Spearfish City Council Study Session – September 30, 2026: Unified Development Code Presentation and Departmental Updates

The Spearfish City Council met in study session on September 30, 2026, at 4:23 p.m. The meeting focused on a presentation from Clarion Associates regarding the Shape Spearfish Unified Development Code (UDC) rewrite, a review of the upcoming October 5, 2026 regular council agenda, and departmental updates on public works, planning, and police staffing. No public comments were received. The council approved the study session agenda and later adjourned at 5:07 p.m.

Review of October 5, 2026 City Council Regular Session Agenda

• Staff and council reviewed each item on the draft agenda for the regular meeting. Key items included: an amendment to the development agreement with Hillsview Homes to reduce the required financial assurance from $600,000 to $450,000; donation of a 2002 Spartan Type 1 fire truck to the NEMO Fire Department; a public hearing and renewal of the cannabis establishment license for Genesis Farms through 2027; two state grant agreements for the airport apron expansion project, with a state contribution of approximately $130,000; a special event on-sale wine license for the Friends of Music Fundraiser; the second reading of an ordinance to amend the budget for camera systems at the rec center, police department, and city hall, and library furniture; a proposed agreement with Beetle Electric for electrical service at the sawmill development; a proposal from Eden Hunt for construction staking, materials testing, and construction administration for the airport apron project for $610,000; and a certificate of final completion for the Spearfish Creek Bank Stabilization project. The meeting will also include an executive session on electronic and cybersecurity data.

Shape Spearfish Unified Development Code Presentation

• Assistant Planning Director Ecker introduced Elizabeth Garvin, AICP, ESQ, and Maggie Squyer, AICP, from Clarion Associates. Squyer, the project manager, presented the purpose, timeline, and community engagement plan for the 18-month UDC rewrite, which aims to implement the Adventure Ahead Comprehensive Plan by creating and updating land development regulations. The project will revise chapters on mobile and manufactured homes, subdivisions, trees and landscaping, and zoning.
• The project has four key objectives: implement adopted plans, clarify development review processes, establish regulations supporting well-managed growth, and create a user-friendly code. It is divided into three phases: technical drafting (August 2026 – March 2027), public review (April – September 2027), and adoption (October 2027 – January 2028).
• Community participation opportunities include public open houses, an online survey, staff-led office hours, a project advisory board (20 members from various stakeholder groups), and public hearings. The first advisory board meeting occurred earlier that day, covering topics such as agricultural conservation, housing affordability, infrastructure costs, downtown vibrancy, and process improvements.
• Garvin and Squyer solicited council input on land use priorities. Council member Hafner emphasized the importance of maintaining neighborhood consistency and character, citing Eastide Acres as a model for mixed-use development that transitions from light commercial to multifamily to single-family. He expressed support for the Development Review Mixed (DRM) zoning district.
• Future council presentations are planned approximately every six to eight weeks during the first phase, with two in the second phase and one in the third.

Departmental Discussion

• Public Works Director McMahon announced that the downtown mill and overlay project is on schedule and nearing completion with pavement marking.
• Assistant Planning Director Ecker noted a recent vacancy on the Planning Commission and encouraged interested individuals to apply.
• Police Chief Smith provided a detailed briefing on staffing challenges. The department is currently down eight officers, soon to be nine, due to high hiring standards and difficulty finding qualified applicants. He emphasized that the department will not lower its standards, as rigorous background checks have washed out three applicants in the last 72 hours. Officers are working significant overtime, and the department has handled 11 emergency mental health committals in the past four weeks, one requiring 329 consecutive officer hours. Smith asked for patience and highlighted that two applicants are currently in the background process (down from five earlier in the week). Council member Jacobs praised the department's performance and expressed no complaints.
• City Administrator Wysocki reminded council of the upcoming Planning Commission meeting on October 6, 2026, to review a conditional use permit for a used car lot at Grant and Main. He also noted that a working group of city, county, and community members will meet on October 2, 2026, to begin updating the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) ordinance. Wysocki thanked Ecker, Mathis, and Spiering for their extra work on the UDC.

Key Outcomes

• The council approved the study session agenda and adjourned with no other formal votes. The UDC presentation was informational, with future presentations scheduled to provide guidance and policy interpretation. The next regular City Council meeting is set for October 5, 2026, where the reviewed agenda items will be considered for action.