Cindy Gray

Jamestown, ND (KCSi -T.V. News Sept 19, 2012) – The City of Jamestown is in the process of developing a planning Ordinance, having recently taken public input, and reviewing planning Ordinances in place by other North Dakota cities.

At Tuesday’s Building, Planning & Zoning Committee, the consensus of the committee members was to have a draft of an Ordinance for a review by the committee.

A Jamestown  meeting concerning planning was held Wednesday afternoon (Sept 19, 2012), with members of the Jamestown City Council, Stutsman County Commission, and the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation, with Cindy Gray from SRF Consulting.

Ms. Gray, a planner (American Institute of Certified Planners) with over 27 years of experience, discussed the role of City/County development planning.

Planning topics included:

The North Dakota Century Code and the manner in which it addresses planning and zoning for cities and their extraterritorial area.

The role of planners and the relationship between planning staff and elected officials, planning commissions, citizens, developers, and other city staff or consultants

Comprehensive Plans,

Land Use Planning,

Master Planning of development areas

Zoning

Growth management.

Ms. Gray addressed the potential growth from the planned Cenex Harvest States Spiritwood Nitrogen Project.

She says a challenge is short-term housing for construction workers and the permanent housing for the plant’s staff.

She suggested adding a temporary trailer park or other mobile housing..

Ms. Gray pointed out that the construction workers are more apt to rent a home or apartment while the permanent workers at the plant are more likely to buy homes.

Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen said the city is trying to address the problem of experiencing growth.