Nearly 50 residents gathered at a neighborhood meeting organized by Bob Hale Monday to talk about the proposed project and how they might respond. The Minot Planning Commission tabled the city’s request for a zone change in November and will bring the item back at next Monday’s meeting. Recommendations of the planning commission go to the city council for final action.

Hale told the group the city’s plan will bring the landfill within a half mile of Green Acres and within a third of a mile of Elk Ridge. The city spent $4 million to buy two quarters of land – one south of the existing landfill that extends to 37th Avenue Southwest and one east of the existing landfill that extends to 30th Street Southwest.

Public works officials have stated the city plans over the next 60 years to use only the west half of the quarter to the east, which means landfill activities would not occur within three-quarters of a mile of Green Acres. However, Hale noted the city still owns and plans to rezone that entire property to public use, which leaves open the possibility of garbage storage at some point.

Residents raised a concern that the city’s 2012 comprehensive plan did not identify those properties for a landfill. Thus, the landfill expansion runs counter to the comprehensive plan and brings an unexpected change to their backyards.

Jill Schramm/MDN Residents gather at Somerset Court Monday to listen to information and share thoughts about a landfill expansion.

Concerns also were raised about property devaluation, and Hale predicted a lawsuit would result if the expansion plan advances. He also questioned whether the city should be hosting a regional landfill that close to residential neighborhoods.

“If this is going to be a regional landfill site, let’s get it out into the region,” he said. He advocated filling and closing the existing facility and replacing it with a new landfill farther away. He said the proximity to Trinity Health’s new medical complex on 37th Avenue also would be a concern with the expansion.