City staff proposes landscaping ordinance revisions for Sandhills Industrial Park development

The City of West Fargo Planning and Zoning Commission convened on August 12, 2025, to discuss proposed revisions to the landscaping ordinance, primarily in response to concerns from a property owner in the Sandhills Industrial Park. The meeting aimed to introduce potential amendments that would provide more flexibility and clarity regarding landscaping requirements, particularly for industrial properties adjacent to the interstate.

City staff highlighted that the current landscaping ordinance imposes significant requirements on industrial properties located within overlay zoning districts, which has raised concerns from developers. The proposed changes would create a new tier of landscaping requirements specifically for overlay districts, allowing for an additional plant unit requirement while simplifying the existing tiers. This adjustment aims to better accommodate the unique characteristics of industrial sites, which often have limited space for landscaping due to large buildings and outdoor storage areas.

Further discussions included the need for clarity in defining parking lot requirements, especially for industrial sites that may have different types of parking, such as employee lots versus staging areas for trucks. Staff acknowledged the need for clearer definitions to ensure developers understand their landscaping obligations.

Additionally, the commission discussed the removal of buffer yard requirements between industrial and commercial properties, as many areas in West Fargo feature a mix of these uses. The focus will now be on protecting residential areas from non-residential developments, ensuring that buffer yards are only required when non-residential uses are adjacent to residential zones.

The meeting concluded with staff expressing their intent to refine the proposed amendments based on feedback received, with plans to present a finalized version next month. The ongoing development interest in the Sandhills area, including a new steel company, indicates a growing economic activity that the city aims to support through these revisions.