The commission’s recommendation to the Minot City Council advances a proposal by Carefree Partners to provide 48 acres west of the U.S. Highway 83 Bypass in northwest Minot for a potential new school at some time in the future.

Separately, the commission tabled a request for a conditional use permit for a men’s recovery house to allow more time to address concerns over lack of suitable parking. The recovery house, operated by the nonprofit Seeds of Eden, is located near downtown Minot, southeast of the former Trinity hospital and south of Providence House’s alcohol treatment facility for women, approved last August.

The property proposed by Carefree Partners for subdividing is agricultural land located west of 1251 30th St. NW and southwest of 3200 19th Ave. NW. The proposal is to divide it into three lots, of which one lot would be donated to Bishop Ryan, leaving the remaining lots for other future development.

Father Jadyn Nelson, president of Bishop Ryan, said there is no timeline for construction of a school.

Jill Schramm/MDN A house at 425 Main St. S. has new use as a men’s recovery house. Seeds of Eden is requesting a permit to expand capacity from six residents to 12.

“Funding mechanisms for a project of this magnitude are to be determined,” he said. “We have almost a centennial of presence in this community, doing religious education, and so, we look forward to, hopefully, continuing that for another 100 years. One of the things that is important about this property is it does have important proximity to the bypass, and since we don’t have access to transportation bussing, it is important that wherever our school is located is easily accessible to the entire population of Minot and surrounding area. So this is a great property for us, and we feel very fortunate to have people who believe in us, that are willing to, hopefully, make this gift of this land to move the project forward.”

While the property moves on for city council action, the question of a conditional use permit for Seeds of Eden will be back before the planning commission Dec. 5.

The current ordinance allows up to six residents and one staff member in that particular zoning district. The conditional use permit is being sought to accommodate an additional six residents plus staff.

Proposed renovations to the house at 425 Main St. S. include adding seven bedrooms and two bathrooms to the current four bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, according to information provided to the city.

The primary concern of city planning staff is the limited parking. Options to use the parking ramps more than two blocks away or occupy neighborhood spaces on the street aren’t good solutions, said John Van Dyke, Minot’s outgoing principal planner. The operator is exploring the lease of a nearby parking lot from Trinity, prompting the decision to postpone action on the permit request.

Isaiah Keller, a director with Seeds of Eden, said the recovery house provides care coordination, peer support and various behavioral-health related services. Residents are those who have completed treatment.

“These group homes are basically designed to help people just get back on their feet, get back to work, participate in the community and just move forward,” he said. Stays typically are four to six months but can be up to a year, he said.

He said most prospective residents won’t own vehicles, but there are a few parking spaces set aside for residents who earn driving privileges. He indicated the program is open to options when it comes to parking.

“We’re very flexible, so we just appreciate the city kind of working with us on this,” he said.