The Planning and Zoning Commission on July 9 approved a 10‑year conditional‑use permit allowing Nutrien Ag Solutions (formerly Crop Production Services) to operate a fertilizer and chemical storage facility at 5301 North Washington Street in the I‑2 heavy‑industrial district.

Planning staff explained the facility stores materials listed in the city’s draft conditional‑use permit and that the heavy‑industrial district requires a conditional‑use permit for hazardous and non‑hazardous material storage under the uniform fire code. Staff said the company had previously held a conditional‑use permit for an earlier location; the prior permit expired in January after the operation moved, and staff and departments have been working with the company to regularize approvals at the new site.

Commissioners asked staff why the permit had lapsed and how the city monitors conditional‑use activity. Staff acknowledged the lapse, noting that site moves and an out‑of‑service elevator at the prior location complicated operations and that the city tries to review permits annually but sometimes lags. Commissioner Klava and others pressed staff on enforcement: what would stop the company from resuming storage at the old site without a permit? Staff said such activity would require a separate conditional‑use permit for that location and that enforcement would typically rely on interdepartmental reporting and neighborhood notification.

Staff described the draft permit conditions, including a 10‑year term and a limitation to the materials listed in an attachment, and said no documented complaints or violations had been recorded since the last permit. The commission opened the public hearing; no speakers asked to address the item. Commissioner Klava moved approval and Commissioner Reichert seconded; the commission approved the permit unanimously.

Why this matters: The permit allows continued storage of agricultural fertilizer and chemical products at a new site in Grand Forks’ industrial area. The hearing highlighted an administrative issue — an expired permit after the operator moved sites — and prompted commissioners to ask staff about monitoring, enforcement and interagency coordination to ensure hazardous‑materials storage complies with zoning and fire regulations.