Planning commission approves home-based firearms business permit in Shetland Lane neighborhood

The Pennington County Planning Commission on Oct. 14 approved Conditional Use Permit COCU 20‑518, allowing David Wyckoff to operate a home‑based firearms business from his garage at 14773 Shetland Lane in a suburban residential district.

Britney Hand, Pennington County planning director, described the application and staff review. Assistant planner Christine Phillip said the request was routed to other departments and that one comment from the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources was included in the packet. She said the applicant holds a South Dakota sales tax license and that "the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has been in contact with the staff" to confirm that the county land‑use permits were appropriate for a Federal Firearms License holder. Phillip told the commission services would not include activities involving hazardous materials and that staff had received no complaints about the operation to date.

The commission approved the permit with the staff recommendation of 12 conditions. The record shows a condition that the operation is not permitted to conduct on‑premises retail sales; commissioners also noted the standard review procedure that a permit will be reviewed after one year or sooner if a complaint is filed.

Neighbors who spoke at the meeting expressed support. Ronald Cordes, president of the Valley View Estates Homeowners Association, told commissioners his association held a meeting with Wyckoff and "we okayed that as a board," and said the business will operate out of the garage. Neighbor Linda Schilling, who lives across the street, said she initially had concerns but after meeting the applicant, "I personally, as a neighbor, believe he would be much more of an asset than a liability to our community." A commissioner noted the one‑year review: "If this gets approved, I believe the standard procedure is that this gets reviewed in 1 year or upon a complaint basis."

The motion to approve was moved and seconded; the vote was taken by voice and the chair announced the motion carried.

The permit record on file includes the staff report noting routing and the single DANR comment, the requirement that the applicant maintain appropriate federal licensing, and the 12 conditions the commission adopted, including the restriction on on‑site retail sales and the review provision.