Board hears developer, planning staff and approves special‑use hearing packet for Graves Enterprises

The Gage County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing March 18 on Special Use Permit 2026‑1, an application by Graves Enterprises to locate a commercial agricultural business on a 3.58‑acre site near Highway 41. Planning staff summarized the P&Z review and said 106 nearby landowners had been notified and no opposition was recorded at the planning commission meeting. NDOT reviewed the highway driveway, and the county’s planning staff and highway representative had inspected the location.

Bob Graves (speaker 4) was sworn and described the business: Graves Enterprises (also referenced as Graves Access Seed and Graves Logistics), selling seed and smaller agricultural products; he said he was not setting up bulk fertilizer operations and that fuel tanks would be self‑contained. He told the board the project would likely start small and could grow to additional employees over time. “I’m Bob Graves with Graves Access Seed,” he said while describing planned buildings and site uses.

Planning staff (speaker 9) told the board the application fully met the county’s guidelines and had passed Planning & Zoning 6–0 with one member absent. Board members asked clarifying questions about tanks, septic/lagoon use and employment; staff confirmed the full packet was available for review. The board closed the hearing (motion carried) and agreed to place the item on a future agenda for final action, noting no P&Z opposition and that required driveway permits and landowner notifications had been completed.

Next steps: the permit will return to a future board agenda for formal final action after any remaining administrative reviews and permit clearances.