Dickinson planners approve zoning text change clarifying vehicle storage, prompting business and resident concerns

The Dickinson City Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 10 recommended approval of ZTA-004-2025, a zoning-text amendment that redefines outdoor storage and removes a separate “vehicle storage” use while clarifying screening and time limits for vehicles associated with auto services.

City planner Natalie Burczyk told commissioners the change explicitly excludes motor vehicles from the municipal definition of outdoor storage and instead treats vehicles under the city’s short-term and long-term vehicle storage rules. Under the amendment, short-term vehicle storage is defined as under 21 days and would be allowed in General Commercial, Light Industrial and General Industrial zones; long-term storage (more than 21 days) would be allowed only in Light Industrial or General Industrial zones. The amendment also clarifies that parts, materials and other outdoor storage must be screened so they are not visible from residential areas or public rights of way.

Burczyk said staff drafted the amendment to reduce confusion about how vehicles are treated and to align the code with how the city has enforced vehicle storage in recent years. “Motor vehicles, regardless of their mechanical state of operability, are not classified as outdoor storage,” she said.

At a public hearing, several people said the change does not address enforcement on adjacent street parking and long-term vehicles parked on public rights of way. Jay Wilhelm, owner of Dickinson Econo Storage, said vehicles tied to nearby auto businesses frequently park on the opposite side of the street from his property and block snow removal; he told commissioners the 48-hour street-parking rule is not being enforced in his area and called the result dangerous in winter.

Resident Kirk Jorgensen said he received mailed notice because he lives within 300 feet of a service business and wanted confirmation about which properties would be affected.

Leonard Schwint, the city’s billing official, told the commission the amendment mainly clarifies existing enforcement practice and that the change reflects how the city has interpreted the code for more than two decades.

Commissioner discussion noted that the amendment addresses only off-street storage standards and does not alter on-street parking rules; city staff said enforcement of vehicles parked on public streets remains a police department issue when vehicles exceed the 48-hour limit.

Commissioner Miss Wanko flagged a separate question of whether an auto shop could be held responsible when a customer’s vehicle remains in violation in a no-parking area; Burczyk and other staff said that will be handled case by case through police and code enforcement. "We're going to be looking at it on a case-by-case basis," Wanko said.

After public comment and staff responses, the commission voted to recommend approval. The motion carried with the usual voice vote; no roll-call tally was taken.

The amendment will next go to the Dickinson City Commission for final consideration.

The record shows the city notified 26 auto repair shops and property owners within 300 feet; staff said it received about 12 phone inquiries during the outreach period and one caller who opposed the change. City staff recommended approval.

Notes and next steps: city staff recommended owners of properties currently using screening to consult with planning staff before removing any screening, because whether a fence or screen can be removed depends on site-specific details and whether vehicles are guaranteed to be on site for less than 21 days. Burczyk recommended a pre-application meeting for any affected business seeking clarity.