The Stark County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously June 26 to recommend that the County Commission amend zoning conditions to allow Central Dakota Frontier Cooperative to add an unmanned, credit-card-only diesel fueling site at its agronomy property near the South Heart interstate exit.

The recommendation matters because it would change conditions tied to commercial zoning for the 14.99-acre parcel at 3549 120 First Avenue Southwest and allow a stand‑alone fuel facility that the co-op says is aimed at farm and truck customers in an area with limited diesel access.

Tobin Nagel, representing Central Dakota Frontier Cooperative, described the proposal at the public hearing. "Just requesting to add a stand alone fuel, filling site on our agronomy site out in South Hart … It would just be, unmanned for credit card, use only," Nagel said. He said the tanks would dispense dyed diesel and clear diesel for co-op equipment and visiting trucks and that a similar installation at a Headingler, N.D., site built in 2016 has performed well.

County planner Steve Josephson told commissioners the fueling site was not part of the original site plan and that the commission adopted conditions on the parcel in 2016 because neighbors and commissioners had raised concerns. "Staff recommends approval subject to the findings in the staff report," Josephson said. He said the planning commission's vote would be a recommendation and that the County Commission would make the final decision.

The commission approved the motion on a roll call vote: Commissioner White, Commissioner Claris, Commissioner Larson, Commissioner Nicholas, Commissioner Goldsmith, Dr. Baird and the chair all voted aye. Josephson said the recommendation will be forwarded to the County Commission for final action on July 1.

No public comments for or against the request were recorded during the hearing. The staff report and recommended findings were cited by Josephson as the basis for the recommendation to amend the property conditions.

If the County Commission approves the amendment July 1, the co-op may proceed with the unmanned diesel fueling installation as described in the revised site plan submitted to county staff.