Fargo, North Dakota

Land Development Code
   

For the City of Fargo, Duncan Associates conducted an in-depth diagnosis of the City's existing zoning and subdivision regulations, and then drafted a new land development code which integrated the two existing ordinance. The diagnosis involved a series of interviews with local code users and an independent analysis of the two 40-year old ordinances. Due to shortcomings in existing ordinances, Fargo had long been forced to rely on "use variances," special exceptions and PUDs as its chief tools for guiding development. The new code involved participation from a broad cross-section of the community.

In addition to implementing recommendations from the diagnosis, the new zoning and development standards are based on objective criteria, incorporating many standard conditions of approval that had historically been added on a case-by-case basis. Specific highlights are new tree planting and landscaping standards; a new downtown district; two new neighborhood commercial districts; a new large-lot residential district; a new small-lot residential zoning district; revised regulations for day care centers and home-based businesses; format and organizational revisions designed to make it easier to find relevant provisions; new residential protection standards aimed at high-density residential and nonresidential development near existing residential neighborhoods; revisions designed to ensure consistency with the Fargo Comprehensive Policy Plan; a new institutional zoning category and campus plan approval procedure new "flexible" off-street parking regulations; and revised development review procedures, including a new site plan approval process and minor subdivision procedure.

Period:     January 1996 - January 1998             Contact:    Keith Burkholder
Team:      Duncan Associates                                            former Community Development Director
                                                                                    701.241.1474