WEST FARGO -- Neighbors of a prime piece of land in West Fargo, just off Ninth Street and Interstate 94, have reported the empty land between prominent businesses has been used as an illegal dumping ground.

While the city has attempted to charge the owner for the alleged violations, he has yet to respond to the complaints.

The currently undeveloped lot is located at 837 Beaton Drive E., or directly west of the Blarney Stone and east of the DoubleTree in the northwest corner of I-94 and Ninth Street East/Veterans Boulevard. Weeds have overgrown the area where piles of soil and other unknown materials have lumped together.

According to city records, the roughly 2.4 acres of land are multiple parcels, but all are owned by Charleswood Commercial Estates, LLC, which are owned by Sanjay Patel of Fargo. The property is zoned as commercial and currently valued at just more than $1 million.

Attempts to reach Patel by phone were unsuccessful as of press time.

West Fargo Director of Communications Rachel Richter Lordemann confirmed the city has seen evidence that "illegal dumping has occurred on the property."

The city issued Patel a citation in 2024 for nuisance dumping, Richter Lordemann said.

According to court records, the city charged Patel with an infraction for the accumulation of garbage or rubbish in January. Prosecutors sought to remove the charge, but West Fargo Municipal Judge Trent Backus denied the charge withdrawal. Patel was then charged in June in West Fargo Municipal Court with nuisance dumping.

Nuisance dumping is a violation of West Fargo City Ordinance 15-0311 . Anyone in violation of the ordinance can be cited with an infraction, and "each day such a violation continues shall be considered a separate offense," city ordinances said.

"Code Enforcement was unable to locate or make contact with the property owner and a warrant was issued through the West Fargo Municipal Court on June 25," Richter Lordemann said.

While West Fargo has limited land available zoned and primed for commercial development, it does not appear any businesses have been courted to begin construction on the property.

"There are no permits issued for any work on the property, and as far as we know, there are no plans in the works for development or sale of the property," Richter Lordemann said.

According to the North Dakota Secretary of State, Charleswood Commercial Estates was incorporated into an LLC in June 2013 and it remains in good standing. The Secretary of State's website lists Minnesota Hospitality Inc. as the registered agent for Charleswood Commercial Estates and Snap Holding Company as the agent for that company.

A foreclosure suit was filed against Minnesota Hospitality Inc. on the site at 901 38th St. S., in Fargo, which has seen little or no activity since late 2024 or early 2025, when plans indicated a "Stop & Go SKY STORE" would be built on the property. Fargo city officials said in June that a new building permit would be needed to continue work at the site. In August, Fargo issued a maintenance action separate from the building permit issue, instructing the developer to address several issues, including a toppled fence, general lack of maintenance at the building site and overgrown weeds.

A jury trial has now been scheduled on the foreclosure issue, which is scheduled in Burleigh County District Court for Sept. 3, 2026.

West Fargo taking action on 'lumpy' field