OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Brookings Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment Meeting - April 7, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, April 7, 2026
BodyBrookings, South Dakota
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, April 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:13:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:51

All right, welcome.

0:52

I'm gonna call this meeting to order.

0:54

Ryan, can you call the roll?

0:57

Roll as noted with Braun absent.

1:00

We'll now uh approve the agenda.

1:02

Can I get a motion a second to approve the agenda?

1:06

So moved.

1:07

Second.

1:08

Any discussion on the agenda?

1:11

Mr.

1:12

Chair, I'd like to propose that we add an item.

1:15

We had talked about it last month about onboarding and training discussion.

1:20

I'd like that to have a discussion topic and maybe move that forward to next month for full discussion with the full board.

1:30

Mr.

1:30

Chair, uh staff would also like to discuss a potential subcommittee on reviewing the bylaws.

1:36

So it'd be a similar discussion at the end.

1:38

I think once we're done with our items, we can discuss that and a bylaw discussion.

1:44

So we'll put that after 7D.

1:48

We need an amendment for that useful.

1:53

Okay, we'll uh add those to the agenda.

1:55

All in favor say aye.

1:57

Aye.

1:57

Aye.

1:58

All posed.

1:59

Now move on to approval of the minutes from last meeting.

2:02

Can I get a motion and a second?

2:04

So moved.

2:06

Second.

2:06

Told them.

2:07

Any discussion on the minutes from last meeting.

2:11

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

2:14

Aye.

2:14

All posed.

2:19

Item four is open forum.

2:21

At this time, any member of the public may make a brief announcement or invitation.

2:26

Uh request time on the agenda for an item not listed.

2:33

Okay, seeing none, move on.

2:34

Item five disclosure of conflicts of interest relationships to the applicant or ex parte communication.

2:45

Seeing none move on to item six, uh, convening as the board of adjustment.

2:56

Board of adjustment is a seven-member board which has the power to hear requests for variances and special exceptions.

3:01

The concurring vote of two-thirds of the full membership is necessary for approval of any action by the board.

3:07

A seven-member board requires five votes, a six uh member board requires five votes, and a five-member board requires five votes.

3:15

In accordance with Robert's rules of order, we require a motion to approve a request before the request can be debated.

3:21

As a matter of policy, all motions are made in the positive.

3:25

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.

3:38

Financial disadvantage to the property owner shall not constitute proof of unnecessary hardship.

3:46

Move on to uh item six A, a variance request.

4:14

Also known as 404 Martin Boulevard.

4:18

The request is to build a six-foot fence in the front yard per section 94-398.

4:24

Fences and walls shall not exceed 48 inches in height when located between the front lot line and the principal building.

4:31

Ryan, can you introduce the topic?

4:33

Thank you, Mr.

4:34

Chair.

4:35

The first item is a variance for a fence at 404 Martin Boulevard.

4:40

The applicant, Dakota Dodds, uh located at 404 Martin Boulevard.

4:44

Uh, this is located within a residence R1B single family district.

4:49

Uh the property is a single family home.

4:52

The request is for a six-foot fence with a 10-foot front yard setback to Western Avenue.

5:00

As mentioned in your uh in your introduction, it's a 30-foot required front yard setback in the R1B zoning district.

5:06

Staff recommendation is approval, and the Board of Adjustments action would be to improve, amend, or deny.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Procedural███████████████20%
Active Transportation█████████12%
Economic Development████5%
Community Engagement██3%
Disability Rights█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Brookings Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment Meeting - April 7, 2026

The Brookings Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment convened on April 7, 2026, at 11:30 AM. The meeting included a variance hearing, a rezone request, a preliminary plat, amendments to home occupation regulations, and a lengthy discussion on subdivision improvement standards. Several items were approved, while the proposed subdivision standards were not recommended for council approval after amendments failed. Subcommittees were formed to review bylaws and onboarding.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda approved as amended to add discussions on onboarding and bylaw review.
  • Minutes from the previous meeting approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • 404 Martin Boulevard Variance: Applicant Dakota Dodds spoke in favor, citing safety for children and pets.
  • Heron Cove Rezone and Plat: Jacob Mills (applicant) explained the project and answered questions about density and walkability. No public opposition.
  • Subdivision Improvements: Justin Booker (Banner Associates) expressed concerns about the three-year warranty and utility-in-advance requirement, citing cost increases and unintended consequences. Jacob Mills also commented on trade-offs, emphasizing that costs ultimately fall on homeowners. No other public testimony.

