Planning commission recommends approval for Renaissance projects, plats, rezoning and a home-based grooming permit

The Dickinson City Planning and Zoning Commission on July 9, 2025 recommended approval of multiple land-use actions including two Renaissance Zone rehabilitation requests, final and minor subdivision plats, a rezoning and a home-based business permit.

Steve Josephson, city/county planner, told commissioners staff recommended approval of the Renaissance Zone request for 716 Villard Street — a rehabilitation project by Ludwig and Jones LLC, dba Pop Soda Shack — and described the project as exceeding the city's assessed true value, justifying an eight-year tax-exemption request. Commissioner Chamber moved to recommend approval; the commission approved the recommendation in a roll-call vote in which six members voted aye and Chairman Friedrich abstained.

Natalie Burczyk, city planner, presented a final major subdivision plat for Jolfe Acres (approximately 26.467 acres in the city’s extraterritorial zone). She said staff received no public comments and recommended approval; commissioners moved and recommended the final plat.

Josephson also presented a second Renaissance Zone rehabilitation application for 1500 Villard Street West, where the applicants plan a roughly 6,000-square-foot shop and an estimated $1 million in improvements. Staff and commissioners voiced support and the commission recommended approval (Commissioner Decker abstained by phone).

Burczyk briefed commissioners on two related items for property owned by the Schmidt applicant: a final minor subdivision plat (FLP-006-2025) and a companion rezoning request (REZ-005-2025) to change a portion of the site from general commercial/agriculture to rural residential to allow a primary residence on the subdivided lot. Staff recommended approval of both items and the commission recommended both actions.

The commission also recommended approval of SUP-003-2025, a special-use permit amendment allowing a home-based dog-grooming business at 270 Dakota Place. Applicant Kaylee Brewer described appointment-only service and said prior operations produced no complaints; staff and the commission recommended approval subject to the conditions in the staff report.

Finally, commissioners voted to recommend approval of ZTA-002-2025, a zoning-text amendment that would increase the minimum lot area in agricultural zoning districts from 5 acres to 10 acres. Natalie Burczyk said existing substandard lots would be grandfathered, and staff recommended the change to better align Dickinson’s development rules with other local regulations.

No formal appeals or substantive public opposition were recorded during the hearings for the voted items. Several work-session topics (including proposed lot-modification code changes and a separate presentation on backyard chickens) were discussed but returned to staff for further research and possible future hearings.

Copies of the staff reports and the record of the motions are retained in the Planning Department file for the July 9, 2025 meeting. The commission adjourned after completing the regular agenda.