came and check and and checked the site out and talked with us through all of the details. We really appreciate the time that Mike gave us to help us through this. We've also gotten guidance from Fire Chief Garvey and Kent Severson in taking a look at the details of the project. A good example of that is the um the kitchen was previously uh a commercial kitchen and they were using that to prepare meals for all of the residents and our intent is that that that will be a residential kitchen and so we'll just be removing the commercial uh stove and dishwasher and it'll it'll have residential services. it's not required to have a commercial kitchen and we um understood after our conversation with Mike that it honestly would be easier and better for us to be

able to provide that and honestly we want youth to be able to use the kitchen for their use and not for us to be their preparing field. So we're we're teaching life skills and independence and so we want them to be able to have access to be able to do that. Um couple more things. The location really works well for us because uh it certainly has been a residential and a service use in the past. It's like I said, it's it's near the bus routes transition transportation. Um it's also adaptive reuse of a facility. We are not knocking walls down. We're not changing things. We are a nonprofit that's trying to do the most that we can with donor dollars and with grants that we're able to have. And so we don't expect to do a lot of changes at all. Uh the only change that we see that we will be making is uh as it served as a memory care facility there was uh the emergency like they had locks on the doors so to prevent someone from wandering off. And so we were just going to um deactivate those so that if there's a a fire, any need for anyone to leave the building, they'll be able to do that and they won't be locked. And then um the second one I already made reference to and that's the commercial stoves and and ranges will be removed um from the location at that time. So we think it it it demonstrates good use um responsible use for an existing facility. Uh, I know that we're probably unique that there might not have been a lot of other uses that would work, but it's it it really will have the feel more of a college dorm in terms of the the transition that's going to happen. Uh, this building has got pods of five units and so they will be treated as five apartments per pod. So, there's two

buildings. So, we'll have 15 individuals in one of the buildings, 10 individuals in another building, and then the other five, we're actually planning on using that for the drop in space so that we have access to other types of support services for those five units. And then lastly, this is a project that will end up serving um individuals that are also parents. And so there will be an opportunity for up to five of the individuals that are staying there to that might be pregnant or parenting and don't have a place to stay so they could provide housing and stable support uh for their for their children. So So that's really the extent of what we've presented to you and you have copies that that we provided. I've got the real experts behind me if there's any detailed questions that you might have about uh this particular project. Uh, but I do just have to say that we're we're thrilled and excited to have an opportunity to have you consider this as a service and we've been really um we've been really uh enjoying the the conversations we've had in in this community and the support that we have been receiving from the everyone from the neighbors to uh city employees and others um across this area.

Do members of the commission have questions for Mr. Heinard or his two companions. Yeah, I have one. Uh first of all, thank you very much for your work. Um I'm aware of a fair amount of it and uh uh you're just doing incredible work for a area of our population that needs this help and uh I I appreciate what you're doing. I I'm curious um do you have a waiting list already for um uh people coming to the field facility or how does that work?

Yeah, that's a fantastic question. Um we we participate in the Fargo Morehead areas uh continuum of care which works together to collaborate on any referrals for individuals that are homeless. And so we do already have young people that we've identified that we know will be moving in some some of those youth, but what we will be following that protocol to make sure that the person who has the greatest need is going to be prioritized first. So it's it's not formally a waiting list.

It's it's uh similar to if you go into the emergency room and you get triage to say, "Okay, this person needs help sooner." And so there's an assessment that's that is done and the person who has that that the greatest need then uh comes into those um apartments. We work very closely with um the um West Central Minnesota's continuum of care

and that's the organization that works also within the Fargo Morehead area to help prioritize those referrals. Many of those referrals though uh come straight into our doors, our office or call us directly and then it might be us getting them on this list. But but just to be really clear, it's a community project of prioritizing who might get that housing next and we follow that. Mayor Nich, I questions.