Board of Adjustment – 404 Martin Boulevard Variance

  • Request to build a 6-foot fence in the front yard (10-foot setback from Western Avenue) where the limit is 4 feet. Staff recommended approval.
  • Vote: Unanimous approval (7-0, with Braun absent). Motion passed.

Planning Commission – Rezone (Heron Cove LLC)

  • Request to rezone 1120 Western Avenue from R1A to B3 (heavy business) and R3 (apartment district). Staff recommended approval.
  • Discussion included walkability concerns along Western Avenue; commissioner Heinrich noted lack of pedestrian infrastructure.
  • Vote: Approved 8-1 (Heinrich opposed).

Planning Commission – Preliminary Plat (Heron Cove Edition)

  • Three-lot subdivision for the same property. Staff recommended approval with a condition to dedicate 2 feet of right-of-way along Western Avenue.
  • Vote: Approved unanimously (8-0).

Planning Commission – Home Occupation Amendments

  • Updated ordinance to create three categories (no-impact, minor, major) with new standards and permit procedures. Staff recommended approval.
  • Vote: Approved unanimously (8-0).

Planning Commission – Subdivision Improvements and Design Standards

  • Proposed amendments to Chapter 51, including connectivity requirements, reduced cul-de-sac lengths (400 ft max), utility installation one year before paving, and a three-year warranty period. Extensive discussion on cost impacts and unintended consequences.
  • An amendment to reduce the warranty to one year and add design standards (while keeping the one-year utility advance) was passed (6-1).
  • The main motion as amended failed on a vote of 2-5 (Solemn and Heinrich in favor; Letty, Michael, Jameson, Spear, Limmer opposed).
  • No recommendation was forwarded to the city council.

Discussion Items

  • Bylaw Review Subcommittee: Formed with three volunteers (Commissioners Aiken, Letty, and one other) to review and propose updates by end of 2026.
  • Onboarding Subcommittee: Formed with three volunteers (Commissioners Heinrich, Schmeichel, and one other) to improve orientation for new members.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Variance for 404 Martin Boulevard fence.
  • Approved: Rezone for Heron Cove (8-1).
  • Approved: Preliminary plat for Heron Cove (unanimous).
  • Approved: Home occupation ordinance amendments (unanimous).
  • Failed: Subdivision improvements and design standards (no recommendation to council).
  • Formed: Subcommittees on bylaws and onboarding.

Meeting Transcript

All right, welcome. I'm gonna call this meeting to order. Ryan, can you call the roll? Roll as noted with Braun absent. We'll now uh approve the agenda. Can I get a motion a second to approve the agenda? So moved. Second. Any discussion on the agenda? Mr. Chair, I'd like to propose that we add an item. We had talked about it last month about onboarding and training discussion. I'd like that to have a discussion topic and maybe move that forward to next month for full discussion with the full board. Mr. Chair, uh staff would also like to discuss a potential subcommittee on reviewing the bylaws. So it'd be a similar discussion at the end. I think once we're done with our items, we can discuss that and a bylaw discussion. So we'll put that after 7D. We need an amendment for that useful. Okay, we'll uh add those to the agenda. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All posed. Now move on to approval of the minutes from last meeting. Can I get a motion and a second? So moved. Second. Told them. Any discussion on the minutes from last meeting. Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All posed. Item four is open forum. At this time, any member of the public may make a brief announcement or invitation. Uh request time on the agenda for an item not listed. Okay, seeing none, move on. Item five disclosure of conflicts of interest relationships to the applicant or ex parte communication. Seeing none move on to item six, uh, convening as the board of adjustment. Board of adjustment is a seven-member board 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. A seven-member board requires five votes, a six uh member board requires five votes, and a five-member board requires five votes. In accordance with Robert's 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. Financial disadvantage to the property owner shall not constitute proof of unnecessary hardship. Move on to uh item six A, a variance request. Also known as 404 Martin Boulevard. The request is to build a six-foot fence in the front yard per section 94-398. Fences and walls shall not exceed 48 inches in height when located between the front lot line and the principal building.

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