West Fargo commissioners approve Hope Lutheran rezoning with condition limiting Sixth Street access

The West Fargo City Commission approved a rezoning and final plat for the Hope Lutheran Addition on Oct. 6, 2025, but imposed a condition in the development agreement to withhold a full access driveway to Sixth Street and allow the developer to request that access later if the area east of the church site is platted.

The decision followed two evenings of public comment, a city-commissioned traffic study by Bolton & Menk, technical testimony from the study’s lead engineer and extended discussion among commissioners about neighborhood safety and connectivity.

Why it matters: Neighbors raised safety and pedestrian concerns about an access driveway onto Sixth Street near Lacey Elementary School. Commissioners and staff said they wanted to preserve neighborhood safety while keeping a pathway for future connectivity if the adjacent property is developed.

Hope Lutheran and project supporters urged approval. Jobe Lickblau, church council president for Hope Lutheran, told the commission the congregation “has followed every step of the city's established processes” and asked commissioners to “vote yes to allow Hope to continue to strengthen West Fargo by allowing us to move forward with all aspects outlined in the proposal.” Brian Berg, the project architect representing Zurburg, said the traffic study showed the proposed church would generate “less daily traffic” than a comparable single-family residential development on most days and that funerals and weddings are infrequent at the West campus.

Several nearby residents urged the commission to…