County adopts amendment letting emergency services sign off on driveway permits

The Raleigh County Board of Commissioners on May 21 adopted Resolution 052126, amending the county’s driveway standards to expand who may review and approve driveway proposals.

Planning staff presented the amendment at a public hearing, explaining that the current rule requires the county engineer to review and approve all proposed driveways prior to plat or site‑plan approval. The amendment adds flexibility by allowing either the county engineer (or a designee) or the emergency services director (or a designee) to make those determinations. Planning staff said the change preserves the standards themselves and only expands administrative review authority. Both the Bridal County planning board and the Manhattan urban area planning board held work sessions and then unanimously recommended approval.

Commissioners opened the public hearing, heard no substantive opposition, closed the hearing and moved to adopt Resolution 052126. The motion was seconded and carried with recorded verbal “Aye” votes; the chair was asked to sign the resolution.

County staff noted the amendment is intended to streamline review without changing technical driveway standards; further tweaks to the document were foreshadowed as staff continues work with the planning boards. Because the change affects administrative review authority rather than altering the substantive standards, staff said implementation would be handled administratively.

Next steps: staff will publish the adopted amendment and update administrative review procedures so the emergency services director or an authorized designee can act where appropriate.