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Board approves second reading to rezone 36.5 acres in Liberty Township; residents protest potential development
Summary
After a public hearing with multiple residents opposed, the Woodbury County Board approved a second reading to rezone roughly 35.36–36.5 acres from Agricultural Preservation to Agricultural Estates for Skinner Holdings LLC; the vote passed 4–0 with Supervisor Dave Dietrich abstaining. The third reading and subdivision plat are scheduled next week.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors approved the second reading of a zoning‑map amendment to change roughly 35.36 acres (referred to in materials as about 36.5 acres) from Agricultural Preservation (AP) to Agricultural Estates (AE) for a parcel ending in 0011 owned by Doug Skinner and Skinner Holdings LLC.
Dan Priestley of the county planning and zoning staff summarized the request and described the process as the second of three public hearings; he said the subdivision plat will be introduced next week and that both the rezone and the plat will be considered together then. The board opened a public hearing and allowed three‑minute comments from members of the public.
Several nearby residents spoke in opposition. Cindy Foy said she was opposed and pointed to an attorney’s title opinion in the meeting packet and asked about a trail‑system easement filed April 2024. Gary McMullen, who lives across the road from the minor subdivision, said residents value the scenery and opposed the change. Darlin McMullen, who lives directly across from the site, said she feared damage to the Loess Hills landscape, cited tree removal and what she described as bulldozer activity, and criticized the zoning hearing process for unequal speaking time.
Brenton Feitenberger, who said he holds a financial option on remaining tracts and spoke for the applicant while Doug Skinner was out of town, told the board the proposal conforms to current Woodbury County code and landowner rights. Feitenberger offered a draft restriction the board could adopt limiting development to no more than three homes on the resulting lots, and described a previously filed recreational access agreement as temporary rather than a permanent easement.
Board members questioned witnesses and the applicant about soil suitability and well‑drilling risks associated with local 'Hamburg' soils; one supervisor noted that in neighboring counties such soils have led to 20‑acre minimums for lots because of well‑drilling difficulties. County staff pointed to soil maps in the packet and said Hamburg soils appear mainly on the fringes of the parcel and that prospective buyers would be expected to perform soil and well testing.
Supervisor Dave Dietrich reiterated that he would abstain from votes on this matter; the board moved to receive the submitted documents, closed the public hearing, and approved the second reading of the rezone 4–0 with Dietrich abstaining. The board reserved final action on the subdivision plat and the final rezone reading for the next meeting.
