CITY OF BOWMAN MINUTES FOR
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING
HELD ON AUGUST 13, 2024, AT 6:30 PM AT CITY HALL
Attendees: President Ryan Shear, Dave Mosbrucker, Pam Fisher, Mike Beylund, Jory Reisenauer, Peggy Allen and Gordon James. Absent: Bryan Clendenen
Motion by Reisenauer, second by Beylund to approve the agenda as presented. AIF, MC. Motion by Beylund, second by Reisenauer to approve the 6/18/24 Meeting Minutes. AIF, MC.
Gordon James Carport:
James would like to build a carport on the back side of his house. He would back off 5’ off the property line. (The drawing that he presented showed the carport being placed at the alley property line.) Currently the City has no regulations in the Zoning Ordinances on car ports, so this application needed to come before the Zoning Commission. Discussion was held regarding the water run-off going into the neighbor’s property which will go into the neighbor’s flower beds.
Street Superintendent Hofland needs to okay this project, the Commission was okay with this project as long as he backs it off 5’ off the alley and gets approval from the Street Superintendent and his neighbor regarding the water run-off.
Dan Brosz Duplexes:
Brosz is proposing to build four duplexes in the old west Bagley Trailer Court off 3rd Ave SE. He will be utilizing the grant that the Bowman County Development Corporation to clean up the old plumbing and electrical stands from the old trailer court. It will have its own private drive that the City will not be responsible for clearing out snow, it will be an HOA. City Engineer Hewson has been working with Brosz on this project assuring that the storm water will drain correctly. That piece of land will have to be rezoned. There will be one small lot that will be sold and not developed by him because if he put a duplex on it, it would have to face the alley so it would be better for a small house. Motion by Reisenauer, second by Mosbrucker to approve Dan Brosz moving forward with the duplex project. AIF, MC.
Complaint on Repair Businesses in Garages:
Allen had a zoning complaint, and the complainant wants to remain nameless. The complaint was that Calvin Frey (on Saturday’s and Sunday’s) and Rod Redetsky are running a repair business out of their garages. The complainant stated that he himself had to be rezoned years ago to run a repair business out of his garage and he feels that these guys should too. (If he was rezoned years ago, someone changed it during the passing of the new zoning code, because he is also zoned R-1 right now.) The Commission didn’t want any action taken on this.
Data Centers, Crypto Currency Centers, and Solar Grids:
Allen went to Vision West Training in Dickinson and they gave a lot of information on these topics and suggested we get something in our zoning code due to the popularity of these facilities popping up in North Dakota because we have the ideal climate and we are less populated.
Motion by Beylund, second by Fisher to place a moratorium on Crypto Currency Centers, Data Centers and Solar Grids for two years. AIF, MC.
Sheds:
Several sheds are showing up in yards in the City and they need to get a permit. Motion by Reisenauer, second by Beylund to write them a letter giving them 30 days to become compliant or be fined $500.00. AIF, MC. Compliance Officer Chuck Headley will make sure they are anchored and set correctly within their set-backs.
Allen will also send a letter to Dakota West Sheds and Little Missouri Ranch Supply asking them to notify the purchaser that they are required to get a permit.
Zoning Commission and Zoning Administrator Wage:
Shear informed the Commission that the City Commission approved the Zoning Commission to get paid $60.00 a meeting starting January 2025 and the Zoning Administrator getting $300.00 a month starting January 2025. James suggested compensation for the work that has been added onto the auditors for the past 5 years. James suggested McGee would get $200.00 a year and Allen would get $300.00 a year but suggested that the Commissioners think about it and bring their ideas in December for compensation. Motion by Beylund, second by Mosbrucker to table this. AIF, MC.
Discussion was held on why the Zoning Commission’s suggestion for the Zoning Administrator salary wasn’t considered by the City Commission for the 2025 budget.
Donald Kalina Fence Deadline:
Discussion was held regarding the pictures of the project that Officer Snow took. The fence is 7’2” and 8’ 6.5” tall. He previously applied for a variance of 7’ tall for the fence and it was approved. Kalina stated to Officer Snow that he installed a top wooden rail so he can cut down some trees near the fence, so the branches will not fall on top of the fence and damage it. Kalina said he will be taking it down shortly after he cuts the trees the top rail will come down. The zoning Commission would like a letter sent to him to notify him that he is not in compliance. Motion by Mosbrucker, second by Reisenauer to send Don Kalina a letter that he needs to become complaint within 30 days or attend the next zoning meeting on September 10th to explain his non-compliance. He could be subject to the zoning penalty clause. AIF, MC.
Kayla Abrahamson Project that was Questioned:
No one is currently complaining about Abrahamson’s unfinished project. In 2017 she applied for a permit to build a porch and addition put on her house on the backside. The cement was poured, and framing was put up, but it stopped there, it now looks kind of like a pergola with black fabric on one end where she has a hot tub. In 2020 she applied for a different permit to put up a garage and informed us that she abandoned her addition project. The Commission decided to leave it alone as no one complained, it was just brought to the table for discussion by a Commission Member.
Motion by Beylund, second by Mosbrucker to adjourn the meeting, at 7:30 pm. AIF, MC.
