The Burleigh County Commission is willing to pay more for a comprehensive land use plan, though it is allowing a plat process to slide under a year-long development moratorium while it waits for the plan.

At Tuesday's meeting, Bismarck planning director Carl Hokenstad provided commissioners with an update on the comprehensive land use plan, which the city planning department is coordinating for the county. The commission also heard a request from Swenson & Hagen's David Patience regarding an application to plat a property outside Bismarck's four-mile extraterritorial zone.

Patience made his request to apply for a two-parcel plat on behalf of Eugene Welle who is looking to develop five acres north of Bismarck. The 2.1-acre parcels adjoin already platted property owned by Welle in a well-developed area on the shores of the Missouri. Patience said he had started the plat process in September of last year in advance of the moratorium.

"When this type of moratorium is set, I'm usually given 30 days to clean up odds and ends. This moratorium was a surprise, put into place immediately at one meeting," Patience said.

Because of the moratorium instituted by the county through Dec. 31 of this year with no exceptions or conditions, the planning department cannot even accept the plat, according to Hokenstad. The planning director added that Patience's request is the only such application he is aware of.

Before making a decision on Patience's request, commissioners asked for an update on the request for proposal process for the comprehensive land use plan.

Hokenstad provided the commissioners with a copy of the RFP, indicating that with their approval, it can be issued within the next week.

Chairman Marlan Haakenson brought up the issue that getting the plan may cost more than the $60,000 the county can generate, having budgeted $40,000 plus a one-third match coming from the city of Bismarck. Hokenstad said that the city was willing to provide as much as $35,000, but that amount would have to be one-third the cost and the county would have to provide $70,000, for a total of $105,000.

Hokenstad said he had contacted a couple of engineering firms and both indicated that $60,000 for the plan might be low for what the county is expecting.

Commissioner Jim Peluso made a motion to increase the county's commitment, but commissioner Mark Armstrong cautioned against it.

"If we throw out a figure, we'll see the bids come in for that amount," Armstrong said. "We should leave the amount where it is and see where the bids fall. If they are higher, then we can act."

Commissioner Jerry Woodcox said he also felt that the county should be willing to up its ante to pay for a plan, noting it would leverage more city money.

The commission approved Peluso's motion for further funding support, though it did not set an actual dollar amount.

Returning to Patience's request, the commission approved Peluso's motion to accept the application and allow the plat process to move forward.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)