(WEST FARGO) – A contentious item of discussion in West Fargo got even more contentious Tuesday night at the West Fargo City Commission meeting.
The issues between the City of West Fargo and SheyWest Garden Center came to a head following the Mother’s Day weekend this year. SheyWest held a Mother’s Day weekend event, which was well-attended. The City of West Fargo received several parking complaints, the Commission learned at a June 2024 meeting.
Tuesday’s developments
At Tuesday night’s meeting, the City of West Fargo discussed a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment regarding the center.
Leslie McGillivray-Rivas, Senior Planner at the City of West Fargo, said the original PUD was approved in 2020.
Then, in May of this year, a zoning violation letter was issued.
“The umbrella under the corridor overlay district and light commercial district didn’t permit a few of the things we found on site,” McGillivray-Rivas told the Commission Tuesday night. The items include a banquet and event center, gravel parking and signage.
“The signage is something that was permitted on a temporary basis, but it has reached an expiration point,” she said.
Another issue is site capacity, McGillivray-Rivas said.
She said the Mother’s Day event was concerning.
“There are market events occurring on site,” she said. “Which show they populate the site and paved areas with market vendors.”
Additional, live music and food trucks were at the events, which the City said typically happen from July through September.
Goals of the PUD
McGillivray-Rivas said the goals of the PUD amendment proposed were three-fold – allow a private banquet/party/event center on the site, allow gravel parking and vehicular circulation on the property and allow the illegal signing to temporarily remain on the site until permanent signage is installed.
“The permitted use is currently a greenhouse and plant nursery,” she said.
The private space, under the PUD amendment, would have no more than 50 occupants.
“That number is important because it correlates to our calculation of parking, so it doesn’t become over capacity on site,” McGillivray-Rivas said.
Potential Commission action
The Planning and Zoning Department requested the Commission pass the amendment, which would include an agreement, concept plan and detailed development plan.
McGillivray-Rivas pointed out that the City has ‘other mechanisms’ to support businesses and community needs, including special event permitting. She said that special events permits are currently not required by the City of West Fargo.
“There are several events on our downtown Sheyenne Street that utilize this permitting process,” she said. Any future events including more than three outside vendors would need to seek the permit, McGillivray-Rivas said of the PUD amendment for SheyWest Garden Center.
The greenhouse will also need to be reviewed with the building inspections division of the city to meet the criteria for the new use – the private events center. Additionally, any signage changes would need to be permitted through the city.
Commissioner Roben Anderson inquired regarding enforcement of the venue’s capacity.
“We are looking at the applicant and that facility to respect that cap,” McGillivray-Rivas told Commissioners.
Commission tables agreement
The City Commission ended up tabling the agreement worked on between city staff and SheyWest Garden Center.
Prior to the motion to table the item, Commissioner Anderson made a motion to approve it – which failed due to no commissioner seconding his motion. A second motion, to deny the agreement, also failed for the lack of a second.
In the end, it was Commission President Bernie Dardis who made the motion to table the agreement, seconded by Commissioner Rory Jorgenson. All commissioners, except Brad Olson, voted in favor of tabling the motion.