Yeah, I too just want to thank you for coming to Morehead. um as a parent of a a couple of older teens and helping them navigate their friends and it's been more than a few occasions in the last few years where we've had to make some calls on behalf of of kiddos and it was about three years ago we called youth works in Fargo and they couldn't help our our friends you know unhoused in Morehead. So I'm really excited that you're here providing these services. So thank you. My question is um assuming you get the green light from from this committee and and city commission uh city council, how soon are will doors open?

We believe we could be operational in as little as 30 to 60 days. So great. And uh one follow-up question. You mentioned uh donors and grants. Is that those are primarily your funding sources?

Correct. Yeah, we have I could bore you with all the details, but we we have um three different federal grants. We've got state of Minnesota uh funding uh donors uh to support the project so that we can make sure that we could continue um to do this work. Our um our opportunity we believe like it's it's one of those things where sometimes the stars align perfectly and you say, "Wow, there's a property. It's available. We have opportunities." Um, and so we had some of these dollars already secured and so that's part of it is we already had uh the core funding in place and so we're able to add add some more to that and we'll continue to be fundraising and so because there is a a part of this which is gaining that community support. Any other questions? Do we have members of the public here who have questions or wish to speak to the subject? Yes. would you please come to the podium so that we can uh hear you clearly. Thank you.

I'm Eno Justice. I will be a neighbor of theirs. I live at Steeple Court condominiums. Um about staffing, you mentioned that you have 247 staffing. Um what staffing is there in the daytime and what is there in the night time? And one more question, you said you get a lot of referrals. Who are some of the organizations and peoples that uh bring referrals to you? I'll be happy to answer. Thank you.

Yeah, thank you for thank you for the question. And we might have missed you. We came around to visit with neighbors to make sure we had a chance to uh to catch people and talk with them about what what our project is. I can say that in other communities it's been incredibly helpful for us to have partnerships with neighbors um who uh know our numbers and our contact information and we can work together with them. So the first thing with regards to staffing, we'll actually have as many as uh 11 many as 11 staff during the day um because we'll have full services sorry we'll have full services that are available during the day that those 9 to5 hours and then after night we'll have two we'll have one person in each of those two buildings that's there at all times. Um uh your second question sorry I forgot it already. Oh, yeah. And we do have um Why don't you talk about it? I'm I'm stealing the mic too much.

The the only thing I was going to add is we also have a 247 crisis line. So um those staff that are there on site, they're also not alone. They'll be able to get an additional crisis worker there if needed. And then that worker will also be able to get Tom and I on site if need be, too. So I guess there could be as many as five of us there overnight if need be. But knock on wood, hopefully we don't h have anything like that happen. Um what was the second question? Sorry.

Oh yes. So uh primarily our referrals um Morehead Public Schools I would say makes the majority of our referrals for Morehead. Um we also work really closely with Community Action Lakes and Prairies. Um but oftentimes our our street outreach team um and us as case managers, we're out at at the Morehead Career Academy a lot in Morehead High meeting with students when we know they're going to be at school and we have the ability to connect with them and help figure out what services they need. We could always use volunteers for sure. I want to add one more I want to add one more comment just to dovtail on that and that is um I said at the beginning that you know we really are working with helping young people reach their goals and I think this is a paramount issue. We have a long history of empowering youth to the point where they're employees of ours. Um there's an individual actually that was once my client who lived in our transitional housing program who went on to school, get their social work degree, advanced and is now one of the managers within our programs. And so we really believe in the strength that youth have and building on that. And we believe the environment that we are helping to provide is one that promotes and creates growth opportunities. and all of our other neighbors that we've had um have really appreciated that openness and that open communication and there could be some challenges but there might be challenges oftent times we've already met also with the police chief and um have real clear plans if there was to be any challenges you know what we would do and how we would handle that and the call volume for law enforcement in our in Fargo Bismar and May not where we're also providing this has not gone So

there's not increased uh law enforcement calls. Uh and we would argue that for some of the youth that we're providing services to, it's possible that we're helping to be a part of reducing the potential uh contact with law enforcement, too. I think there was another Was there another community question? Do we have other members of the community that would like to speak to this? may may have touched on this a little bit. Um Bradley Donabar, Donabar Family Dentistry, I'll be your neighbor as well.

