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Record of Proceedings

Spearfish Planning Commission Meeting - October 20, 2026

Planning Commission — Tuesday, October 20, 2026
BodySpearfish, South Dakota
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, October 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:34

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

8:15

Call the meeting to order, please.

8:18

Anyway, roll call.

Speaker 2

8:22

Yes.

8:26

Davison.

Speaker 3

8:27

Here.

Speaker 2

8:28

Here.

8:29

Borderwick.

8:31

Duncan.

Speaker 1

8:32

Here.

8:36

Thank you.

8:37

Are there any changes to the agenda?

8:41

Okay.

Unassigned speaker

8:42

You

Speaker 1

8:42

entertain a motion to approve the agenda, please.

Speaker 3

8:47

Second.

Speaker 1

8:48

Discussion.

Unassigned speaker

8:50

All

Speaker 1

8:50

in favor signify by saying I.

8:57

Are there any changes or corrections on the minutes from the last meeting October sixth?

Speaker 2

9:03

Yes, um, one amendment to item F one.

9:06

The vote should be five to zero.

9:09

Um, not five to one.

9:10

There were not six of you.

Unassigned speaker

9:13

So

Speaker 2

9:13

just that amendment.

9:14

Okay.

9:15

Item F1.

Speaker 3

9:17

Move to approve as amended.

9:21

Second.

Speaker 1

9:24

A motion and a second.

9:25

Discussion on the motion.

Unassigned speaker

9:27

All

Speaker 1

9:27

in favor signify by saying aye.

9:29

Aye.

9:30

Aye.

9:31

Opposed, same sign.

9:32

Motion passes.

9:34

Now's the time for comments from the public.

9:37

If you have comments you'd like to share with this, please come to the podium.

Unassigned speaker

9:41

I'm assuming turn it on and state your name and address and tell us what you're thinking.

Speaker 1

9:49

Anyone?

9:51

Anyone online?

9:54

Okay.

9:55

Thank you much.

9:57

Items for action.

9:58

Final flat for lots A, B, and C Spring Creek Ranch Estates.

Speaker 4

10:07

Chair, I will note, although I don't think it's a true conflict of interest.

10:13

My parents do own land in that area.

10:16

Not directly adjacent to Mr.

10:18

Lightch's property, but nearby.

10:21

But I hold no interest in my parents' property.

10:24

So

Unassigned speaker

10:26

just

Speaker 4

10:26

for disclosure.

Speaker 1

10:28

All right, thank

Unassigned speaker

10:29

you.

Speaker 1

10:30

Are there any other conflicts pertaining to this item?

10:36

Okay, please go ahead.

Speaker 5

10:42

Thank you.

10:44

First item on the agenda today for action is the final plat of lots A, B, and C of the Spring Creek Ranch estates.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Development█████████████████████████████████████████████63%
Personnel Matters███████████15%
Procedural██████████14%
Public Engagement████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Spearfish Planning Commission Meeting Summary - October 20, 2026

The Spearfish Planning Commission met on October 20, 2026, at 4:00 PM at City Hall and via Zoom. The meeting included approval of the agenda and minutes, two action items on final plats, and departmental updates. No public comments were received.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Agenda: Motion carried unanimously with no changes.
  • Approval of Minutes (October 6, 2026): An amendment corrected the vote on Item F.1 from the prior meeting to 5-0 (not 5-1). Minutes approved as amended.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public provided comments.

Discussion Items

  • Final Plat of Lots A, B, and C, Spring Creek Ranch Estates: Staff presented the proposal to subdivide approximately 122 acres east of Highway 85 North into three lots (A, B, C) with agricultural zoning. The property was annexed in 2008 under an agreement stating the city has no obligation to extend utilities or improve roads. Access is via Johnson Lane (county-maintained) and Kellum Lane (unmaintained). Staff recommended approval with two conditions: 1) finalize a development agreement memorializing granted exceptions to city road standards and acknowledging no city obligation for improvements until further subdivision/development triggers a north-south local road per the master transportation plan; 2) dedicate section line right-of-way along Johnson Lane. The county will also review. The developer acknowledged fire apparatus access requirements. Motion to approve with conditions carried unanimously.
  • Final Plat Combining Two Residential Lots into One (ETJ): Applicant Loren Vrem, c/o Terry Liddick, requested combining two lots (zoned A-1, minimum 40 acres) at 2630 Lookout Mountain Road into a single 40-acre tract. The property has existing private septic, well, residence, garages, and sheds. No additional access points proposed. Staff recommended approval for compliance with ETJ Subdivision Ordinance and Lawrence County zoning. Motion to approve as recommended carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • The Commission recommended approval of both final plats to the City Council. The Spring Creek Ranch Estates plat will also go to the County Commission (October 27) and the City Council (likely November 2) with the development agreement. The ETJ lot combination will go to City Council with a public hearing and to the County Commission for highway authority signature.
  • No other action items were discussed.

Departmental Updates

  • Planning Commission Vacancy: Interviews for the vacant seat (replacing Dylan) to be conducted by the mayor and staff in the coming days.
  • Community Development Director Recruitment: Position posted; first-round applicant reviews completed; multi-step interview process to begin, involving Planning Commission Chair.
  • ETJ Ordinance Update: Working group meeting scheduled for October 30, coordinated with county planning staff.
  • Shakespeare Fish (Shakespeare Fisheries?) Update: Open house held two weeks ago; engagement boards remain at the City Rec Center this week for public feedback.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at approximately [time not specified].

Meeting Transcript

Call the meeting to order, please. Anyway, roll call. Yes. Davison. Here. Here. Borderwick. Duncan. Here. Thank you. Are there any changes to the agenda? Okay. You entertain a motion to approve the agenda, please. Second. Discussion. All in favor signify by saying I. Are there any changes or corrections on the minutes from the last meeting October sixth? Yes, um, one amendment to item F one. The vote should be five to zero. Um, not five to one. There were not six of you. So just that amendment. Okay. Item F1. Move to approve as amended. Second. A motion and a second. Discussion on the motion. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Now's the time for comments from the public. If you have comments you'd like to share with this, please come to the podium. I'm assuming turn it on and state your name and address and tell us what you're thinking. Anyone? Anyone online? Okay. Thank you much. Items for action. Final flat for lots A, B, and C Spring Creek Ranch Estates. Chair, I will note, although I don't think it's a true conflict of interest. My parents do own land in that area. Not directly adjacent to Mr. Lightch's property, but nearby.

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