Spearfish Planning Commission Regular Meeting – July 21, 2026

The Spearfish Planning Commission met on July 21, 2026, at 4:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers and via Zoom. Five members were present (Tysdal, Moths, Wilde, Byrum, Duncan), with two absent (Bordewyk, Davison). The meeting was adjourned at 4:28 PM after considering two action items, a departmental update, and appointing commissioners to a code rewrite steering committee.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting agenda as presented (5-0).
• Approved the minutes from the July 7, 2026 meeting as presented (5-0).
• No conflicts of interest were declared.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rezoning request (Maitland Road & Aspen Drive): Applicant Rick Clayton (Camp K9) spoke in support of the rezoning. He described his plans for a 26,000-square-foot state-of-the-art doggy daycare facility (Camp K9) and a medical spa operated by his wife, a nurse practitioner. He emphasized the businesses are veteran-owned, disabled veteran-owned, and family-rooted in Spearfish. He stated that the rezoning was a condition of the TIF property purchase and that both businesses address needs lacking in the community.

Discussion Items

• Code rewrite (Title XV) steering committee: Community Development Director Peter Wysocki reported that the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Clarion Associates for a comprehensive rewrite of Title XV (zoning and subdivision regulations), an estimated 18-month process. He requested one or two planning commissioners to serve on the stakeholder steering committee, which will meet during regular business hours about four to six times. Commissioners Duncan and Moths volunteered to participate. Wysocki also noted that the commission’s bylaws would be ready for signing at the next regular meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Rezoning recommendation (Item F.1): The Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of rezoning the parcel at the intersection of Maitland Road and Aspen Drive from Heavy Industrial (HI) to Highway-Service Commercial (C2) to the City Council. The item will be placed on the City Council agenda for August 3, 2026, for first reading of the revised ordinance.
• Variance recommendation (Item F.2): The Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of a variance to reduce the front yard setback from 25 feet to 5 feet at 345 N 8th Street, and to set a public hearing for the Board of Adjustment on August 3, 2026. The motion was amended to include both the recommendation and the hearing setting.
• City Council action: The City Council approved a professional services agreement with Clarion Associates for the Title XV code rewrite (reported by staff).
• Next meeting: The next regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for August 4, 2026 (implied by the two-week cycle and the July 21 meeting).