Grand Forks County Commission approves zoning changes near Grand Forks Air Force Base – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks County Commission voted Tuesday to approve zoning changes to help two property owners near Grand Forks Air Force Base.

The commission voted 3-2 to change some permitted uses of the airfield reserve area to special uses, potentially allowing property owners to overcome obstacles they have faced in real estate transactions. The two properties in question are in the airfield conservation area and are legal anomalies. For the Dahl family and the Wilkerson family, the designation means they can’t sell their property.

and they hope to be reassigned to a reserve area that has fewer restrictions.

Robert Wilkerson told the County Commission that he has had numerous sales failures because potential property owners were unable to obtain mortgages and title insurance.

“All we’re asking is that they give us a permitted use in the zoning (district) so we can legally sell it without losing the value of the home,” Wilkerson said. “(The special use permit) won’t solve anything because it’s going to be the same problem right now.”

It is likely that if Wilkerson and Dahl’s holdings were transferred to another area, many problems could be solved. The ordinance changes approved by the commission — changing some permitted uses to special uses — came after Grand Forks Air Force Base officials expressed concerns about the potential for daycares and long-term care facilities near the base. Air Force told the county commission at Tuesday’s meeting that it would prefer not to change the property’s zoning because it could open a can of worms.

“Our solution would be to allow private residences as a special use in the airfield conservation area,” Capt. Matthew Bowen told the commission. “It would give this county some procedural protection from future development and future development applications.”

Commissioner Mark Rustad said the example scenarios and situations provided by the Air Force were unlikely and that such a situation would likely rarely arise again in the future.

“If the Air Force base has strong opinions about the zoning of this property, it should probably demonstrate that compassion in the form of a review to the Wilkerson and Dahl families rather than continue to restrict their ability to sell,” Rustad said.

Commissioner Dave Engen, who opposed the rezoning, said the changes should be reviewed by the Air Force’s top brass.

“We’re fortunate that we have a lot more space here than most people (for a base),” Engen said. “I don’t think it should be changed from a conservation district to a reserve district. I think you should contact the 16th Air Force or Air Combat Command to get a solution.”

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Voigt covers government activities in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.