Williston commission backs 10-year Renaissance Zone extension, 4-1

The Williston City Commission voted 4-1 on July 28 to approve the city’s application to the North Dakota Department of Commerce for a 10-year extension of the Renaissance Zone, a tax-abatement program aimed at encouraging renovation and reuse of older buildings.

Kent Jarcik, the city planner, told commissioners the zone currently covers 34 blocks and has induced $20,778,534 in building-value increases over the past two decades. "By putting value back into the building and adding to the valuation of the building it substantially increases the tax base to the city in the future," Jarcik said. Projects in the zone currently contribute about $321,696 in annual property taxes; Jarcik said that will rise to $352,277 once two active exemptions roll off.

Commissioner Clark questioned the net fiscal return and said he was concerned about including one noncontiguous island in the zone; Clark cast the lone negative vote. Commissioner Bekkedahl urged keeping the application moving and argued the program has produced local investment and jobs. Mayor Cory Swint, who previously served on the zone board, said the program had helped keep a struggling facility open and supported the extension.

The commission’s motion — made by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Siemieniewski — directs staff to proceed with the application. The city and the Renaissance Zone Committee will continue work this fall and winter to review potential zoning modifications in the southeast corner of downtown before any individual projects seek approvals.