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Planning Commission recommends PUD amendment to test narrower streets in Highlands at North Hill
Summary
The Minot Planning Commission voted to recommend a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment to city council that would allow single-family lots in the final phase of Highlands at North Hill and authorize a pilot reduction in local street widths of at least 3 feet, combined with added pedestrian infrastructure.
May 6, 2025 — The Minot Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve a PUD amendment for the final phase of the Highlands at North Hill subdivision that would convert the subject lots to single-family use and permit a pilot of reduced street widths paired with added pedestrian infrastructure.
City staff told commissioners that the amendment — described in an alternate Exhibit 3 handed out before the meeting — would allow the developer to build single-family residences in the final phase and direct the city’s engineering division to work with the developer "to facilitate a reduction in street width by a minimum of 3 feet." Staff said the narrower cross section would be tested alongside a multi-use path and could serve as a pilot for future subdivision designs.
John Van Dyke, executive director of the Central Dakota Metropolitan Planning Organization, said the 3-foot reduction is what engineering was comfortable with and that other cities have reduced widths even further: "Bismarck has done as much as 7 feet reduction, so effectively eliminating parking on one side of the street." Van Dyke added the narrower streets could yield both upfront construction savings for developers and lower long-term maintenance costs for the city.
When asked about emergency access, city staff said engineering would ensure the cross section provides access for fire and emergency vehicles. "I have every confidence that the city engineer will make sure that the road is constructed in a way that emergency vehicles will always have access," a city staff presenter told the commission.
Several commissioners supported the pilot. Commissioner Baumann thanked staff for negotiating with the developer and said narrowing roads can reduce vehicle speeds and maintenance costs. "Narrower roads are safer roads," Baumann said, praising the staff effort to use the subdivision as a test case.
The commission’s action is a recommendation only; final approval of the PUD amendment will require City Council first and second readings. The Planning Commission voted to adopt staff findings of fact and recommend approval based on the Exhibit 3 alternative. The motion passed in a roll call vote with 10 yes votes.
Next steps: the Planning Commission will forward its recommendation to City Council, which will consider the PUD amendment and the engineering-recommended street design during ordinance procedures.
