County sets Feb. 18 hearing to consider adoption of Envision Comprehensive Plan; planners say public outreach included three open houses

The Minnehaha County Commission on Jan. 21 authorized the county auditor to publish a hearing notice for adoption of the county’s Envision Comprehensive Plan and set the public hearing for Feb. 18.

Scott Anderson, Minnehaha County planning director, briefed commissioners on the update process. The county’s previous comprehensive plan was adopted in 2015; staff began the update about 18 months ago, ran chapter-by-chapter reviews with the planning commission and held three public ‘‘envisioning’’ meetings in Hartford, Brandon and Dell Rapids. The planning commission recommended approval in November, Anderson said.

Anderson described public engagement that included an online portal with roughly 60 visits and a set of in-person open houses that drew, he said, “well over a hundred” attendees. The plan discusses several topics that commissioners highlighted, including consideration of accessory dwelling units and building-eligibility rules.

“On some questions, responses were neutral to slightly positive,” Anderson said of the online input, but he emphasized the in-person meetings as complementary to the web portal.

Commissioners discussed the level of public response and asked whether the online portal would remain open; Anderson said the portal would remain available through the Feb. 18 hearing publication and that the county would continue outreach. Commissioner comments thanked staff for public engagement efforts and noted that, if adopted, the plan will inform subsequent zoning and ordinance updates.

No substantive changes were made at the Jan. 21 meeting; the vote authorized the auditor to publish the legal notice required by state law and set the hearing date.