Brookings Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment Meeting - September 2, 2025
Brookings Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment Meeting - September 2, 2025
The Brookings Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment met on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Chambers Room. The Board of Adjustment (a seven-member board) considered three variance requests, and the Planning Commission considered a rezone and a preliminary plat. The meeting was attended by eight members, with Jacob Limmer absent for roll call.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the Agenda: Motion carried unanimously.
- Approval of the August 5, 2025, Minutes: Motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
No public comments were made during the Open Forum at the start of the meeting. Each agenda item included a public hearing; testimony from applicants and staff is noted in the respective sections below.
Board of Adjustment Items
5a. Variance - Lot 10, Block 12, Prairie Hills Addition – Second Access Drive
Applicants David and Lori Schaefer requested a variance to allow a second access drive onto Sweet Grass Drive, as the ordinance (Section 94-343 B1) permits only one access drive per platted lot. The lot is 174 feet wide (originally two lots combined), and the proposed home has a V-shaped design creating a U-shaped driveway with two 25-foot-wide curb cuts. The applicant cited safety concerns (wife’s limited neck mobility) and the impracticality of redesigning the home. Staff recommended denial, citing a self-created hardship because the design could be changed. The board discussed that two curb cuts would have been allowed if the original two lots had not been combined. Motion to approve passed unanimously (7-0).
- Key Outcome: Variance granted.
5b. Variance - 3100 6th Street – Sign Size
Applicant Stein Sign Display (representing property owner John Mills) requested a variance for a 268-square-foot digital billboard in a B-3 Heavy District, where the maximum sign size is 160 square feet. Staff recommended approval of up to 240 square feet (the largest sign allowed citywide). The applicant argued for 268 square feet based on safety (larger text for legibility at 35 mph), consistency (existing billboard at Qdoba has 2.01 sq ft/ft setback vs. this proposed 1.91), and community enhancement (landscaping and decorative pole wrap). The board expressed concerns about sign saturation and hardship. Motion to approve 268 square feet failed with Schmeichel and Aiken voting in favor, and the remaining five members voting against.
- Key Outcome: Variance denied; no alternative motion was made for 240 square feet.
5c. Variance - 1016 Oakwood Circle – Shed Location
Applicant John Spring requested a variance to place a 10x16-foot shed within the front yard setback of a double-frontage lot (facing both Oakwood Circle and Madary Avenue). The shed would be located six feet from the property line along Madary Avenue and screened by an existing six-foot fence. Staff recommended approval. The board noted the hardship of having two front yards and limited placement options. Motion to approve passed unanimously (7-0).
- Key Outcome: Variance granted.
Planning Commission Items
6a. Rezone - West Half of Northwest Quarter, Section 20, Township 110, Range 49 – from Agriculture A to Industrial I-1 Light District
The applicant (Hanson LLC) requested a rezone of approximately 54 acres at the southeast corner of 34th Avenue and US Highway 14 Bypass. The property had been annexed into city limits, and the Future Land Use Map had recently been amended to General Industrial. Surrounding zoning is already industrial. Staff recommended approval. Motion to recommend approval to City Council passed unanimously (8-0; all present voted yes).
- Key Outcome: Planning Commission recommends approval of the rezone to the City Council.
6b. Preliminary Plat - Lots 1-7, Block 1, NE Hansen Addition
The same property was subdivided into seven industrial lots (4.7 to 18.1 acres). One new street (Ron Reed Circle) is proposed as a cul-de-sac. The plat requires a variance from subdivision ordinance Section 51-84 regarding block length exceeding 1,000 feet, which the commission would approve as part of the plat. Staff recommended approval, noting that a future annexation to the east will be required for drainage. Motion to recommend approval to City Council passed unanimously (8-0).
- Key Outcome: Planning Commission recommends approval of the preliminary plat and associated variance to the City Council.
Other Items
- Future Meetings: The next regular meeting is October 7, 2025. The June and November 2026 meetings may be moved due to election conflicts.
- Training: The Commission discussed a field tour of recent development projects, tentatively to be scheduled in September 2025. An annual open meetings law training (required by state law effective July 1, 2025) will be held at the October meeting.
Key Outcomes Summary
- Variance for second access drive (Prairie Hills): Approved.
- Variance for larger sign (6th Street): Denied.
- Variance for shed (Oakwood Circle): Approved.
- Rezone to I-1 Light Industrial (34th Ave & Hwy 14): Recommended for approval.
- Preliminary Plat (NE Hansen Addition): Recommended for approval.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Uh, we will get started here. I'll call for roll call, Ryan. Roll is noted with Jameson absent. The Board of Adjustments is a seven-member board with which has the power to hear requests for variances and special exceptions. The concurring vote of two-thirds of the full membership is necessary for approval of any action by the board. In accordance with Robert Rules of Order, we require a motion to approve a request before the request can be debated. As a matter of policy, all motions are made in the positive. The board under specific powers granted it by the state shall authorize variances from the zoning requirements where special conditions existing on the land will result in unnecessary hardship for the applicant. First item on the agenda is approval of the agenda. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion passes. Um approval of last meetings minutes. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Motion passes. At this time, any member of the public may make a brief announcement or invitation or request time on the agenda for an item not listed. Items to be added to the agenda will be scheduled at the end of the meeting. Any requested action items may be scheduled for a future meeting date. Individuals will state their name and city of residence for the record. Public comment is limited to a maximum of three minutes per person. The comments and views expressed by the public are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the City of Brookings or the City Planning Commission. Is there anyone like to add anything? Seeing none, we will now convene as a board of adjustment. Ryan, would you like to introduce the topic? Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first item is a variance on lot 10 of block 12 and Prairie Hills edition. The variance request is for a second access drive. The applicant for the variance is David and Lori Schaefer, owners of the lot. The lot is located in a residence R1B single family district. The request specifically is to have a second access drive onto Sweet Grass Drive, and this would be a variance from Section 94 343 B1, which states that no more than one access drive shall be permitted onto any street, which the lot or block of butt abuts. The site plan shown here is the uh proposed site plan for a new construction, a new home on that lot showing the two access drives. Um it was noted on the application. This lot was preliminary plated as two lots, and then final plated as one lot. So the preliminary plot approved with the initial prairie hills development uh on this block. Had this as preliminary platted out as two uh lots, or final platted as one, and that would be then the ordinance that we apply is no more than one access drive per plotted lot. Uh so the site plan shows uh two 25 foot wide um access drives and a U-shape uh orientation leading to a three-stall garage. And that ends the staff report and we'll stand for any questions. Thanks, Ryan. Yep. Is there a motion to approve the variants?
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