CHSartworkJamestown (CSi)   The Spiritwood Township Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a zoning change and building permit for the planned CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant.

The building permit fee was capped at $250,000.

CHS is reviewing bids for site preparation work and could start work in a few weeks. Construction work cannot start until the property tax incentives receive final approval from the Stutsman County Commission in the next two months.

Earlier, the Stutsman Property Tax Negotiation Committee agreed Monday that CHS fertilizer plant in Spiritwood will make a $3.23 million payment in lieu of taxes each year for 20 years after the plant becomes operational.

The plant will be the largest property taxpayer in North Dakota when its finished, even with a 20-year tax incentive.

Based on an estimated value of $900 million for the plant and the current mill rates the full property taxes, would total about $9.7 million per year.

The Jamestown/ Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC), will rebate $233,000 to CHS each year as an incentive for 20 years, and then would not be eligible for any other economic development funds from the JSDC.

CHS announced Friday it was moving forward with the construction of the $3 billion fertilizer plant after almost two years of planning. The plant will convert natural gas into nitrogen farm fertilizer.