West Fargo commission approves first reading to rezone Wilds parcel for Hope Lutheran church amid neighborhood traffic objections

The West Fargo City Commission voted 4-0 on July 21 to approve the first reading of an ordinance rezoning about 12 acres in the Wilds development so Hope Lutheran Church may build on the site, following a public hearing that drew more than a half‑dozen neighbors who warned the project would increase traffic and pose safety risks on local streets.

Aaron Nelson, West Fargo director of planning and zoning, told the commission the applicant seeks to rezone the subject property from agricultural (A) to R‑1A (single‑family residential) and to plat it as a single 12‑acre lot with frontage on Ninth Street West. Nelson said the R‑1A district allows religious institutions by right and that the application carried a recommendation of approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Nelson described the proposed access arrangements: two restricted driveway connections onto Ninth Street West aligned with 50th Avenue West and Mulberry Lane, and a planned southbound left‑turn lane at the Mulberry/Ninth intersection that must be installed before any certificate of occupancy is issued, as detailed in the subdivision development agreement included in the commission packet. He also said the applicant intends to acquire an easement from the adjacent property owner to add a third driveway connection to Sixth Street West and that a 30‑foot public trail and utility easement would run along the south side of the plat to allow future connectivity. The park district told staff it does not need land from the site and the applicant will pay cash in lieu of dedication.

Representing the applicant, Brian Berg of Zurburg Architects said neighbors’ comments from earlier meetings were incorporated into the conceptual plan, including additional tree screening. “There was input that was very valuable from those meetings that was taken into consideration,” Berg said. He said the proposed lot would include about 400 parking spaces and that the church’s traffic consultant expects peak traffic primarily during Sunday mornings and some Wednesday evenings.

Several residents testified in opposition, focusing on the proposed access to Sixth Street West, the scale of the church parking lot relative to local roads and the anticipated effect on children walking and biking in the neighborhood. “There’s gonna be way more traffic on 40 Eighth and Sixth,” said Thomas Moe, a nearby resident, who added that he and his grandchildren frequently walk in the area. Joel Morris, who lives on Sixth Street West, said Sixth has historically been expected to remain a local, low‑traffic street and said the proposed plan would push vehicles through residential blocks rather than onto major roads.

Other speakers echoed those concerns. Jackie Morris said the church’s events would not be limited to Sundays and Wednesdays and cited funerals, weddings and concerts as additional sources of traffic. Greg Kaiser noted that parking lots of the size proposed are typically placed on multi‑lane roads, which are not present adjacent to this site. Several speakers asked the commission to require access be limited to Ninth Street West or to relocate the church to a parcel fronting 50 Second Avenue or other arterial streets.

Commissioners probed what the first reading would permit. Nelson emphasized that the commission’s action that night was on the rezoning ordinance’s first reading, not final approval of a site plan. If the rezoning and the subdivision plat are approved after the second reading, Nelson said the city would have granted the entitlements necessary for the applicant to apply for building permits; meeting applicable zoning, fire and building codes would then allow administrative approval of a building permit without an additional public hearing unless additional entitlements were required. Nelson said the subdivision agreement and final plat review will be considered alongside the second reading of the ordinance at the next meeting.

Commissioner Olson said he struggled with the proposed Sixth Street egress and indicated support for a condition removing that access; other commissioners asked staff whether conditions could be added to the subdivision agreement before final approval. City legal counsel and staff explained that certain conditions can be written into the subdivision agreement, which will be before the commission at the second reading and final plat stage.

A motion to approve the first reading of the rezoning ordinance was made and seconded; the commission recorded a 4‑0 vote in favor, with one commissioner recorded as recused. The final reading of the ordinance and the subdivision approvals are scheduled for the commission’s August 4 meeting.

Why it matters: approval of the first reading moves the rezone forward but does not guarantee the church’s final site design. Final plat approval, any subdivision agreement conditions and the administrative building‑permit review will determine whether the proposed Sixth Street access is allowed and whether other design changes will be required.