Planning commission discusses tighter industrial surfacing rules to limit dust and tracking

At a Nov. 12, 2025 work session, City Planner Natalie Burczyk briefed the City of Dickinson Planning and Zoning Commission on industrial off‑street parking and circulation surfacing allowed under the municipal code and on potential code updates to limit dust and tracking.

Burczyk explained the code currently allows crushed concrete, scoria and similar finishes for rear‑yard vehicle circulation areas in LI and GI districts if approved by the city administrator. She said those surfaces can generate dust that blows into adjacent properties and public rights‑of‑way, and cited recurring complaints in the Villard and east‑side areas. Staff's preliminary review identified roughly 52 properties within city limits using unfinished scoria or similar materials.

Burczyk compared Dickinson's current allowances to other North Dakota cities: Bismarck generally requires paved hard surfaces for off‑street parking and circulation; Watford City requires an all‑weather surfacing or chip‑seal finish such as compacted asphalt or a dust palliative; Grand Forks requires a 50‑foot paved entrance to private gravel yards to reduce tracking onto public streets. Based on those examples, staff suggested options including (1) require all‑weather surfacing or chip seal within city limits, (2) require a 50‑foot paved drive aisle at yard entrances, or (3) adopt a phase‑in compliance program (staff estimated ~52 affected properties if a ban were imposed citywide).

Commissioners asked about complaint volume and enforcement. Staff and others said complaint counts are low (staff described one recurring complaint) but acknowledged repeated concerns about dust from specific industrial areas (Dickinson Ready Mix and West Villard). Commissioners expressed reluctance to retroactively force compliance on dozens of existing large industrial yards because retrofit costs could be substantial; they favored a practical requirement such as a 40–50‑foot paved approach from the public road to reduce tracking and asked staff to return with draft ordinance language for December or January consideration.

The commission also discussed dust suppression methods and cautioned against magnesium or calcium chloride in city limits because those products can leave sticky residues that track onto pavement. Staff said they would compare approaches (full pavement requirement, chip‑seal with dust palliative, or paved entrance requirement) and report back with options for an ordinance and an implementation timeline.

Next steps: staff will draft ordinance options and an implementation strategy (including potential two‑year compliance timelines) for a future meeting; commissioners indicated these options could be discussed in December or January.