Commission approves PUD inquiry for Institute for Creation Research; staff to confirm emergency access, septic and permits

The Pennington County Planning Commission on June 9 approved a planned unit development (PUD) overlay request from the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) to explore educational, visitor and limited on‑site training uses at the Black Hills Children’s Home property on South Rockerville Road.

Jason Thenison, Assistant Planning Director, said the 80.22‑acre parcel has multiple existing structures and on‑site wastewater systems tied to the children’s home. The PUD petition would allow ICR to validate the feasibility of its planned uses prior to purchasing the property. "They plan to add some fourplex type of structures... for people attending any of the seminars or any of the events that they have up there," Thenison said.

County emergency services and addressing staff asked that an internal road network be connected as a loop rather than a series of dead ends to improve emergency access; Thenison said staff had not yet discussed the loop option with the applicant but that addressing and road naming could be used as a fallback. Thenison also noted that planned growth will require separate permits for stormwater, building construction and on‑site wastewater from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Several commissioners praised the preliminary proposal and staff availability. One commissioner asked that condition 2 be edited to require the internal road connection (changing the word "considers" to "connect"). The commission approved COPU25‑0003 with 24 conditions and amended condition 2 per the commissioners’ direction.

Thenison said the PUD approval does not replace required permits: the applicant will still need building permits, wastewater approvals and any other regulatory clearances before construction or changes in use occur. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final action.