Commission approves commercial self‑storage at 1900 Highway 2/52 Bypass West with landscaping, lighting conditions

The Minot Planning Commission on June 3 approved a conditional use permit for a commercial self‑storage facility at the former Casa Motel site, located at 1900 Highway 2 and the 52 Bypass West. The applicant is Landon Ball on behalf of Evergreen Storage LLC.

City staff presented a preliminary site plan and photos of the site, noting that the parcel is zoned C-2 (General Commercial) and that neighboring uses include a mobile home community and other commercial districts. Staff recommended approval with conditions including: submission and approval of a landscaping plan meeting LDO buffering requirements (20‑foot landscaped buffer along the rear property line adjacent to residences, 10‑foot street tree planting along the front), a stormwater management plan approved by the engineering department, a site plan approved by community development and engineering, and access locations to be approved by the city engineer. Staff also noted sidewalks are not required in this area.

Vice Chair Baumann and other commissioners asked whether the last remaining mobile home on the property was occupied; staff said it was vacant. Commissioners also raised concerns about light trespass; staff said the city has a light trespass ordinance enforced by the police department and that a lighting plan with shielding is required as part of site plan review. Staff explained buffer‑yard planting requirements include coniferous trees spaced approximately every 20 feet along the rear property line to reduce year‑round light and noise impacts.

Applicant Landon Ball told the commission he would remove the existing trees and the vacant Casa Motel building and redevelop the parcel for self‑storage, and asserted the redevelopment would be an improvement over the current condition of the site. No members of the public spoke in opposition at the hearing. Commissioners voted to approve the conditional use permit based on staff findings and recommendations; the motion passed on a roll call vote.

The approval is conditioned on submittal and approval of landscaping and stormwater plans, site plan approval by community development and engineering, city engineer approval of access points, and the restriction of buffering to adjacent residential properties as required by the LDO.