Moorhead planning commission backs vacation of right-of-way in Block 4 tied to center mall redevelopment

The Moorhead Planning Commission on Feb. 3 recommended that the City Council approve the vacation of a right-of-way within the proposed Block 4 of the Moorhead Downtown Addition, a step staff said is needed to clean up title work for the Moorhead Center Mall redevelopment project.

City Planner Houston told commissioners the request is “a necessary step in cleaning up the title work for the proposed plat and project.” The proposed plat has not yet been recorded, Houston said, and the reconfiguration of Fourth Street North is under consideration to accommodate relocating a Block 4 parcel out of the flood plain.

The commission opened and closed a public hearing with no members of the public speaking, and staff recommended approval subject to two conditions listed in the packet. After brief discussion a commissioner moved to recommend approval to City Council; the motion was seconded and passed on an affirmative vote.

Houston said some public and private utilities reported infrastructure in the area that “may require relocation.” Because the city is both the project developer and landowner, Houston said, the city will initially cover relocation costs and then assess those costs to the future property developer(s). “Whoever ends up developing those lots, they’ll get a portion of that cost,” Houston said.

The staff report says that once finalized, the minor change would be approved by the City Council and would not return to the Planning Commission. No public comments were recorded on the request.

The recommendation will go to the Moorhead City Council for final action. The planning record notes ongoing coordination with private utility companies if rerouting is necessary.

Ending: The planning commission approved the recommendation to the City Council; timing for the council hearing and any required utility relocation schedule were not specified in the Planning Commission record.