Fargo commission approves annexation, rezoning and right‑of‑way vacation for North Dale industrial area

The Fargo City Commission on July 21 approved the city‑initiated annexation of about 87.89 acres on the city’s north side, a rezoning to Limited Industrial (LI) and a minor plat called North Dale First Edition, and a related vacation of portions of Fiftieth Avenue North and 43rd Street North right‑of‑way.

City planning staff said the actions are intended to align the zoning and access for industrial businesses along County Road 81 and to clear the way for construction of 40 First Street and other improvements. "This area is largely zoned LI limited industrial, which is the appropriate zoning for those businesses and is similar to the adjacent zoning," Donald Crest of the Department of Planning and Development told the commission.

Why it matters: the annexation brings county‑adjacent industrial parcels into Fargo city limits, allowing the city to apply its regulations, collect applicable local taxes and approve plats and access consistent with a planned industrial corridor. Planning staff said the annexation and rezoning were processed under the North Dakota Century Code annexation procedures and that the rezoning includes a conditional overlay that limits certain uses and signage.

Commissioners voted to adopt the annexation resolution and approve the first reading of the rezoning ordinance and the plat. Crest said the annexation had been noticed under the North Dakota Century Code and that the deadline for protests had passed with insufficient protests filed. The plat creates a single lot and block, with negative access easements along County Road 81 and a proximity agreement related to the airport and nearby sewage lagoons included as part of the plat approval.

The commission also approved a city‑initiated vacation of an L‑shaped portion of right‑of‑way near the same area, splitting the vacated right‑of‑way among five adjacent property owners; four of the five had signed the plat, the fifth had told staff he would sign when he returns to town. Planning staff cited North Dakota Century Code section 4,039 for the vacation process.

What commissioners asked and directed: commissioners discussed access locations and noted that main access for many properties will be from the new 40 First Street and from County 81. Staff said there would be no access off Fortieth Avenue South for the new lot. No member of the public spoke against the items during the hearings. The motions passed on roll call votes.

Next steps: staff will finalize the ordinance language for second reading as required, the mayor will sign the plat and proximity agreement when appropriate, and the city will proceed with infrastructure work associated with 40 First Street and the new lot.