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Grand Forks leaders discuss tax-incentive rules and Ray Richards rezoning
Summary
City Council Vice President Danny Weigel told a podcast the city is reviewing tax-incentive procedures and an upcoming rezoning for the Ray Richards golf course; he said incentives make sense where the city currently collects little or no property tax and noted rezoning requires a six-vote supermajority.
City Council Vice President Danny Weigel said the council is reviewing how Grand Forks evaluates tax-incentive requests and is considering rubrics from economic-development partners as rezoning moves forward for the Ray Richards golf course.
On the City Chatter podcast, Bernstein asked about companies seeking "10 year" or "20 year" pilot tax incentives; Weigel said the EDC and chamber may develop rubrics to guide what types of incentives the city should offer. He noted many candidate parcels—especially state-owned property or unannexed land—currently generate "$0" in property tax, and that even a partial tax incentive can increase collections where none existed before.
Weigel also discussed the Ray Richards golf course rezoning now before the council, saying the university and developers have met neighbors and that planned road work (grade separation at DeMers and 42nd) makes the timing opportune. He emphasized the tension between owners’ development rights and neighbors’ property interests, noting rezoning decisions require a supermajority ("at least 6") on the council, which can make approvals difficult.
Weigel credited the planning department for including the golf course in a Planned Unit Development to preserve much of the course while allowing some new uses. No formal rezoning vote was recorded on the podcast; the item is moving through the regular public-review process with additional hearings expected in February.
