Minot Air Force Base
Compatible Use Study

Project Overview

What is the CUS?

The Minot AFB CUS update is a collaborative planning effort between Minot AFB and communities and partners within the Project Study Area to balance protecting the military mission with supporting community growth and economic development.
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The purpose of the study is to:

• Encourage development that is compatible with military training and operations
• Reduce potential impacts of military activities on surrounding areas.     
• Strengthen coordination among county, municipal, and township governments, Tribal Nations, and Minot AFB.

What are the goals and objectives of the CUS?

‍The primary goal of the CUS is to reduce potential conflicts between land use, community development, and military operations while supporting compatible growth and economic development throughout the region.

The objectives of the CUS are:

• UNDERSTANDING. Bring together community members, local leaders, and military representatives to discuss compatibility issues in an open and transparent way, ensuring that both community needs and military operations are clearly understood.
• COLLABORATION. Promote coordinated planning among local governments, regional partners, and Minot Air Force Base to guide growth and development in a way that is compatible with the installation and surrounding communities.
• ACTION. Develop practical strategies, and policy recommendations that communities, agencies, and the installation can use to support informed decision-making and implement compatible land use solutions.

What will the Minot AFB CUS provide?

‍‍A key focus of this targeted update is improving communication and coordination between Minot Air Force Base and surrounding communities. The planning process will include an evaluation of compatibility factors and will result in a comprehensive Implementation Plan. This plan will be aligned with local plans and ordinances and will identify a timeline, responsible parties, and potential funding sources for each recommendation.

Recommended actions will be organized into the following time frames:

• Short-Term (1–3 Years): Priority actions and near-term policy updates
• Mid-Term (4–10 Years): Larger-scale projects and longer-range planning efforts
• Long-Term (11–20 Years): Long-term infrastructure and regional coordination initiatives

The Implementation Plan will provide a clear and actionable path forward for the City of Minot, Minot Air Force Base, and regional partners. ‍
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What is Compatibility?

‍In the context of military readiness, compatibility refers to balancing the needs and interests of both the community and Minot Air Force Base. The goal of compatibility planning is to support an environment where the installation and surrounding communities can coexist successfully.

As part of the study, existing conditions within the study area will be evaluated using input from the CUS Advisory Committee, Technical Committee, and the public. This information will help identify both current and potential future compatibility issues.
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The analysis will also consider how local policies and regulations influence land use decisions, as well as existing and anticipated development trends across the study area.

To guide this effort, the study will evaluate a set of 26 compatibility factors that may affect the relationship between community development and military operations. While all factors will be reviewed, strategies will be developed only for those identified as relevant concerns in the Minot area.

These compatibility factors provide a structured approach to understanding and addressing land use challenges near Minot Air Force Base. The following 26 factors will serve as the foundation for identifying key issues in the study:
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What Will the Minot AFB CUS Recommend?

‍The primary outcome of the CUS will be a set of recommendations to help communities and stakeholders address compatibility issues and guide future growth and development. These recommendations are not regulatory requirements. Instead, they provide practical options and strategies that local governments, agencies, and partners can choose to implement to support compatible land use and improve coordination over time.

The CUS recommendations can generally be categorized into six key areas:
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‍Many strategies will focus on non-regulatory approaches, such as improving communication, strengthening coordination, and increasing awareness of compatibility considerations.

Recommendations may involve updates to local plans, policies, or development regulations including zoning, subdivision standards, or building requirement, to better support long-term compatibility. Once the study is complete, continued collaboration among stakeholders will be important to move priority recommendations forward.
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