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Pennington County planning panel approves permits, flags growing use of LLCs on applications
Summary
The Pennington County Planning Commission approved two minor planned-unit amendments for fireworks sales, a home-occupation nail salon permit and a lot-line adjustment on June 22, 2026, while a commissioner warned that applicants increasingly use multiple LLCs to obscure ownership and urged rules changes.
The Pennington County Planning Commission on June 22 approved several land-use requests and recorded a member warning about applicants using multiple limited liability companies to obscure ownership.
The panel approved two minor planned-unit development amendments allowing retail and wholesale seasonal fireworks sales — PUR18-02 (approved with 15 conditions) and PUR20-04 (approved with 16 conditions) — following a motion and voice votes. The commission also approved conditional use permit CO26-00009 to allow a by-appointment, one-chair home nail salon at 5577 Shaw Court for owner Sarah Campbell, with 13 conditions and a corrected wording in condition seven to require a sidewalk rather than a “concrete path/side.”
Jason Thenson, assistant planning director, summarized staff recommendations and noted the items will be forwarded as recommendations to the Pennington County Board of Commissioners for final action on July 7, 2026.
“We're recommending approval of condition use permit CO26-00009 with conditions ... it is by appointment only with no overlap in appointments,” Cody Sax, planner, said when describing the proposed one-chair salon and the applicant’s plan for a small addition and a concrete walkway.
A commissioner raised a recurring procedural concern during the consent calendar discussion, saying that multiple LLCs are increasingly listed on applications and that ownership can be unclear. “LLC's can be pulled down from the internet and signed. ... I'm seeing the same thing in another situation ... it's becoming ... what I think an epidemic where we're not following through to see who owns what,” the commissioner said, urging staff and the commission to consider tightening rules or ordinances to ensure accountable ownership.
The commission also approved lot line adjustment plat L26-00006 for Jude and Jennifer Wildman at 13310 Silver Mountain Road, to split a tract into two lots. Jason Thenson said staff found the proposal consistent with current and future land uses and that County Highway had noted approach/grade issues to be resolved at building permit review.
During public questioning about slope and access, Ron Davis of Davis Engineering described the site as extremely steep. “That's one of the steepest pieces of property I've ever seen developed ... the access point looks like you can meet that 12% grade so that you don't slide out on the road,” Davis said, adding that interior grades remain very steep and could constrain future development.
All motions described above passed by voice vote; the record shows the commission used the standard “all in favor signify by saying ‘I’” process rather than recorded roll-call tallies. Where staff recommended conditions, the commission approved items with those conditions as stated on the record.
Next procedural step: the commission’s recommendations will be considered by the Pennington County Board of Commissioners at their July 7, 2026 regular meeting at 9:30 a.m.
