Clay County tables rezone for Beresford-area tract after residents raise traffic, drainage and water-supply concerns

The Clay County Commission on May 20 tabled consideration of a rezone application for land west of Truck Town near Beresford, delaying a final decision until the county receives a hydraulic study from the local rural water provider.

The application would rezone a parcel near Highway 46 (between 460 Ninth and 4xx Seventh in the applicant’s presentation) to allow two commercial lots and 17 rural‑residential lots; the developer’s engineer said the smallest new lot would be about 2.1 acres and that proposed lots would rely on on‑site septic systems.

The vote followed more than an hour of testimony from the applicant’s representatives and a long public comment period during which neighboring property owners described safety and quality‑of‑life concerns. Residents repeatedly urged the commission to require formal confirmation that the local rural water system can support the development and to secure state and DOT approvals for any new highway approaches before approving the rezone.

Project presentation and technical details Eric Willitson, project engineer with Willitson Lund Engineering, described the project as a mixed proposal with two commercial lots and 17 rural residential lots clustered along a creek. Willitson said the plan responds to concerns raised at the Planning & Zoning hearing by moving a proposed driveway toward the…