West Fargo Responds to Online Criticism, Accusations After SheyWest Gardens Says It’s Closing – InForum

WEST FARGO — West Fargo officials released a statement Thursday, Sept. 5, rebuking claims on social media that the city filed to approve a deal with SheyWest Gardens as the city seeks to buy the property at the southwest corner of 40th Avenue South and Sheyenne Street for itself.

Facebook posts of articles covering the Sept. 3 West Fargo City Commission meeting by The Forum and other local media outlets, as well as a post by SheyWest owner Jodi Kallias announcing her decision to close the business, have garnered over 1,100 views each and large comment sections. Most of the comments on the posts were in support of SheyWest, with many tagging the West Fargo government Facebook page to note their displeasure with the commission.
Commenters also accused the city and/or commissioners of wanting the business to leave the area so the city could buy the land. SheyWest is adjacent to city-owned land and is next to a city-owned lift station and recycling drop-off site.

“The city of West Fargo has not expressed interest in purchasing the property, nor have city officials been involved in internal discussions or with developers to redevelop the area,” communications manager Rachel Richter-Lordemann said in Thursday’s statement. “Decisions regarding the sale of the property are the sole responsibility of the property owner. Should the property be put up for sale, the property would retain its currently permitted zoning/use for light commercial, greenhouse and/or plant nursery. Any current or future property owner would have to go through a legal process to rezone the property for a different use.”

After Tuesday’s meeting, where the commission tabled approval of a planned unit development (PUD) amendment presented to staff, Kallias posted on the SheyWest Facebook page that the business will be closing and the property is for sale.

“I am at a total loss for everyone… and here to report that the city of West Fargo lost a garden center tonight… #SaveSheyWest failed,” she wrote on Facebook.

In 2020, SheyWest was granted planning permission for the development of the facility for the first time to build a garden center and nursery which would also host classes and community events.

However, businesses and the city faced problems with parking and access to the site, as many customers began making illegal U-turns on 40th Avenue to access the south side entrance. SheyWest, city staff and the planning and zoning commission presented the commission with various plans to amend the permit in a way that would allow the business to address its issues, which did not receive final approval from the commission.

Earlier this year, a SheyWest Facebook post by Kallias showing no-parking signs along the adjacent road drew widespread public backlash, which was followed by an earlier City Commission decision to to approve a study to take into account the cost and extent of the work required for the change. 40th Avenue West at the SheyWest entrance. The study was estimated to cost about $20,000, a price Kallais said he would pay out of pocket in an effort to make progress.

On May 21, West Fargo officials sent a letter to SheyWest notifying the company of several violations noted by city staff, including:

• Use of the property to host outside vendors, outside food sales, live entertainment events and private event space rentals is not permitted under the PUD zoning district established in 2020.
• All driveways and parking areas must be paved and some are gravel.
• There are several signs that have not been permitted or reviewed by the city.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bernie Dardis said the violations must be corrected for SheyWest to move forward.

In the city’s statement Thursday, it noted that the violations would not be enforced at this time.

“City staff has begun working with the business owner to resolve these violations by amending the PUD,” the statement said. “By starting this process, the business has been granted a stay of enforcement on the current violations.”

City staff for Tuesday’s proposed PUD amendment would require SheyWest to place restrictions on the number of guests allowed to attend a private event and limit the hours during which private events are held. The agreement then proposed a two-phase plan to address how the facility could immediately come into compliance and then how it could grow in the future. The plan also suggested that the PUD be written so that it is clearer what types of events can be held at the venue, including details on when and the number of guests. It would also limit any outside suppliers from the unit to less than five. Staff also recommended that for any larger event, SheyWest would seek a special permit from the city.

On Thursday, the city said the amendment is inconsistent with current ordinances and would “allow for additional uses of the property that were not included in the existing, approved PUD.” Therefore, a vote was taken on the amendment and staff were asked to continue working with SheyWest.

“The business may continue to operate within the parameters of the existing PUD and within the parameters of the City Ordinance, regardless of the Commission’s action on the proposed amendment,” Thursday’s release said.

However, after attending several meetings before the commission and with staff, including a task force of commissioners, city staff and Kallias formed in May to address the issues, Kallias said she was “done” in her post of Tuesday’s Facebook. She said those with existing bookings for gatherings or events at SheyWest through the remainder of 2024 can expect events to be cancelled.

David Samson / The Forum