St. John Plan Commission approves TIF amendment, recommends MS4 update and clears several plats; Family Express approval contingent on NDOT permit

The Town of Saint John Plan Commission on Jan. 15 approved a resolution amending the town's Economic Development Area 1, recommended an update to the subdivision ordinance to meet MS4 stormwater requirements, and approved several subdivision plats and a site plan, including for Family Express, with conditions attached.

The actions affect tax-increment financing boundaries, town compliance with federal MS4/NDPES stormwater rules, and multiple commercial developments along U.S. 41. Most votes were voice votes; the MS4 recommendation was recorded 5-0.

The commission approved "Resolution 2025-01-15 PC," described by staff as amendments to the declaratory resolution and economic development plan for Saint John Economic Development Area 1 (the town's first TIF district). Staff said the updates add some properties and remove others that were "negatively impacting" the district and called the changes routine housekeeping to preserve the TIF's benefit to the town.

On stormwater, Ashley Abernathy, a plan commission member, summarized the proposal as an update to the Saint John Subdivision Control Ordinance, Article 6, implementing stormwater drainage guidelines required by the town's NDPES permit under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the MS4 program. After no public comment, the commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the Town Council; the vote was recorded as 5-0.

The commission held and closed public hearings for the Shops at the Gates subdivision (Primary Plat, two lots, ~17.5 acres adjacent to Suncrest Christian Church) and granted primary plat approval after staff and the town engineer reported only minor, non-substantial…