OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Spearfish, South Dakota/Planning Commission
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Spearfish Planning Commission Regular Meeting - October 21, 2025

Planning Commission — Tuesday, October 21, 2025
BodySpearfish, South Dakota
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, October 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:04:09

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

2:10

Good, thank you.

2:10

Save my tape.

Unassigned speaker

2:13

And

Speaker 1

2:13

I hate being

Unassigned speaker

2:14

late.

Speaker 1

2:18

If I'm not early, I'm late.

2:29

She's not late, she's not out.

Unassigned speaker

2:52

Okay,

Speaker 1

2:52

it's four o'clock.

2:53

Let's call the meeting to order.

2:55

Could we have roll call, please?

Speaker 2

3:00

I'm sorry, I think the minute.

Unassigned speaker

3:44

Okay,

Speaker 1

3:44

let's call the main in order

Unassigned speaker

3:45

again.

Speaker 3

3:50

Sure can.

3:53

Davidson, here.

3:55

Matt's

Speaker 1

3:56

here.

Speaker 3

3:58

Wild.

Speaker 1

3:59

Here.

Speaker 3

4:00

Duncan.

Speaker 1

4:02

Is approving the agenda.

4:04

Do we have anything on the agenda that we want to change?

Speaker 3

4:09

Staff would recommend moving the public comment item I to the beginning of the meeting right before items for action, as we do have somebody that intends to provide public comment today.

Unassigned speaker

4:38

All

Speaker 1

4:38

in favor signify by saying aye.

4:42

Oh, same sign.

Speaker 4

5:03

There were a couple of minor revisions made that were included in the package that you received.

5:07

So just wanted to point out that there were those uh few updates there.

Speaker 1

5:11

All right,

Speaker 4

5:11

thank you.

5:12

What were the revisions?

5:14

The revisions dealt with, and if you'll give me one minute, I'll pull the minutes

Unassigned speaker

5:18

up.

Speaker 4

5:21

On item number two, the summary of the uh of the discussion, there was a uh clarification as to the uh

Unassigned speaker

5:28

uh

Speaker 4

5:29

comments made by Michael Peters um during the uh public hearing, and also at the end, there was a uh clarification that the conceptual layout for the 50 acre track was suggested uh by city staff and um

Unassigned speaker

5:44

uh

Speaker 4

5:45

acknowledged by uh the chair.

5:48

That was the those were the only two revisions.

Speaker 1

5:51

Okay.

5:54

Entertain the motion of the

Speaker 5

5:56

I move

Speaker 1

5:57

to approve.

Speaker 6

5:58

Second.

Speaker 1

5:59

Discussion on the motion.

6:01

All in favor, signified by saying aye.

6:03

Aye post, same sign.

6:06

Okay, now the minutes from the October 7th meeting, please.

6:11

Any corrections or changes on those?

6:16

Entertain a motion to approval.

Speaker 6

6:19

Move to approve.

Speaker 1

6:20

Second discussion.

Unassigned speaker

6:23

All

Speaker 1

6:23

in favor of the motion six by saying aye.

6:26

I post the same sign.

6:28

Are there any conflicts of interest pertaining to the agenda?

6:32

I have none.

6:34

Everybody okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████████████████36%
Land Development█████████████████████████25%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Procedural█████5%
Zoning Regulations█████5%
Legal Affairs████4%
Affordable Housing██2%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Spearfish Planning Commission Regular Meeting - October 21, 2025

The Spearfish Planning Commission met on October 21, 2025, at 4:00 PM at City Hall and via Zoom. The meeting covered routine approvals, public comments, and several land-use action items including a preliminary plat for the False Bottom Addition and variances for Blue Sky Estates. Key outcomes included the appointment of a Vice-Chair, recommendation for approval of the False Bottom preliminary plat, and approval of some variances while denying others for Blue Sky Estates.

Consent Calendar

  • Approve Agenda: The agenda was approved with a motion to move the public comment period to before Items for Action. (Unanimous)
  • Approve Minutes: Minutes from September 16, 2025 and October 7, 2025 were approved with minor revisions noted. (Unanimous)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Emily Castopolis (Green Acres subdivision property owner) spoke about her lot at 31st Street and 7th Avenue, zoned R3. She requested a variance to allow subdivision of the lot into two separate townhomes for individual ownership, noting current R3 zoning allows two rental units but not separate lots. She withdrew her formal variance request to first seek commission feedback. Commissioners suggested exploring a condominium structure, meeting with planning staff, or rezoning to DRD. No action was taken.
  • Micah Peters (239 Evans Lane) spoke during the later public comment period. He thanked the commission for public discussion, suggested bonding for road improvements proportional to development, raised concerns about open space requirements, and cautioned against relying on past inconsistent decisions. (No action taken.)

