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MINUTES OF THE MINNEHAHA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 23, 2026
County Administration Building, 3rd Floor Commission Chambers
415 N. Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104
County Planning Commissioners Present:
Bonnie Duffy, Chair Ryan VanDerVliet, Commissioner
Becky Randall, Vice-Chair Cindy Heiberger, Commissioner
Adam Mohrhauser, Commissioner Joe Kippley, County Commissioner
Mike Ralston, Commissioner
County Staff Present:
Kevin Hoekman, Senior Planner Maggie Gillespie, State’s Attorney
Mason Steffen, Senior Planner
Call to Order
Bonnie Duffy chaired the meeting and called the Minnehaha County Planning Commission meeting to
order at 7:47 pm.
Public Comment
Commissioner Duffy opened the floor for public comment, and nobody moved to speak.
Consent Agenda:
1) Approval of Minutes – February 23, 2026
2) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT No. 26 - 10 to allow an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on the property
legally described as Tract 2 Hanten’s Addition NW¼ NW¼ Section 27 T101N-R48W Split Rock
Township.
3) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT No. 26 - 11 to exceed 2,400 square feet of accessory building space
(requesting 4,008 square feet) on the property legally described as Lot 7 Paulsons Subdivision (Ex.
E66’) Section 2 T101N-R48W Split Rock Township.
4) REZONING No. 26 - 04 to rezone from the A-1 Agricultural District to the C Commercial District the
property legally described as the W200’ of Tract 2 Otterby’s Addition (Ex. Lot H-2) NE¼ Section 12
T102N-R50W Benton Township.
Consent Agenda Action
Commissioner Duffy read each item on the consent agenda, and no items were requested to be
moved to the regular agenda. A motion was made to approve the consent agenda consisting of
Items 1, 2, 3, & 4 by Commissioner VanDerVliet and seconded by Commissioner Heiberger. The
motion passed unanimously with 6 votes in favor and 0 votes against the motion.

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Regular Agenda:
5) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT No. 26 - 12 to allow a Telecommunications Tower on the property legally
described as the SW¼ (Ex. Schuster’s Addition) Section 32 T102N-R47W Red Rock Township.
Conditional Use Permit No. 26 - 12 Minutes:
Kevin Hoekman, of county planning staff, presented the staff report and recommendation to the
commission.
Mark Erickson, of 48475 262nd Street, Valley Springs, SD, explained that he owns a private airport to the
southwest of the proposed tower and brought up several concerns he has with the tower location. Mr.
Erickson also stated that since the tower is under two-hundred feet then the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) is not required to approve the tower.
The representatives for the tower, Blair Ransom and Mike Long, addressed the commission and
explained the network need and said that they have been in contact with a consultant regarding the
FAA rules. They also explained that the county’s required 1,300 feet setback from any residence limited
their potential locations.
Three other neighbors to the proposed tower also spoke in opposition of the item. They brought up
concerns regarding property values, health and safety, and the affect on future building eligibility sales.
The neighbors who spoke in opposition were Dan Hup, of 26196 485th Avenue, Valley Springs, SD;
Thomas Schuster, of 48518 262nd Street, Valley Springs, SD; and Dale Hanson, of 26143 486th Avenue,
Valley Springs, SD.
A motion was made by Commissioner Ralston and seconded by Commissioner Kippley to deny
Conditional Use Permit No. 26 – 12. The motion passed unanimously with 6 votes in favor and 0
votes against the motion.
6) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT No. 26 - 07 to allow an Agricultural Related Operation (Portable Building
Sales) on the properties legally described as Tract 4C & Tract 4D Meyer’s Addition NW¼ Section 15
T103N-R52W Clear Lake Township.
Conditional Use Permit No. 26 – 07 Minutes:
Kevin Hoekman, of county planning staff, presented the staff report and recommendation to the
commission.
The petitioner, Brian Jones, briefly explained his business model and stated that he was in favor of the
conditions recommended by planning staff.
A motion was made by Commissioner Mohrhauser and seconded by Commissioner VanDerVliet
to approve Conditional Use Permit No. 26 – 07 with the staff recommended conditions. A roll call
vote was taken and the motion passed with 4 votes in favor and 2 votes against the motion.
Commissioners Ralston and Heiberger voted against the motion.
7) ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT No. 26 - 06 to amend the 1990 Revised Zoning Ordinance for Minnehaha
County to update Article 24.00 Fees.
Zoning Text Amendment No. 26 – 06 Minutes:
Kevin Hoekman, of county planning staff, presented the ordinance and proposed fee amendments to
the commission.

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A motion was made by Commissioner Ralston and seconded by Commissioner Mohrhauser to
recommend approval of Zoning Text Amendment No. 26 – 06. The motion passed unanimously
with 6 votes in favor and 0 votes against the motion.
8) Old Business - None
9) New Business
a. Briefing and Authorize Notice of Public Hearing for the County Building/Zoning Permit
Ordinance Amendments No. 26 - 07, No. 26 - 08 and No. 26 - 09 – County Planning Staff
Briefing/Notice of Hearing Minutes:
Mason Steffen, of county planning staff, explained the proposed ordinance amendments to the
commission and requested authorization to publish notice of hearings in the county newspapers.
A motion was made by Commissioner VanDerVliet and seconded by Commissioner Heiberger
to authorize a public hearing for Ordinance Amendments 26 - 07, 26 - 08, and 26 - 09 at the
April 28, 2026, meeting. The motion passed unanimously with 6 votes in favor and 0 votes
against the motion.
ADJOURN – A motion was made to adjourn by Commissioner VanDerVliet and seconded by Commissioner
Kippley. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 pm.