Planning commission approves preliminary plat for GSL Industrial, Sunstone IFD business park

The Twile County Planning Commission voted April 1 to approve preliminary plat application 2025-183 for the GSL Industrial and Sunstone IFD Interstate Business Park, enabling the applicant to move from a meets‑and‑bounds configuration toward a final subdivision.

Planning staff told commissioners the three‑parcel proposal aligns with the county general plan and the site's MG (manufacturing) zoning. ‘‘This area in the general plan is outlined as manufacturing,’’ staff said, and all reviewing agencies had approved the application pending the final subdivision step.

Millie, planning staff, said the proposal consists of two buildable lots and a third parcel that the applicant plans to keep as dedicated open space that includes wetlands. ‘‘They've built three internal roads’’ that provide access to the lots via GSL/Sunstone Drive off Burmeister, Millie said; the parcel before the commission does not touch Higgley Road.

Melanie Pollson, district general manager for the Tilla Valley Public Infrastructure District, told the commission the project includes a 15.13‑acre lot to house a wastewater treatment system and a 25‑acre lot for a commercial client. ‘‘Parcel A is just open space,’’ Pollson said, and wetlands on that parcel have been delineated and instrumented to prevent development.

During public comment, landowner Michael Jury urged coordination on road improvements, saying the community had been led to expect Higgley Road upgrades and wider easements to support truck routes. Planning staff responded that any frontage abutting prescriptive roads will be dedicated and improved when those parcels advance to subdivision, and emphasized that the parcels before the commission do not themselves front Higgley.

Commissioner St. moved to approve the preliminary plat based on staff findings and conditions; the motion passed on roll call.

Next steps: the applicant may prepare a final plat and must satisfy the conditions of approval, including any required agency or infrastructure requirements before recording.