Discussion Items

  • Appointment of Vice-Chairperson: Commissioner Amy was nominated and elected to serve as Vice-Chair for the remainder of the term (through January 2026). Motion carried unanimously.
  • Preliminary Plat – False Bottom Addition (City of Spearfish): The city proposed a preliminary plat for Lots 2-6 of Tract R, False Bottom Addition, located at 4025 E Colorado Boulevard (Heavy industrial zoning, TIF District #8). Staff presented updates from the last meeting, including added floodplain limits and topography. A commissioner expressed concern about the future extension of Aspen Drive across the creek, citing cost and limited benefit. Staff explained it stems from the Colorado Boulevard Corridor study as a potential east-west connector. The commission recommended approval of the preliminary plat. Motion carried.
  • Variances – Blue Sky Estates (Rory Maynard): The commission considered three variance requests related to subdivision standards for a preliminary plat (3 tracts, ~60 acres) south of E Colorado Boulevard and Maitland Road (ETJ area). Each variance was discussed separately:
    1. Variance 1 (Road Width & Base Course): Applicant requested a 24-foot gravel road (with 4 inches of base course) instead of the required 36-foot minor arterial (with 6 inches). Applicant cited extreme rock conditions and topographical hardship; staff highlighted the master transportation plan. After debate, a motion to grant the variance for the 24-foot width and approve the 6-inch to 4-inch base course reduction was approved on a tie-breaking vote by the chair (commissioners split 2-2).
    2. Variance 1 (Road Extension): Applicant requested to omit construction of the eastern portion of Centennial Road extending to the property boundary, required by ordinance. A motion to deny this variance carried. The commission noted the matter could be revisited at final platting with a possible deferral and financial guarantee by city council.
    3. Variance (Grade, Slope, Curve Deviations – Subpart 3): Staff supported the minor deviation due to unique topography. A motion to grant the variance carried.
  • Preliminary Plat – Blue Sky Estates: After the variances, the commission considered the preliminary plat itself. Staff recommended requiring a pedestrian access easement at the north end of the cul-de-sac. After discussion, the commission declined to require the easement due to steep topography and limited utility. A motion to approve the plat as amended by the granted variances carried.

Key Outcomes

  • Vice-Chair appointed: Amy was appointed Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission.
  • False Bottom Addition preliminary plat: Recommended for approval to City Council.
  • Blue Sky Estates variances: Two variances granted (road width/base course and grading/curve deviations); one variance denied (road extension to property boundary). e- Blue Sky Estates preliminary plat: Approved by the commission. nNote: Meeting adjourned after public comment and commissioner discussion regarding ordinance updates and future study sessions.

Meeting Transcript

Good, thank you. Save my tape. And I hate being late. If I'm not early, I'm late. She's not late, she's not out. Okay, it's four o'clock. Let's call the meeting to order. Could we have roll call, please? I'm sorry, I think the minute. Okay, let's call the main in order again. Sure can. Davidson, here. Matt's here. Wild. Here. Duncan. Is approving the agenda. Do we have anything on the agenda that we want to change? Staff would recommend moving the public comment item I to the beginning of the meeting right before items for action, as we do have somebody that intends to provide public comment today. All in favor signify by saying aye. Oh, same sign. There were a couple of minor revisions made that were included in the package that you received. So just wanted to point out that there were those uh few updates there. All right, thank you. What were the revisions? The revisions dealt with, and if you'll give me one minute, I'll pull the minutes up. On item number two, the summary of the uh of the discussion, there was a uh clarification as to the uh uh comments made by Michael Peters um during the uh public hearing, and also at the end, there was a uh clarification that the conceptual layout for the 50 acre track was suggested uh by city staff and um uh acknowledged by uh the chair. That was the those were the only two revisions. Okay. Entertain the motion of the I move to approve. Second. Discussion on the motion. All in favor, signified by saying aye. Aye post, same sign. Okay, now the minutes from the October 7th meeting, please.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com