Burleigh County committee reviews Swenson & Hagen rezoning concept; city, county steps outlined

Consultants for the Swenson and Hagen plan told a Burleigh County committee the proposed rezoning has been delayed about a month because a parcel owned by the State of North Dakota — held by the Department of Corrections and used for drainage — needed an official acknowledgment before the city will finalize the zoning change. "The state of North Dakota owns a parcel that is also being rezoned with you," the consultant said, and added the city can acknowledge the parcel so rezoning can move forward without an applicant signature.

The delay, the consultant said, creates time for a formal pre-application meeting with the City of Bismarck and for county members to review large-format drawings. The consultant offered larger paper copies for committee review and said staff comments from the city will identify issues to be addressed before the preliminary plat is filed.

On design details, the consultant said city staff indicated an east–west right-of-way in the plan would likely require standard city paving (curb and gutter). "We're sort of recommending, hesitantly, somewhere in the 40 to 44 foot wide road for that East West Road," the presenter said, adding that those dimensions are a starting point and could change as the plan is refined. The team also noted a loop heading north on county-owned land might be allowed to remain gravel because the parcel is public and uniquely situated.

Committee members raised questions about how proposed roads would affect existing parking around the Vintage Center West and the Buckstop junction. One committee member asked whether the mapped road alignment would reduce existing parking and whether bus-stop locations should be shown; consultants agreed they could add transit and access details in later iterations.

The consultant emphasized that the current materials are conceptual and are not binding: parking standards and requirements for facilities such as RV parks or temporary fairground uses are typically determined during later site-plan or plat review. "Parking requirement and parking pay, things like that don't come down until there's a site plan much later on," the consultant said.

Next steps identified by staff include compiling committee questions (to be sent by email to the designated contact), presenting the zoning to the City of Bismarck planning commission in March, and presenting the project to the county commission on April 7. The consultant said a preliminary plat will be presented at next month’s meeting with a clearer picture of the proposed layout, and that small adjustments to right-of-way and lot lines can still be made between preliminary and final plat submissions.

The committee accepted the plan to review the drawings and return comments; staff and consultants will prepare the next formal submittal and a list of action items to be ready for the March 19 meeting.