Davison County Planning Commission recommends approvals for variances, conditional use and multiple plats

At its March 4, 2025 meeting, the Davison County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a suite of land-use requests, forwarding a setback variance, a conditional use permit and three plats to the Board of Adjustment or County Commissioners for final action.

The commission recommended approval of a variance requested by Bradley (Brad) James to allow a proposed house addition to sit about 43 feet from the east property line — a reduction from the Agricultural Residential District minimum front-yard setback of 75 feet. Deputy Administrator Karen Wegleitner explained the house was built in 1975 and is grandfathered under the county ordinance adopted in 1996 "until 'messed with'," which is why James must seek a variance for the new addition. The motion to recommend approval to the Board of Adjustment passed on a roll-call vote with Haines, Thiesse, Gosmire, Nebelsick, Blaalid and Anderson voting aye and Bainbridge absent.

The commission also recommended approval of a conditional use permit for Jeff Nicholson to operate auto sales, including trailers, on property in the Agricultural District. Nicholson told the board that he collects and refurbishes cars and occasionally sells them, and that the property is owned by his grandfather while he lives there and maintains it. Nicholson said a dealership license is required only if an owner sells five or more vehicles in a year, and that he advertises via social media and word of mouth. Commissioners said they had received a complaint about vehicles being lined up at the property but noted that the parcel appeared well kept; the commission voted unanimously (members present) to recommend the permit to the Board of Adjustment with no conditions.

Several plats and a lot-size variance were also recommended for approval and forwarded to the County Commissioners. CJM Consulting's plat for Lots 2B, 2C and 2D of Westwood First Addition — located in the county's extra‑territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) — was presented and noted to follow the City of Mitchell zoning ordinance; the city has approved the plat and an existing county-approved liquor license will be transferred to Lot 2B (the planned steakhouse) after platting. PZ Partnership requested a variance to create an approximately 6-acre lot where the Agricultural District minimum residential lot size is 25 acres to allow Taylor Feterl to build a home; the commission recommended that variance and also recommended approval of PZ Partnership's Lot 1A plat for Feterl Addition. Finally, 4K Land Group LLC presented a plat to create three lots in Circle K Ranch Second Addition (SE1/4 of Section 6); applicant Tonya Klingaman said the lots will be sold to adjacent landowners. All three plats were recommended to the County Commissioners.

Motions on each matter were moved and seconded on the record and carried by roll call (Bruce Haines, Steve Thiesse, Ray Gosmire, Chris Nebelsick, Mike Blaalid and Dave Anderson voting aye; Lewis Bainbridge absent). No conflicts of interest were declared, and no public comments were offered on non‑agenda items. The commission set its next meeting for April 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 2:37 p.m.

What happens next: these recommendations go to the Board of Adjustment (for the variance and conditional use) or the County Commissioners (for plats) for final action; the minutes do not record final decisions by those bodies.