Despite some lingering concerns, commissioners determined the zoning, subdivision and condition use requests met ordinance requirements in approving Islandview Estate on a 3-2 vote.

The commission had tabled the development in September and asked for another review by the Ward County Planning Commission, which originally approved it, due to concerns about road access and drinking water supply. The project came back from the planning commission review with no recommendation.

Ariston Johnson, representing developer SHK Holdings, told the commission its questions and concerns had been answered and resolved.

“There is no reason – no real reason – under your ordinance or otherwise, to deny these applications,” Johnson said. “SHK Holdings has followed the rules. We’re asking this board to do the same – to follow the rules and approve these applications, even if there are some concerns by one neighboring landowner or other people who don’t have property or a dog in the fight that come here to speak against us. The right thing to do when we follow the rules is to follow your own rules.”

Jill Schramm/MDN Ward County Planning and Zoning Administrator Beth Pietsch points out road access on a map of the proposed Islandview Estate development at the Ward County Commission meeting Tuesday, Nov. 4, as she and County Engineer Dana Larsen, left, take questions from commissioners.

He said there is no requirement in the zoning ordinance that the development have piped-in water rather than utilize wells, he said. However, he noted, the rural water district is interested in serving the lots and is studying the practicality. Some Rice Lake neighbors previously raised questions about the aquifer’s ability to handle more wells.

Another concern has been a roadway platted on the south side of six lots instead of the north side, causing the lots to abut farmland on the north. The farmer had requested a road as a barrier to avoid residential complaints about agricultural dust, noise and chemicals, but the developer instead suggested a 5-foot buffer and erection of fences by future, neighboring residents.

Neighboring farmer Delos Haugen called the 5-foot buffer inadequate.

Commissioner Ron Merritt voiced concern about conflicts between the farmer and residents.

“If it meets the requirements of our zoning, it is what it is. But I still don’t like it,” he said.

Commission Chairman John Fjeldahl argued the county’s comprehensive plan calls for minimizing land use conflicts within the Rice Lake Recreational District.

State’s Attorney Roza Larson responded the commission needs to balance a 5-foot buffer against considerably more land that would need to be taken for a road. She also said the commission would need to find ordinance violations in the development plan to justify denying the applications.

Fjeldahl sought to disregard an omission in the zoning ordinance of a provision requiring municipal water service in Rice Lake Recreation District. However, Larson responded the commission’s approval of the ordinance rewrite with the inadvertent omission effectively removed the requirement.

Fjeldahl and Merritt voted against the applications, while Jason Olson, Jim Rostad and Miranda Schuler voted in support. Even with the vote, the commission indicated a need to consider the creation of a second access road for emergency and other purposes due to the growth of the Rice Lake area.

Johnson said there is no county rule requiring Islandview Estate to create a secondary access.

“The access is as good as it can possibly get, given the terrain of that area,” he said.

John Pietsch, rural Minot, explored potential options with the commission for secondary access roads.

State’s Attorney Roza Larson said road options would need to be discussed with the township because many of the roads are township roads.

“This discussion about whether we need an access road today or not, eventually – if not now – it has to happen just for public safety,” Fjeldahl said. “I think now is the time these discussions have to happen.”

County employees conduct food drive

Ward County employees are conducting a food drive over the next couple of weeks, particularly to help people in the county struggling during the government shutdown.

Kristi Frederick, Ward County Human Service Zone director, told Ward County commissioners Tuesday, Nov. 4, the number of people seeking services has increased since the shutdown began. She said employee donations from the drive will be distributed among the 10 food pantries in the county.

Although it is a county employee drive, the public is welcome to contribute to collection boxes in the Ward County Administration Building.