In the span of a decade, millions of baby boomers will sell their houses and seek out smaller, more maintenance-free places to call home.
With that in mind, local farmer and businessman Ace Brandt devised a plan to keep Fargo ahead of the trend. His proposal, submitted to city planners earlier this month, seeks to draw the soon-to-be retired population from the region to Fargo.
Although Brandt said his development will attract people of all ages, some city and planning commissioners Wednesday worried aloud approving the plan may send an unwelcoming message to other age groups.
"This will attract empty-nesters, not families," said City Commissioner Jean Rayl.
"We're moving our families out and not leaving them any options. That bothers me."
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The proposed location, one-half mile north and south of 32nd Avenue South, between 45th and 57th streets southwest, is now zoned for agricultural use.
Brandt plans to create a 640-acre city within a city to be filled with a mix of businesses, green space and medium- to high-density housing.
The first phase in Brandt's three-part plan would include more than 400 units of age-restricted housing, a million square feet of "big-box" retail space, as well as "Main Street"-type development. This "new urbanism" approach attracts old and young, Brandt said.
If the plan is approved, it would mean a drastic change to the city's growth plan and would create more apartments and other types of multiple-family housing -- something Fargo has been criticized for having too much of already.
As North Dakota looks for ways to attract and retain the state's youth, Brandt's plan would be geared toward those ages 55 and older.
"We'll really key in on the baby boomers to live here," Brandt said. "But the young people and the business people will want to be there, too."
Although Rayl said she is not opposed to Brandt's plan, she urged others at the Wednesday "brown bag" planning meeting to consider finding a place for more single-family homes.
Preliminary plans call for this type of housing in a portion of the 1,280-acre area Fargo decided to annex at this week's City Commission meeting, said Jim Gilmour, Fargo planning director.
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Still, trends nationwide point to a decrease in single-family home purchases in the years ahead, Gilmour said.
Planning Commissioner Jim Sorensen said he initially shared Rayl's concerns, but believes the plan will be beneficial for Fargo.
His worry now is how the development will look once it's done. Fellow commissioners agreed with Sorensen and are considering creating a conditional overlay district, which provides land-use protection beyond zoning.
The overlay would allow the city to modify or restrict property development and would ensure the appearance of the area is compatible with its surroundings.
"Much of the concern in the city about density is really about design," Gilmour said.
Brandt said residential and retail space will be "upscale" and "classy." It will be similar to recent development in West Des Moines, which the state of Iowa is now touting, he said.
No action was taken at the Wednesday meeting, but the Planning Commission is expected to make a decision Feb. 12 about whether or not to amend the city's growth plan and change the zoning to accommodate Brandt's plan. If approved, construction would get under way by next year.
Brandt said it's been more than two decades since Fargo has taken on a project of this magnitude. The previous such development involved West Acres mall.
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"If we didn't have that, think of where we would be today," Brandt said. "It's time for a new project to take our city to the next level."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mary Jo Almquist at (701) 241-5531
