FAIRMONT– A joint work session between the Fairmont City Council, Planing Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals was held Monday evening at the Southern Plains Educational Campus. The intention of the meeting was to go over the zoning code update, which is being done with help from MSA Consulting.

An initial kickoff meeting between the four parties was held in July. Since then, MSA has met and done some work with city staff.

On Monday Michael Lamb with MSA went over results of a continuum survey which was handed out at the meeting in July. He said the results showed some larger issues which they wanted to receive confirmation on. These include the belief that zoning codes should prioritize business-friendly development and that the city should include zoning districts that allow a mix of uses.

Another finding in the survey was that many people said the zoning code enforcement can be confusing and hard to follow.

Fairmont City Administrator Cathy Reynolds had previously said that the city was undergoing the zoning code update in order to simplify it and make it easier for everyone–both staff and community members– to understand.

As conversation got started, it was asked whether it’s best to map code to the past or to where it’s desired for the city to go in the future in terms of development.

“I think what we want to try to do is get the districts the way we feel like they best serve the community. Then we’ll go to the map,” said Lamb.

Residential districts were discussed, which Lamb said they split into city districts and lake residential.

Concerns about lot sizes for lake residential was discussed. Lamb pointed out that there’s not much lot space on the lakes that can be developed. He said there’s some on the western side of Amber Lake and some on Lake Sisseton that is owned by the city.

Council Member Randy Lubenow said that it seems like a lot of lake front property has parks on it. While he said no one is likely interested in removing a park and making it a residential area, it does limit development on lake front land.

“When you develop new areas, what do you want to see in that area, what character do you want in that area,” Lubenow said.

Mixed use neighborhoods were also discussed. Lamb highlighted some between Prairie Avenue and Lair Road and Albion Avenue and Hall Street.

“To me, this is a pretty nuanced location in your city… it has a specific context… it has very sensitive environmental relationships,” Lamb said.

However, he said it’s the same zoning used on State Street and suggested the zoning there be recalibrated.

Switching gears to potential residential districts, Lamb said there’s some distinction between lake front 1, which is greater than 15,000 sq. ft. and lake front 2, which is smaller than 15,000 sq. ft. He also mentioned lake side district and lake side mixed use.

Lot sizes on lake property were discussed. City Planner and Zoning Official, Peter Bode, said that smaller lots are preferred as they allow for more types of uses but noted that the DNR prefers larger lots.

“If we amend any part of our zoning code that has to do.. with any of the lake lots, not only does the DNR get to comment on it, they have to approve it,” Bode said.

Lamb said for existing development, they want to come up with code that’s more in tune with what’s there.

Council Member Britney Kawecki said the largest complaint she hears is that people want to be able to understand the code and she thinks the most important thing is simplifying the code so that there aren’t any more questions about it.

There was also conversation about how to make the community, and businesses along the way, more walkable.

Lamb said that there are areas in Fairmont that are very walkable, and some areas that are not. He noted that the White Tail Ridge development recently had sidewalks installed.

“You have a lot of good things going on. Let’s polish up the good stuff and make the stuff that’s marginal, better. There are a lot of good things about how Fairmont is developed. The chain of lakes is a unique physical context,” Lamb said.

Downtown Plaza was discussed. Lamb called it pedestrian focused and orientated and said that there’s some development that could be done there.

The term business flex was used in context with Bixby Road. The area is industrial, but also includes some homes and hotels.

“That area we think could benefit from being a little more flexible,” Lamb said.

Chris Janson with MSA shared some scenarios of businesses that could work in that area.

“Finding something that meets what the comp plan envisioned and also allows some flexibility, we’re going in that direction,” Janson said.

In summary, Lamb said they will continue to focus on defining city mixed use district as well as work on the commercial corridor and plans for Downtown Plaza.

“We’ll use words that represent what that district is doing,” Lamb said.

Lamb said that next step is to continue to work with staff and then come back to the group for another update, hopefully by the 4th of July