Burleigh County commissioners got a recommendation from the comprehensive land use plan committee, but they want some questions answered before making a decision.

Commission Chairman Doug Schonert, who chaired the review committee, said that it had met eight times and talked to contractors, developers, emergency responders and others with vested interests in the comprehensive land use plan.

"We highly recommend an all-out study. Hiring professional assistance, which would go out for bids, realizing it comes out of county money,"Schonert said. "My wildest estimate for this would be between $50,000 and $100,000. With the great development we're seeing and expecting to see over the next five to 10 to 20 years, the study is necessary, and it needs to be studied intensively."

The review committee even discussed a possible moratorium on development until the study is completed. But realizing that would likely take a year or more, and with the great amount of development taking place, it was decided this is unfair to developers, Schonert said.

Commissioner Claus Lembke challenged the need to hire a consultant for the amount of money Schonert talked about.

"I agree we need a plan. But one of the things I haven't heard out of the committee is what we've been doing that's so wrong," Lembke said. "We have a professional staff, good plans that we can copy or mimic. This is kind of what we were elected to do. If we're not capable of identifying what we want and what's good for the county, we're not meeting our challenges."

Lembke said that one or two people who weren't in agreement with the county commission were dominating the nine-member planning commission, and the rest of the members were too passive. He also said that the planning staff were employees of the city, and the city did not always have the county's best interest in mind.

Commissioner Scott Johnson said that the comprehensive plan asked the commissioner to either encourage or discourage development. He said he believes the plan needs to be more black and white and have more teeth in it. Johnson suggested the commission consider having its own planning department and keeping permit fees.

The cost of the project was also a concern to Commissioner Marlan Haakenson, along with where the money will come from.

"I think we need development guidance set down in black and white that is very firm and calls for orderly development," Haakenson said.

Woodcox said he agreed that a couple of the planning commission members were "very strong- willed" and using their philosophy to influence the board. He said they needed a plan for the county, not just the city. Woodcox said he would hesitate to spend $100,000 for a plan he said he felt might not be used much.

Lembke said that he wants to see, on a map, exactly what the county holds jurisdiction over. He noted much of the land development decisions were within the city's four-mile extraterritorial area or within townships, which have jurisdiction over zoning.

Commissioners decided to table the issue and direct staff to provide maps showing what land the county does control and what funding source is available.

Johnson did attempt to approve Jake Spitzer's Midwest Country Estate's plat located near Wilton.

The property has been at the center of the debate between the planning commission and the county commission, with planning objecting to approval of the plat and the county commissioners attemping to approve it.

The debates arising from the conflict led to the review of the comprehensive plan.

While it was the consensus of the commissioners to approve the plat, allowing Spitzer to begin residential development, it was decided to put the issue on the June meeting agenda.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)