I think you stopped in, but I missed you that day. Of course, you know, the concerns from the neighbors, I believe, would be security, you know, and if we have any additional concerns based on, you know, problems that you've had in the past, I mean, you've already said you met with the police chief, so I mean, obviously there's something there to um, you know, be concerned about. Um certainly I've had a lot of trouble in my area downtown Morehead with homelessness. Um I have to clean up needles. Um I've had needles, um drug paraphernalia. I think I've had feces in the back of my building. Um so I mean certainly I think it's reasonable to have a concern and want to know a little bit more about your organization. Maybe you could speak to that.

Be happy to. Yeah, I appreciate I appreciate your question. I appreciate your comments, too. Um what what we usually are finding is that one of the reasons why you have challenges with individuals that are homeless is because they don't have a place to stay and we're providing a place for them to stay. And so having staff that's going to be there to be able to help make sure it's a safe and appropriate our mission statement is that we believe that all young people deserve to have a safe place to belong and to be heard. And so as a part of that, our primary goal is their safety. And so when you're concerned about the neighborhood, we're concerned about the neighborhood. We've had more concerns, this is going to sound, but it's it's it's true. We've had more concerns in some of our other locations about safety ourselves as members of the community. And so we're one with you. Like we want it to be safe. Our reason for visiting the police wasn't because we anticipate a lot of problems. It's communication and making sure they understand this is what we're doing. This is what's what's happening or this is what we're hoping to do. This is what we're planning to do. Uh not one out of of fear that there will be challenges. There there there has been some, you know, there has been times when there are issues, but over the long haul, what we're finding more than not is individuals are in our communities and they're needing help. And without our services, those conditions you described are going to continue. With our services, those are less likely to happen or they're going to be reduced. That's my my true belief on that. Now, we don't serve individ individuals older than 24. So, you know, if there's individuals that are causing safety concerns in the neighborhood, then we're going to be with you in terms of we do not want to have needles around. We do

not want people to feel unsafe. No, no more than you. So, I I feel like we're aligned there. Okay. Ask a followup question. Sure. I guess my follow-up question would be just a little bit more knowledge about how the residents um the living conditions are. Are they allowed? The problem wouldn't be as a neighbor um while they're in your facility. It would be when they're out of their facility. So, are they allowed to come and go as they choose? Um maybe you could just speak to that.

Yeah. Yeah. Fantastic question. The these are adults and and it's it's it's independent living and so yes, they they can come and go um as as they choose. There's no restrictions on them, no more than there would be on a college campus's dorms, you know. So individuals are free to come and go as they as they might wish. Would there be restrictions if they came back intoxicated, done drugs, and came back to the facility?

Good question. And I think this and this definitely could res what we would what we plan on doing if we are able to get permission from the city to move forward is um offering an open house and inviting people to come so we can talk in much more detail about rules expectations our plans to make sure that we don't have any challenges such as that. So um so we'd be happy to to talk more about any of those details. you want? Yeah, go ahead. Well, that that's that has to happen all the time. Why isn't for that right now? I mean, somebody has to leave your facility. Do drugs come back. What What happens then?

