West Fargo planning commission recommends denying 118‑unit Cheyenne Riverside rezoning after neighborhood outcry

The West Fargo Planning and Zoning Commission on June 9 voted to recommend denial of a rezoning and subdivision that would allow a 118‑unit apartment development at 1114 Cheyenne Street, following extensive public opposition and questions from commissioners.

Travis Norard, a representative of Enclave Development, told the commission the project had been reduced from an earlier 140‑unit concept to 118 units in response to neighborhood feedback and was designed with stepped building heights and retained trees along the Cheyenne River. “We…drastically reduced the density and the number of homes,” Norard said, and said the developer’s traffic study — delivered the morning of the meeting — estimated the site would generate roughly 46 peak morning and 51 evening trips.

But more than two dozen residents who spoke during the public‑comment period warned the development would worsen traffic and create safety hazards on an already busy Cheyenne Street. “There’s going to be a minimum of 200 cars in that area,” said Dennis Burland, a neighbor. Longtime resident Flora West said she feared repeat of past and potential future traffic tragedies near the school and urged the commission to prioritize safety.

Residents raised other concerns including parking overflow onto surrounding narrow streets, construction‑period disruption, loss of mature trees and wildlife along the river, the visual impact of a four‑story building adjacent to Elmwood Park, uncertainty over potential special assessments for street improvements, and limited notice to many nearby households. Multiple speakers said they did not receive the mailed notice that the city sends within a 150‑foot radius.

Planning staff (Lisa) told the commission the city’s notification requirement is set by state law at 150 feet and that mailed notices plus publication in the Fargo Forum satisfied legal notice; staff also emphasized the current request was for a subdivision and rezoning rather than final site‑plan approval, meaning renderings presented were conceptual. Aaron, the city engineer, noted a center left‑turn lane on Cheyenne and said faded striping will be refreshed as part of a planned restriping project this summer.

Commissioners pressed the developer on snow‑storage, neighborhood outreach, tax incentives and site soils. Norard said the team had conducted soil borings earlier in the year and had spoken preliminarily with West Fargo Public Schools about capacity and with Sanford regarding possible parking access; he also said the developer had discussed a five‑year payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes incentive and that the project would produce more taxes than the current vacant site.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend denial, citing the project’s scale, snow‑removal logistics and traffic concerns; the motion to recommend denial passed on a roll‑call vote of the commission members present.

The commission’s decision is a recommendation to the West Fargo City Commission, which will schedule its own public hearing and final vote. Staff said the city will publish the public‑hearing notice in the Fargo Forum when the city‑commission hearing is scheduled. The applicant may choose to revise the proposal or pursue the rezoning through the city commission public hearing.

What’s next: the city commission will hold a public hearing and render a final decision on the rezoning; the developer has the option to refine the proposal and continue outreach to address traffic, snow‑removal, environmental and neighborhood concerns.