South Fargo keeps filling in, and the city just cleared the way for another apartment project along 45th Street.
At its Monday, Oct. 12, meeting, the Fargo City Commission unanimously approved a zoning change and plat for the Urban Plains Medical Park Third Addition, The Flag, AM 1100 and FM 92.3, reported. The approval allows a proposed multi-family development to move forward.
About 103 apartments
The property is near 32nd Avenue South and 45th Street, in an area that already includes apartments, commercial development and a daycare facility.
Donald Kress of the city's Planning Department explained that the proposal combines two undeveloped lots into one property and changes the zoning from limited commercial to MR-3 multi-dwelling residential with a conditional overlay.
"The site would accommodate approximately one hundred and three residential units at the M.R. 3 density of twenty four dwelling units per acre," Kress told commissioners.
The Planning Commission had previously approved a conditional use permit allowing a parking reduction for the development. Commissioners approved the zoning change and plat without opposition.
The report didn't name the developer or a builder for the project.
The commission also approved a smaller zoning change and plat for the Village West Fifth Addition near 13th Avenue South and 44th Street. Kress described it as a relatively straightforward lot-line adjustment. Part of an office building's parking lot extends onto a neighboring apartment property, and the change fixes that by moving the boundary. A small portion of the property would also be rezoned from MR-3 multi-dwelling residential to general commercial.
Getting ready for a new interchange
The commission unanimously approved about $245,000 in traffic-calming improvements along 64th Avenue South as the city prepares for a new Interstate 29 interchange.
The work, recommended by the city's Engineering Department, includes more boulevard trees, pedestrian crossing improvements with a raised center median near 27th Street, and two more speed feedback signs. It will be paid for with the city's infrastructure sales tax rather than special assessments on nearby property owners.
"So there's no new tax, there's no specials, and there's improvements being done to help with speeding," said Commissioner Michelle Turnberg. "And this doesn't mean that that's the end of it, but it's certainly a start."
City engineering staff described the improvements as relatively low-cost steps to get drivers to slow down. A city online survey drew 781 unique responses, and about 90% of respondents said they live on or near 64th Avenue South. About 62% supported more boulevard trees, and 51% supported pedestrian crossing improvements. Opinions on speed were split: 52% said traffic moves too slowly, 22% said too fast and 25% said speeds were about right.
The I-29 interchange is expected to begin construction in 2028 and open in 2029, according to the report. The North Dakota Department of Transportation has selected a design with roundabouts at both ramp intersections.
In other business, commissioners voted unanimously to proceed with demolition of a deteriorating property at 111 to 113 32nd Avenue North, rejecting a mortgage holder's request for 75 more days to develop a repair plan. City officials said problems at the property date back to 2023, when a fire badly damaged a detached garage. Efforts to rebuild the garage were abandoned after construction materials were repeatedly stolen, according to the city's Inspections Department. The property was designated a dangerous building in April 2026.
"This trying to extend, extend, extend only creates bigger problems and other people have the expectation of the same," Turnberg said.
Why it matters for Contractors
A rezoning to MR-3 is one of the first steps toward a building, and about 103 apartments is a meaningful job in a busy part of south Fargo, with site work, utilities, concrete, framing, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and finish trades all in play once plans move forward. No developer or builder has been named, so contractors should watch for permit and site plan filings with the city. Farther south, the $245,000 in 64th Avenue South improvements is small, but it's an early sign of the work ahead around the new I-29 interchange, which is expected to start construction in 2028. And the north Fargo demolition is a reminder that the city is moving ahead on dangerous buildings when owners don't act, the kind of order that ends with a demolition crew on site.