Um I'll come back to that in just a moment if that's okay. So, um I to be frank, we used to have more issues with like drugs and alcohol, but um since we've been working greater with um the community with the continuum of care where we're like working with a collective list, we work with individuals whose um needs are listed as medium and below. Um so, we're not getting a ton of people in our units that are in active addiction or have really serious mental health crises. We're getting more folks that, well, I could just give you a couple examples. So, I have one individual that I've been working with for a little over a year. Um, really lives with us because he depended on his mom for housing and his mom passed away. So, that's why he's living with us. Um, and we've been working on like helping him get a job and he's making great strides. Um, another example is it's not uncommon that we have um students who for whatever reason aren't able to continue staying in the dorms at Concordia or MSUM. So, um they're able to stay with us and we've actually been successful recently helping a student get back into MSUM. So, I would say that's more of our typical clientele as far as uh like drugs or alcohol where we um we don't allow people to use anything on on premises. Um but, uh you know, we also don't want them to be staying outside if they are drunk or high. So, that's why we've got people on site that can that can be there to work with them. And honestly, what I tell a lot of my clients is um that we if you're you can't be a jerk. So, if you're going to be drunk or high, you got to go in your room and you got to be quiet. And um as long as you're not causing a disruption to the community, whether that's like inside our facility or in the greater community, that's that's really what we're aiming for.

You got No, I'm just here for factf finding. Yeah. About your organization. Yeah.

I'm trying to keep an open mind. Well, and I know Mark said this, too, but I'm I'm happy to chat more and like go more in depth with how like all of our programming works and how we create case plans and what are the goals that our clients are typically working on. Um, but generally speaking, it's permanent housing. It's helping them either get back into school or finishing up high school. And then, um, also employment is really our big three. And then the other thing I'm really working on with folks is making permanent connections in the community. So, um, you know, we don't want them to be an island where they feel like they don't care about their neighbors. We want them to care about their community and really put down roots so that they can be successful long term.

I am a little concerned about your answer. I mean, you're saying that they can go to my parking lot, get high, come back, and crash. Yeah. Can I speak to that one? Go for it. Um, that's the same with the apartment next door. So, I mean, it's I don't think they'd like it either.

We don't. We wouldn't like it. That's my point. My point isn't one of defensiveness. My point is the entire neighborhood would have concerns and anyone could leave their apartment and and use drugs or alcohol and then return. So, it's the same concern and we want safe space. We do not uh we're not interested in having that. Um, and so we share I think that the main message that I want to make sure we're really clear about is that we share your concerns and we want it to be safe. We want it to be safe for the youth that are there just as much as we want it to be safe for everybody else around. So, thank you for the discussion. Do we have another question? Yes.

Yeah. Um, I just want to um give some perspective also to this conversation. And so the teens that that I'm familiar with that they're situations where a mom was wasn't going to be incarcerated and she had younger kids. Poverty is not a crime. Homelessness is not a crime. Um so and that goes with the second situation. It wasn't an incarceration, but a a child needed to be out of the home and was not uh it was a a young adult. So older than 18, aged out of the the system, but didn't have a safe place to go. So, um, I just want to make clear that your services you provide, we're not we're not catering to criminals here. We're catering to kids.

This is not a Thank you for saying that. This is not a re-entry program. There's a majority of the youth have not ever had legal contact. They're not you they don't want to be around substances. That's why I'm saying like we we want this to be a safe and free a safe and alcohol and drug-free area, which is why we don't allow it in our property. I think

to to the point that Matthew was making, we can't control, you know, no more than any landlord can control if their tenants go out and do something and then return home. People go out to the bars at night, they drink, they come home. Uh we can't control if people choose to do that. And um I think that's just the message I'm trying to get out. It's not I'm not trying to be defensive about it, but it uh there's a certain amount of control that would have there and it has nothing to do with I think we have a whole lot more concerns about the drinking that might be going on in college campuses to be perfectly honest with you than might be occurring at or around this this location.

Are there others who wish to speak to this at uh given this is a public hearing now would be the time. Other questions from members of the commission? Uh Ron Balco, 209 7th Street South. Um I can see your building from my bathroom. Um I was kind of skeptical coming here because the what we haven't mentioned is the big elephant in the room which was Churches United which back in the day and I was before during and after Churches United and none of us in the neighborhood that have been around that long do want to go through want to go through that experience again because it was not the best. It was the best we had at the time and they certainly found a better place and whatever. But I'm I'm hopeful. I can see the need. I understand the need. I'm I'm aware. I have a son that has issues and we've kept him housed and he's made progress. So, I understand those that need it. No, as long as you all give me your numbers so in case something happens that I can get go direct or whatever and get help or inform or whatever, that'll be fine at this point. So, thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak to this uh request hearing and seeing none, is there a motion to close the public hearing? So moved. Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. Those in favor of closing the public hearing may say I. I. Against. Same sign. Hearing is closed. Is there any more discussion from members of the commission? Chair Seagull. Yes.

