Burleigh County commissioners are bending their year-long development moratorium, allowing the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider an industrial subdivision request.

David Jorgenson, engineer for Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson Inc., brought the proposal to Monday's commission meeting. He is representing a development group that wants to develop three irregular plats near the Interstate-94-Menoken interchange.

Jorgenson said the property in question is already platted and zoned industrial. The developer intends to subdivide the plats into two- to 10-acre lots, which will have to be taken before the planning commission.

But because of the moratorium, which is in place until Dec. 31, the developer has been told by planning staff the proposal cannot be heard without the county commission's permission. The moratorium was put in place to allow development of a comprehensive land-use plan, which is already nearly a month behind.

Commissioner Doug Schonert was resolute that the moratorium should not be lifted and, should the commission do it in this instance, it could expect many more requests to do the same.

Commission Chairman Marlan Haakenson insisted that there was verbiage in the motion allowing the commission to consider exceptions to the moratorium case by case.

Jorgenson said that, if the developer had to wait for the moratorium to be lifted, it would take an additional year before work could be done on the subdivision. The planning commission process is a four-month process by itself.

"Menoken is unincorporated and doesn't have its own planning and zoning. The community is looking to get in on the economic boom being experienced," Jorgenson said.

Commissioner Jerry Woodcox made the motion to allow the subdivision proposal to be considered by the planning commission, but under the condition it will have to come back before the county commission for approval. The motion passed on a 3-to-2 vote, with Schonert and Mark Armstrong voting against it.

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