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Council approves two Renaissance Zone final applications; one vote draws dissent over program flaws
Summary
The Minot City Council granted final approval to two five-year Renaissance Zone property-tax benefit applications on March 17. One case, a long-delayed application tied to work begun in 2013, prompted criticism and a 5–2 vote; a nearby fitness-and-training rehab won approval 6–1 after public testimony.
Minot — The Minot City Council granted final approval on March 17 to two Renaissance Zone applications that provide five-year property-tax benefits for rehabilitation of commercial properties, but one measure drew sharp criticism from council members over how the Renaissance Zone program has been used and monitored.
Final approval for case M‑71 (James Ryan), a rehabilitation project at 8 4th Street NE, passed 5–2. Council members Scott Fuller and Alderman Samuelson cast the dissenting votes. The M‑71 application was originally given conditional approval in 2013; staff said the file showed conditional approval then but the state did not finalize the project and the applicant resumed and completed work more recently. City staff stated the project is now complete and eligible for final approval.
City assessor testimony and fiscal effect City staff recommended granting a reduction in taxable value that, according to assessment notes, would have been $80,000 in 2014 based on the original scope. Staff said applying today’s full exemption rules would amount to roughly $184,000 in reduction, but recommended the historical $80,000 reduction for the final approval. The assessor told the council the five‑year property-tax revenue foregone from the $80,000 reduction is about $13,000.
Alderman Scott Fuller told the council he does not support the Renaissance Zone program as currently applied: “The Renaissance Zone, I just do not believe should be something that we use for economic development, giving away property tax and make someone else make the rest of us make up for it. So I...will be voting no,” Fuller said.
By contrast, case M‑100, a five‑year benefit requested by Michael and Rachel (Spectrum Fitness) for rehabilitation and the addition at 1915 N. Broadway, drew a public supporter who described the project’s job‑training and statewide benefits. Kyler Collum, an employee of Spectrum Fitness, urged approval, saying the renovation “has revitalized the building, front to back” and expanded a massage‑school program for the region. The council approved M‑100, 6–1 (Alderman Samuelson dissenting).
Council discussion and next steps Council members and staff discussed a handful of older Renaissance Zone applications approved after the 2011 flood that have uneven completion records. Staff said several similar older cases remain unresolved and offered to consult state officials and return with options for closing out or revising those matters. A council member suggested setting a uniform deadline for older cases to be completed (staff indicated projects approved after 2021 have a three‑year completion deadline under the updated Renaissance Zone development plan; older cases were “grandfathered” without a deadline).
Ending The council approved both final applications at the March 17 meeting. Staff said it will follow up with the state and present recommendations on how to resolve or tighten oversight for remaining older Renaissance Zone files.