Can I just make a quick statement? Um mostly for our new member. Um just from a zoning perspective, I just wanted to let you know um conditional use per uh conditional uses are permitted uses in this zoning district, but we are allowed to put conditions on them. So essentially, it's really hard to deny a use that doesn't that meets the conditions that you put on it. So, for instance, this one, um, we've had a lot of experience with shelters in Morehead and we know uh what what important conditions to put on them and like this one does have 10 conditions. Um, so the permit, you know, you can vote as you wish on the permit. Um, then they have to meet these conditions. You know, we usually give them time to meet the conditions. Um, but I just wanted to mention that because we do get into these um debates sometimes about uh whether to vote to approve or to not to deny and everybody can vote the way they want to, but I just wanted to explain the difference between a conditional use and a permitted use.

All right. Uh, subject to the 10 contingencies that are listed in your agenda, is there a motion to recommend approval to the city council the conditional use permit for housing shelter in MU1 downtown center mixed use and related findings of fact contingent on those 10 points. So move to recommend with the 10 conditions. There a second. I'll second. There any further discussion? Hearing? None. Those in favor of the motion may signify by saying I. I. I.

Against. Same sign. That will be forwarded to the city council for their consideration. Before us now is a request of the city of Morhead for a conditional use permit for excavation and construction in the floodway and flood fringe at Blue Stem Center. Is there a motion to open the public hearing? So moved. Second. Second. City Planner Houston, please provide the commission with an overview of this particular item, please.

Thank you, Chair Seagull. Uh this item will also turn it over to Forest Steinhoff. Thank you again, chair and commissioners. The city of Morhead is requesting a conditional use permit to construct a pedestrian path and bridge within the floodway and flood fringe, which is also known as the flood plane at Bluestem Center uh for the arts in South Morehead. The proposal will provide a new connection between the two cities of Morhead and Fargo Fargo and Morehead. Um so far, no public comments have been received to date. Uh staff is recommending that the planning commission recommend approval the cup and related findings of fact to the city council subject to the five conditions listed in the report. Um please let me know if you have any questions. And Andrea Crabtree is also online. Uh she's our utilities engineer to help answer questions.

Are there any commission questions or comments regarding this request? Are there any public comments regarding this request by the city? Hearing none. Is there a motion to close the public hearing? Second. Second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Is there any more discussion or is there a motion for the item? Move to approve. Second. Second.

Any discussion? Selecting quarter did its bridge. Yes. Much needed. Yeah. All those in favor may signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Same sign. Thank you, Andrea. Our next item is a request of Lowry Engineering on behalf of Prairie Parkway 2 LLC for preliminary and final plat relating to the Prairie Parkway fourth edition. Is there a motion to open the public hearing? So moved. Second. Second. Second. All in favor signify by saying I. I.

Opposed. Same sign. The public hearing is now open. Uh, city planner Houston, please provide the commission with an overview of this item, please. Thanks again, Chair Seagull. Assistant City Planner Britney Cameron will present this item.

Thank you, Chair and Commissioners. Lowry Engineering on behalf of Prairie Parkway 2 LLC is requesting a prel preliminary and final plat related to Prairie Parkway fourth edition which is a replplat of a portion of the second edition that was approved in 2024. The developer would like to redesign two large vacant parcels originally intended for multi-use multi-family units. Uh due to market conditions, the developer feels this area would be more successful with a mix of dwelling units. So he's ref reconfiguring the eastern 16.49 acres into 79 lots between 40th Avenue South and the 40th Avenue ditch for single family detach homes, twin homes, and town homes. The proposed changes would continue a similar development pattern from the north in Prairie Parkway first and third editions and from south in Partridge Creek edition. No public comments have been received to date. Staff is recommending the planning commission recommend approval of the preliminary and final plat to the city council subject to the four conditions listed in the report. Please let me know if you have any questions,

questions or comments from the members of the commission. Is there anyone here to speak from the public regarding this particular request? I have a couple questions and comments about the that whole area. So, one, can you say your name and your address, please?

