Planning Commission recommends approval of several rezones and comprehensive-plan amendments near Box Elder and Rapid City jurisdiction

The Pennington County Planning Commission on May 12 recommended approval of multiple comprehensive plan amendments and rezonings affecting parcels near Box Elder and within Rapid City’s three-mile planning jurisdiction.

The commission voted to approve comprehensive plan amendment COCA25-00003 and rezone CORZ25-00005 (Items 12 and 13), which would change a 1.008-acre portion of 14630 Country Road from rural residential to low-density residential to allow subdivision into approximately one-acre lots; the applicants are Oliver and Shirley Painter and agent Lonnie Painter. Staff said infrastructure is served by private water and onsite wastewater and that interdepartmental review returned no objections. "Staff finds no significant issues with the applicants' request as it appears to be in harmony with existing and future land uses in the area," the staff report said.

The commission also approved COCA25-00004 and CORZ25-00006 (Items 14 and 15) for property at 13846 Highway 40 submitted by Todd and Laurie Hanson (Sagebrush LLC) to change zoning from agriculture (10-acre minimum) to rural residential (3-acre minimum) and to adjust lot lines for Haywood Estates; staff noted Tract 1 will be approximately 39.57 acres in Pennington County with a small portion in Custer County and Tract 2 will be 2.47 acres in Pennington County with 0.55 acres in Custer County. The applicants applied concurrently for a variance on lot size that will be heard by the Board of Adjustment on May 19.

Finally the commission recommended approval of COCA25-00005 and CORZ25-00004 (Items 16 and 17), a request to change land use and zoning from agriculture to a ranchland-type district within the Rapid City three-mile planning area; staff said surrounding infrastructure and future land uses are in harmony with the requested changes but noted a previously filed preliminary subdivision plan will need to be updated to match the new zoning. Votes on these items were unanimous and were taken after staff presentations; the commission’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Pennington County Board of Commissioners, which makes final decisions.

The staff presentations included maps of existing zoning within a half mile, planned private access easements, right-of-way widths and notes about water and wastewater service. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about existing residences on or adjacent to the parcels and the status of previously approved layout plans. The approvals were recommended with no additional conditions on the county actions noted in the staff report.