Subcommittee talks on rural house setbacks

A subcommittee of the Jamestown Planning Commission met with representatives of Homer, Woodbury, Midway and Bloom townships Monday night. The group was called together to discuss issues related to the 1-mile extraterritorial zoning authority exercised by Jamestown.

State law gives the city authority to control zoning, plats, building permits and plumbing permits within 1 mile of city limits. All other authorities and responsibilities are held by the townships.

“The goal is to generate a uniform process of platting, zoning and issuing building permits in the 1-mile area,” said Harley Trefz, chairman of the commission.

One of the main concerns voiced was the setbacks required by the city’s building permit regulations.

The city issues building permits if the home is setback 20 feet from the front of the lot. In rural areas this places the home too close to roads and causes additional snow drifts across the roads and makes snow removal more difficult. Setbacks tend to much farther in rural areas.

Trefz and Jim Weight, city building administrator, agreed to explore the possibility of using township setbacks in issuing building permits outside city limits. An opinion of the city’s attorney is being sought on the issue.

The committee will continue to meet with township officials concerning roads in platted areas and lot sizes at their next meeting at 5:30 p.m. on March 29 at City Hall.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at

(701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at knorman@jamestownsun.com

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