Williams County commissioners approve three land-use requests including gravel-pit permit
May 06, 2026 | Williams County, North Dakota
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The Williams County Board of County Commissioners on May 5 approved three land-use actions recommended by Planning and Zoning, including a conditional-use permit to operate a gravel pit and two setback/minor-subdivision variances.
Michelle of Planning and Zoning introduced the first item, LU-0022-26, saying the application by Jim Stover and Brad Stancil would create two lots from an approximately 81.35-acre parent parcel and requested that an approximately 15-acre lot remain in the Agricultural Zoning District rather than be rezoned to Rural Residential. Michelle said Missouri Ridge Township recommended approval and that recordation of the plot would be contingent on variance approval. The board voted to approve the variance unanimously.
On LU-0025-26, Planning and Zoning presented a request from Dustin Mortensen with Archon Earth Construction for a conditional-use permit to open and operate a gravel pit on roughly 158 acres in Cow Creek Township. Michelle told commissioners the applicant plans to strip and stockpile topsoil in 20-acre increments, use third-party recommendations for weed management, and reclaim the site by spreading topsoil and reseeding once materials are removed. A commissioner asked whether the county requires guarantees beyond the applicant’s assurances for remediation and reclamation: “Do we have guarantees of remediation and a reclamation of the land?” the commissioner asked. The board approved the conditional-use permit, with Planning and Zoning having recommended approval 6–0.
The board also approved LU-0026-26, a side-setback variance for Jeff and Kathy Barta to reduce a setback from 20 feet to 2 feet to allow construction of a detached garage. Michelle said the parcel was previously granted a reduction in 2024 from 133 feet to 33 feet—the closest allowable under the North Dakota Century Code—and that Dry Fork Township had not returned comment; Planning and Zoning recommended approval 6–0.
All three motions passed on roll-call votes. The board did not attach additional conditions on the record for the gravel-pit permit beyond the standard conditions discussed by Planning and Zoning and noted that site reclamation and weed control would be addressed through the permit and any required agreements.
The board’s approvals clear the way for the applicants to record the subdivision (contingent on variance approval), for Archon Earth to proceed with permitting steps for the gravel pit, and for the Bartas to move forward with the detached-garage project.
Next steps: applicants will proceed with recordation or permitting as applicable and county staff will continue to process required reviews and permit conditions.
Michelle of Planning and Zoning introduced the first item, LU-0022-26, saying the application by Jim Stover and Brad Stancil would create two lots from an approximately 81.35-acre parent parcel and requested that an approximately 15-acre lot remain in the Agricultural Zoning District rather than be rezoned to Rural Residential. Michelle said Missouri Ridge Township recommended approval and that recordation of the plot would be contingent on variance approval. The board voted to approve the variance unanimously.
On LU-0025-26, Planning and Zoning presented a request from Dustin Mortensen with Archon Earth Construction for a conditional-use permit to open and operate a gravel pit on roughly 158 acres in Cow Creek Township. Michelle told commissioners the applicant plans to strip and stockpile topsoil in 20-acre increments, use third-party recommendations for weed management, and reclaim the site by spreading topsoil and reseeding once materials are removed. A commissioner asked whether the county requires guarantees beyond the applicant’s assurances for remediation and reclamation: “Do we have guarantees of remediation and a reclamation of the land?” the commissioner asked. The board approved the conditional-use permit, with Planning and Zoning having recommended approval 6–0.
The board also approved LU-0026-26, a side-setback variance for Jeff and Kathy Barta to reduce a setback from 20 feet to 2 feet to allow construction of a detached garage. Michelle said the parcel was previously granted a reduction in 2024 from 133 feet to 33 feet—the closest allowable under the North Dakota Century Code—and that Dry Fork Township had not returned comment; Planning and Zoning recommended approval 6–0.
All three motions passed on roll-call votes. The board did not attach additional conditions on the record for the gravel-pit permit beyond the standard conditions discussed by Planning and Zoning and noted that site reclamation and weed control would be addressed through the permit and any required agreements.
The board’s approvals clear the way for the applicants to record the subdivision (contingent on variance approval), for Archon Earth to proceed with permitting steps for the gravel pit, and for the Bartas to move forward with the detached-garage project.
Next steps: applicants will proceed with recordation or permitting as applicable and county staff will continue to process required reviews and permit conditions.
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