Stark County planning staff told the Planning and Zoning Commission on July 31 that they will take part in developing a model data-center ordinance, will bring draft amendments on banquet- and reception-hall requirements and code enforcement timing back to the commission, and will propose a change to the county’s floodplain management ordinance to align with state law.

Steve Josephson, County Planner, said the North Dakota Association of Counties and the North Dakota League of Cities are starting work on a model data-center ordinance and that he and a city planner will join a conference call to begin that process. Josephson said, “once we have something that's a model ordinance, we can bring that back to, you know, to planning and zoning for discussion and, hope adoption.”

Josephson said staff also plans three zoning-code amendments: one setting requirements for banquet halls and reception halls (a draft was provided to commissioners), a revision to section 8.10 removing hard deadlines for resolving code violations (the dates were removed after discussions with commissioners), and an amendment to the county floodplain management ordinance (Section 3.11) to mirror language in the North Dakota Century Code following changes enacted in the most recent legislative session.

On floodplain management, Josephson said a letter from the Department of Water Resources had caused confusion by not mirroring the statute. He said the statute appears to allow a county-adopted floodplain management ordinance to extend through unincorporated county areas and to stop at city extraterritorial zoning boundaries, and that the county’s attorney will discuss the matter with the Attorney General’s office if needed. Josephson said the proposed county language “mirrors what's in the statute.”

Commissioners asked for a chance to review the drafts before any public hearing. Josephson said if staff does not receive applications for the August meeting, the items will likely be brought up in September and there may not be an August Planning and Zoning meeting.

No formal action was taken during the July 31 meeting; staff said the items are in an early draft stage and will return to Planning and Zoning for review and for any required public hearings.