West Fargo planning commission approves five‑year conditional use permit for small, enclosed food‑waste composting pilot

The West Fargo Planning and Zoning Commission on a roll‑call vote approved a conditional use permit for a small, enclosed food‑waste composting facility in the city's extraterritorial area, permitting Prairie Compost Services LLC to operate on a temporary basis under written conditions.

The permit, for property described in the application as Section 26, T140N, R50W and addressed approximately north of 19th Avenue on the west side of 20 Sixth Street Northwest, allows a fully enclosed composting system for food waste with conditions intended to limit scale, control nuisances and expire the authorization after five years or upon annexation.

Staff presented the application as a small‑scale, enclosed composting operation intended to accept food waste from homes and businesses and produce soil amendments for local use. Planning staff noted West Fargo ordinances do not explicitly list a small enclosed composting use; staff compared the proposal to other conditionally permitted horticultural and agricultural services and recommended either denial (if considered inconsistent with long‑range plans) or approval with conditions. The packet included a narrative and a site plan showing a concrete pad, temporary arch cover and proposed screening.

Hayden Thompson, who identified himself as a co‑owner of Prairie Compost Services, told…