Dickinson commission approves multiple rezones, PUD amendment and SUP; Heart River rezone passes despite protest petition
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Summary
The commission approved several land-use measures Dec. 16, including Ordinance 18-40 (Heart River 4th rezone from R1 to R2), a Saint Joe's Plaza PUD amendment, multiple final plats and a home-based flower shop SUP. Staff noted a protest petition for Heart River signed by roughly 23% of adjacent owners, raising the passage threshold to 75% support; the ordinance passed 4–1.
The Dickinson City Commission on Dec. 16 considered and approved a package of land-use actions including rezonings, a PUD amendment, final plats and a special use permit.
City Planner Natalie Birchak presented the Heart River 4th rezone request (Ordinance 18-40) to change lots 32–36 of Block 1 from R1 (low-density residential) to R2 (medium-density), allowing construction of three 4-unit multifamily buildings (12 units). Birchak told commissioners the application drew multiple letters of opposition from adjacent owners and a protest petition signed by roughly 23% of property owners within 150 feet, which by code elevated the required commission support for passage from 50% to 75%. Birchak recommended approval, citing consistency with the updated future land use map prepared by KLJ that designates the lots as high-density residential and noting stormwater and infrastructure concerns generally are addressed at the plat/permit stage rather than at the rezone stage. After second reading, the commission adopted Ordinance 18-40 (vote recorded as four ayes, one no).
The commission also adopted the Saint Joe’s Plaza PUD amendment (Ordinance 18-41) to allow continued restaurant and retail uses and to clarify parking maintenance responsibilities along 7th Street West; staff said the city and the property owner are negotiating a snow-removal agreement and will finalize terms soon.
Other rezones and plats approved included Westridge 4th (Ordinance 18-45, contingent on FLP-014-2025), Saks Motor rezone and accompanying final minor subdivision (REZ-010-2025, FLP-013-2025), and Diamond subdivision and associated rezones/plat approvals. Staff referred multiple approvals to companion plats as required and noted some approvals contained conditions (for example, notes preventing future administrative lot modifications).
Planner Birchak flagged a question raised by commissioners about state assessment rules that cause some vacant residential lots to be taxed as commercial. She said that appears to stem from state Century Code and offered to research and report back to commissioners with statutory citations.
The commission also approved a special use permit (Resolution 55-2025) for a home-based flower arranging business at 1896 1st Street West with standard conditions limiting hours to 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Saturday and requiring reapplication on ownership change; applicants told the commission most sales are online with deliveries and few pickups.
Votes on the ordinances and resolutions were taken during second readings or final passage; the meeting record shows recorded ayes and a single dissent (Mister Riddle) on at least one rezoning-related assessment vote. No appeals or legal challenges were filed during the meeting.
