Upcoming Committee Meetings

Wednesdays @ 2:30pm - half hour meetings

Reference NDPA email news updates for link to join or email Andrea at aedwardson@grandforksgov.com for link as well.

Please consider joining our Legislative Committee!
We’re seeking folks from across the state who are willing to assist in identifying and tracking bills as well as craft testimony on bills that have planning, land use, or accessory topical implications. It’s a heavy lift when the session gets hectic and we’d appreciate anyone and everyone who can assist for any amount of time.

Bill Tracking

 

Important Dates - Legislative Calendar

NDPA Position Papers

NDPA has preemptively drafted position papers regarding our stance on the topics listed below. We hope this may be help as a starting point for those creating their own testimony as well as put us as an organization in a good position to respond quickly when hearings and changes get hectic.

Extra Territorial Jurisdictions

Importance of Local Control over Land Use and Zoning Matters

Renaissance Zones

APA Legislative Summit Takeaways

Notes & Slides from the event

Donald Kress (middle row, left end) traveled to Atlanta this past December to represent NDPA and the Western Central APA Chapter at the American Planning Association's Legislative Summit. Representatives from 22 of the 47 APA chapters attended the event and we are thrilled that Donald could represent ND and our larger Western Central Chapter. Western Central is the official APA chapter for North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. 

The event provided ample opportunities for chapters to visit and discuss amongst themselves challenges they face during their own legislative sessions.  Many mid-west and western states have urban/rural divides similar to ND, and many have short legislative sessions that make it challenging to engage with legislators.  Chapters were given space to discuss their own state/chapter obstacles with other chapters lending advice and words of wisdom on potential solutions. APA leaders at the event discussed the national organization's legislative initiatives which revolve around the APA Housing Accelerator Playbook and zoning reform, both of which to address housing across the nation. They gave suggestions to states/chapters for goals to strive for to improve legislative success.  

Donald has put together a more in-depth summary of the visit and we would highly recommend the quick read! 

Donald Kress is the current planning coordinator for the Fargo, ND Department of Planning and Development.  He has worked for Fargo since 2016.  Prior to that, he was a planner for the City of Williston, ND (2012-2016) and Los Angeles County, CA, Department of Regional Planning (2006-2012).  He holds a Bachelor of University Studies, with honor, North Dakota State University (1985) and a Master of City and Regional Planning, with distinction, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo (2006). Kress is a board member at large of the North Dakota Planning Association and a member of the American Planning Association and American Association of Geographers.

Important Links

ND League of Cities

NDLC hosts weekly meetings on Fridays at 2pm to discuss the week’s updates. Information to join is on their website.

ND Association of Counties