When Dave Blackstead first joined the Bismarck Planning and Zoning Commission, there wasn't much to be found north of the Capitol or anything south beyond the railroad tracks that parallel Main Avenue.

That was back in 1967 when the 40-year-old Blackstead was elected to the Bismarck School Board and he was appointed by the school district as liaison to the city. Since that time, he's seen the population nearly double and Blackstead has been an influence in the community's growth.

Having just turned 80, Blackstead recently turned in his resignation to the planning commission, an organization he's been chairman of since 1982.

"Back in 1967, the school district wanted to know where the city was going to grow so they could plan for future schools, so I was appointed to attend the planning commission meetings. I can't remember if I was a voting member; I don't think so," Blackstead said.

Blackstead left Bismarck for a year in 1970 and when he returned was appointed to the planning commission in 1973 by then-Mayor Eugene "Bus" Leary.

Back in Blackstead's early years with the commission, it had five members who met once a month, starting at 7:30 p.m. and often staying close to midnight. Now, there are 11 members and they gather at 5 p.m., usually getting done within two hours.

"As Bismarck added area and then the extra-territorial area was added, we increased the number of members. Eleven is a lot of people, but it works," Blackstead said. "I figure that by starting at 5 p.m., everybody will be hungry and want to wrap it up as soon as they can so they can have supper."

The actual reason the meetings run faster and are more efficient, Blackstead said, is the professionalism of the Bismarck planning department staff.

"The planning department wasn't very big until just recently," Blackstead said. "I think Bismarck and Burleigh County have an excellent planning department. They're professional and knowledgeable about planning. They've made the planning commission's job more simple, because they really know their job."

City administrator Bill Wocken, who has been working for Bismarck since 1973, determined the city's population in 1970 was about 34,000. It is now more than 60,000 and is a dramatically different town.

"The planning commission became much more professional and more focused on results under Dave's tenure," Wocken said. "He (Blackstead) has seen Bismarck through the energy boom and through recessions. He's seen record years of building permits and he's seen the planning ordinance change dramatically, through two or three rewrites."

During Blackstead's 40 years of involvement with planning of the city, he's never seen it busier than now.

"Bismarck has grown from a sleepy little town to a metropolitan area in the last 20 years. It really started developing the past few years, but I think the big boxes are about over; at least, I don't see how anymore can come in,"Blackstead said. "Now we're starting to see all the periphery fill in, a lot of strip malls and restaurants."

The big problem Blackstead foresees is finding enough employees to staff all the businesses that are coming in. He expects to see a great influx of a variety of people coming to Bismarck to fill those jobs.

"Bismarck doesn't have that small town appeal any more," Blackstead said. "I used to know all the business people, but that's changed totally. I go to events now that I don't recognize anybody. It used to be that there was only one person - a consultant - that would come before the planning commission, representing developers. Now there are three or four."

The goal of the planning commission is to provide for orderly growth and proper transition from one area of zoning to the next. Blackstead said he believes that as chairman of the commission, his role was that of a manager, to make sure the meetings ran smoothly and efficiently and that everyone got their say, in an appropriate amount of time.

Mayor John Warford, who is a member of the planning commission, complimented Blackstead on his organization and the orderly development of Bismarck.

"I've always called him Chairman Blackstead or Chairman Dave," Warford said. "Bismarck's had good growth and he's had a lot to do with it. The countless meetings he has attended and presided over, the city owes him a debt of gratitude, as do the future residents."

Not only is Blackstead a nice person, according to Warford, but he runs a very prompt and organized meeting, and the mayor tries to emulate Blackstead when running his own meetings.

There are still many challenges facing Bismarck as it continues to grow. Blackstead is interested and is taking an active role in the development of Burleigh County's comprehensive land use plan.

"I've seen the draft plan and it looks pretty decent, but you can't please everybody and not everyone is going to appreciate it," Blackstead said.

Blackstead also will remain a member of the Bismarck Renaissance zone commission.

"That's an exciting area, downtown redevelopment. There are some things coming up that are really interesting, particularly the Quiet Rail, which may come to fruition in the next month or so. We'll be making some recommendations to the city commission," Blackstead said.

There are still two years left on Blackstead's appointment to the planning commission. The city commission will have to look for someone to fill the seat, and the planning commission will go through a reorganization at its next meeting.

"It's an era that's over for me. I've seen a lot of different commission members and planning staff that have come and gone," Blackstead said. "We probably have made a few errors, but overall, I think Bismarck is pretty well-planned."

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