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Williston commission approves conditional sale and $300,000 TIF cap for Bakken Heights development
Summary
The Williston Board of City Commissioners approved a revised Bakken Heights development plan and several related documents on Oct. 14, including a $300,000 tax-increment financing cap, a developer agreement and a prorated purchase agreement for 6.14 acres — actions that passed mostly on 3-1 votes.
The Williston Board of City Commissioners on Oct. 14 approved a revised development plan for Bakken Heights and approved related documents that together allow construction of multiunit housing on a reduced redevelopment footprint.
Commissioner E. Ward Koeser, president of the Board of City Commissioners, led discussion on the plan, which reduces the earlier proposal to about 6.14 acres and caps tax-increment financing (TIF) at $300,000 over seven years. The package approved on motions by Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl included a finding of necessity (Resolution 08-22), a developer agreement with a $300,000 cap, a prorated purchase agreement for the lot ($58,259) and creation of Water, Sewer & Street Improvement District 08-3 (Resolution 08-23).
Why it matters: city staff and Star Fund proponents said the scaled-back plan is intended to speed construction of rental housing where demand is high. City Auditor John Kautzman told the commission the reduced TIF moves the project from an initial 17-acre/ larger subsidy plan to a smaller, time-limited commitment intended to spur two 36-unit apartment buildings first, with an option for later phases.
The board split on the package. The key approvals carried 3-1, with Commissioner H. James Lawson voting no. Bekkedahl, Klug and Koeser voted aye; Lawson registered objections about aspects of the plan and its financial terms. Koeser abstained on an earlier unrelated sale to Williston Ventures due to a family connection; that abstention was recorded separately.
Details of the plan presented to the commission itemized estimated site clearing and infrastructure work: demolition/site clearing ($50,000); storm, sanitary and water service ($110,000); curb, apron and overlay work ($65,000); contingency and interest allowance ($35,000); engineering and general conditions; and a bond administration fee. The TIF structure limits the city’s commitment to a seven-year, $300,000 cap and includes special-assessment backstops should incremental flows fall short, the staff memo states.
Next steps: the purchase agreement and developer agreement were approved conditioned on plan refinements and standard recording/closing steps. The commission also granted a one-year option extension on a separate Lot 3 to the developer.
The commission met in executive session later in the evening to discuss an economic development item and then adjourned.
