Fargo board denies Horizon Holdings’ bid to reopen appeal of Microsoft building permits

The Fargo Board of Adjustment on Nov. 6 affirmed staff’s decision not to schedule a proceeding on an earlier appeal by Horizon Holdings LLP, ruling the company lacked standing and that its challenge to permits tied to Microsoft’s Commons Building was untimely.

Nicole Crutchfield, Fargo’s planning director, told the board the city treated the campus parcel as a unified development for permitting and relied on the Land Development Code provisions that limit appeals to the person “having legal authority” — typically the record owner, purchaser or a duly authorized agent. Crutchfield said staff concluded Horizon was not the authorized party to appeal permits issued to the 4550 42nd Street South parcel.

Corey Kallstrom, counsel for Horizon Holdings, told the board Horizon owns 3900 Great Plains Drive and argued the city had applied the wrong code section in declining to hear Horizon’s earlier appeal. Kallstrom said Microsoft’s…