Spearfish Planning Commission Meeting – June 16, 2026

The Spearfish Planning Commission met on June 16, 2026 at 4:02 PM in City Hall and via Zoom, adjourning at 5:40 PM. All commissioners were present except Davison. The meeting covered approval of routine items, an appointment to the Art in Public Places Advisory Board, a detailed discussion on possible revisions to the Planning Commission bylaws, and an update on the Highway 85 North annexation area from a recent City Council study session.

Consent Calendar

• Approve Agenda – Motion by Bordewyk, second by Wilde; passed 5-0.
• Approve Minutes (May 19, 2026) – Motion by Bordewyk, second by Wilde; passed 5-0.
• Declaration of Conflicts – None identified.

Items for Action

• Appointment of Planning Commission Member to Art in Public Places Advisory Board – Commissioner Wilde moved to appoint Davison (absent) as the representative; second by Duncan. Motion passed 5-0. The board is newly formed under an amended city ordinance and will advise on public art matters.

Discussion Items

• Possible Updates to Planning Commission Bylaws – Community Development Director Peter Wysocki presented proposed changes, including:
  • Renaming "chairman" to "chairperson" and updating position titles.
  • Adding an order of proceedings for meetings, with public comments moved earlier in the agenda.
  • Standardizing order for land development action items (staff presentation, applicant, public comments for/against, deliberation, motion).
  • Whether the chairperson should vote; several commissioners expressed a desire to vote.
  • Disclosing conflicts of interest per item rather than at meeting start.
  • Requiring or encouraging dissenting commissioners to state reasons for the record.
  • Handling ex parte communications; some commissioners questioned the need for formal disclosure in a small community.
  • Adding an attendance requirement and creating a subcommittee provision (staff recommended removing it as antiquated). Commissioners debated the level of detail and flexibility, with many preferring general guidelines rather than rigid procedures. Staff will refine language for a future meeting.
• Update on City Council Study Session – Highway 85 North Annexation Area – Wysocki summarized a non‑action discussion with City Council. The area, annexed in two phases (2008 and 2013), has annexation agreements limiting city service obligations. Landowners prefer to remain in the city. Options discussed: maintain status quo, allow lower‑density development on wells/septic, create a financing mechanism for infrastructure, or pursue de‑annexation (which landowners oppose). City Council took no action, but the dialogue opened policy considerations. A working group may be formed to craft related ordinances.

Items from Commissioners

• Commissioners discussed the need for better attendance communication. Suggestions included using Outlook calendar accept/decline for each meeting, notifying staff of absences in advance, and possibly adding alternate members to ensure quorum. Staff noted that bylaws could include a three‑day notice requirement and a policy for unexcused absences.

Departmental Discussion

• Wysocki reported that City Council approved seven ordinances on first reading (engineering design standards, floodplain, subdivision changes) and will consider second reading on July 6, 2026.
• An open house on Exit 10 reconfiguration will be held by DOT on Thursday at Hudson Hall.
• Staff attended Lawrence County Commission to improve coordination; work on ETJ regulations will resume.
• The rewrite of Title 15 (zoning code) is moving forward with a consultant, Clarion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joe Jorgensen, 1905 Stage Barn Circle – Opposed the proposed bylaw language that would prevent an applicant from introducing new evidence during rebuttal, arguing it unfairly restricts responses to public comments. He also provided historical context on the Highway 85 North annexation, noting that many parcels were voluntarily annexed without restrictive agreements, and reminded the commission that a previous large proposal did not materialize. He raised concerns about a no‑septic zone from a past lawsuit and questioned the city of Belle Fourche’s recent comments about septic regulations affecting their water supply. He emphasized the importance of ensuring a quorum for applicants who invest heavily in proposals.

Key Outcomes

• Appointment – Davison appointed to the Art in Public Places Advisory Board (5-0).
• Bylaws Revisions – No final decision; staff will incorporate commissioner feedback and present revised language at a future meeting (likely in two weeks).
• Highway 85 North Annexation – No action taken; City Council dialogue continues; staff will consider forming a working group.
• Attendance – Commissioners agreed to notify staff of absences in advance; potential alternate member structure to be explored.
• Next Meeting – Scheduled for July 7, 2026 (unless cancelled due to lack of agenda items).