City planning staff and the owner of the parcel asked the Minot Planning Commission on Dec. 2 to recommend approval of a preliminary plat and a zoning map amendment that would move part of an R-3B multiple-residence parcel into C-1 neighborhood commercial. The commission voted to recommend approval to the City Council.

City staff described the proposal as a housekeeping replat that realigns a commercial lot and separates an existing residential lot so that commercial parcels are consolidated and the multifamily dwelling occupies a single residential lot. City staff told the commission the plat "will bring all of the commercial onto a single lot and bring all of the residential to have its own lot," and recommended the commission adopt staff findings and recommend approval to the council.

Matt Watney, who identified himself as representing 5 Star Holdings, the property owner, said the replat is intended to "clean it up" and make the site more marketable for future rehabilitation. Watney said the property includes a more-than-100-year-old commercial building and a duplex, and that owners have invested about "$90,000 into the property in the last six, seven years." He said the change will reduce five lots to two — one residential and one commercial — which he and staff said is necessary to enable renovation and future sale or redevelopment.

No members of the public spoke against the application during the public hearing. After discussion, Vice Chair Baumann moved to approve the application based on staff recommendations and findings of fact; Commissioner Kibler seconded. The commission recorded roll-call votes and the motion carried.

The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Minot City Council for a final decision on the zoning map amendment and approval of the preliminary plat.