Okay. Beth Folk, 28124th Avenue South. So, Kitty Corner. I'm on the same corner. And I know that next summer they're going to be redoing that whole intersection and putting like what is in all likelihood a roundabout. So rather than selling those plots and then having to the city having to buy that land back to do the road, would it be better to plan ahead and adjust those lots for the the intersection that's going to change? Second of all, I would interested to see or find out what their plan is for community space and green space. The community gardens are down there which is a very lovely space and I think that's been platted over for the upcoming years. So is there any plan on letting there be a community garden or community space or green space in that development?

I'm just pulling up the agenda here. We can show you the the layout on here. I'll address the green space question. Um so on this this is the replat of those two large lots. So essentially um some of the utilities were already installed. So we had to design it with um this large green space area in the middle. So this green space it possibly could have room for some some garden. It will also have a storm water pond and then a a trail that will connect um the street. So these these properties will back up to a large um like a passive park here. So what they'll do with it, I don't you know that's not been determined, but it will be a large green space. Um the community garden in this area was actually to the north of 40th and in the third edition.

Yeah. And I think that that's been platted over. So what makes sense? There going to be houses where there's now a community garden. Can there be a community garden in this space? Well, the community garden space was just temporary while

the property owner was reconfiguring those lots and he owns these lots as well. So he could probably have those combinations because it is private property. We, you know, if he would want to do that, he certainly he certainly can work with um the community garden folks to talk about that. And then I will let uh assistant city engineer Klay Lexon speak to the traffic study because that is I don't know um that's not completed yet. So speaking about the roundabout might be premature,

right? But it's it's in all likelihood that is the most likely scenario of how that is going to be redone. And so those all those corner lots you would have to to buy land back from them.

Good evening. The study is still ongoing, so it would u Robin's correct it would be pre premature to to say what will happen at that 40th Avenue intersection. Um, a roundabout is an option, but that's not been determined yet. What is the timeline of that study? I believe it's expected to be completed this spring.

Other questions or comments regarding this request? Questions from members of the commission? Is there a motion then to close the public hearing? Move to second. Moved and seconded to close the public hearing. Any discussion? Hearing none. Those in favor may signify by saying I. I. Against. Same sign. Is there any further discussion for this item? If not, is there a motion to recommend approval to the city council of preliminary and final plat for Prairie Parkway fourth edition contingent on the four items listed on your agenda?

So moved. Second. Any further discussion hearing? None. Those in favor we signify by saying I I against same sign. That brings us to other business. Do we have anything other than uh what we have discussed so far?

Don't have any other business. We have a coupleformational items for you tonight. Um the first one is the 2025 comprehensive plan implementation update. Um this item is justformational and we provide an overview of um projects that we've been comp that have been completed in the year um in 2025 for that that meet the goals of our um comprehensive plan. So we've been I think this is the second year we've been providing this update which um is great for tracking those successes for that plan because that plan is a living document. So those um you can actually see the work that planning commission, council, staff, um multiple departments are doing throughout the city to meet those goals since we did spend so much time on that comprehensive plan update. Um please let me know if you have any questions about that update. Um and then the 2025 planning commission annual report that was on the agenda at the last meeting, but because we have a new member, I put it on there again. And that is basically just a report of all the items that came before the planning commission in the previous year. Um and that uh both of these um updates will go to be shared with the mayor and the city council and let me know if you have any questions on that one too.

Any further questions or observations from members of the commission? Is there no other business to come before us? Is there a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. Second declare the meeting adjourned. Thank you.