West Fargo panel recommends rezoning, subdivision for Hope Lutheran church site

The West Fargo Planning and Zoning Commission on a voice vote recommended approval of a subdivision and rezoning application from A (Agricultural) to R1A (single-family) to allow a 1-lot future church site for Hope Lutheran.

The recommendation follows staff findings that religious institutions are a permitted use in R1A and that the proposed plat complies with applicable subdivision standards and provides a 30-foot trail easement to support future shared-use path connectivity. The commission’s approval was conditioned on a signed public dedication agreement and a signed subdivision development agreement prior to final plat approval.

Why it matters: The change clears the way for a church facility on a roughly 12-acre parcel in the south half of Section 31, Township 139 North, Range 49 West. Neighbors raised concerns about lost property tax revenue, traffic impacts on Ninth Street West, and lighting and landscaping adjacent to nearby homes.

Residents and staff comments Thomas Moe, a nearby resident, said the community worried about property-tax implications and described neighbors’ views that single-family homes would produce more tax revenue: “Whereas the church, got nothing against churches generally, but they won't pay property taxes, of course.”

Dan Hansen, city engineer for West Fargo, told the commission the church had already purchased the land and that the city’s role is to review the proposed plat and rezoning. “So, to answer the gentleman's question, the church already owns the property,” Hansen said, adding that no tax value was being generated in the interim because of the current ownership.

Traffic and site design concerns also figured prominently. Dave Perkins, a resident living directly west of the site, said his “biggest concern is specific to the traffic on Wednesday nights and Sundays, but also on nights they have weddings and, funerals.” He requested careful design of ingress and egress given nearby school traffic and a predominantly two-lane Ninth Street West.

Brian Berg of Rosenberg Architects, working with Hope Lutheran, described site changes intended to reduce stacking and neighborhood impact: “We actually moved the parking lot to the east side of the property…there's almost 600 feet of driveway to get to the parking lot,” allowing queuing off Ninth Street, he said. Berg also said the church supports installation of a southbound left-turn lane from Ninth Street West into the site as a condition before occupancy.

Landscaping, lighting and parkland dedication Staff reported that the plat includes a 30-foot easement along the south side and that the West Fargo Park District had not yet provided its preference for land dedication or cash in lieu pending a later meeting. Staff noted parking-lot landscaping requirements for breaks in runs of more than 20 spaces and said the applicant indicated willingness to plant trees and expand green space beyond the minimum easement where feasible.

Commission action and next steps A motion to recommend approval was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff will incorporate required improvements, including the left-turn lane and the public dedication agreement, into the subdivision development agreement to be completed before final plat consideration.

The public-hearing record includes written comments attached to the agenda packet and one comment submitted after packet distribution; staff provided those comments to the applicant and commissioners prior to the vote.

Less urgent detail: The public hearing and site review steps will continue; the final plat and any required construction agreements must be completed before issuance of a certificate of occupancy.