Planning staff release first annual progress report with housing and permit trackers

Vonna, the planning technician who authored the report, presented the city’s first annual Community Development and Comprehensive Plan progress report for 2025 and said it establishes a baseline for key performance indicators and future tracking.

"We permitted or approved 29,000 square feet of commercial and industrial space," Vonna said while summarizing permit and zoning trends. She reported that permits increased from 334 to 340 year-over-year, that 85% of permits were in DRD‑zoned areas, and that the median lot size among recent permits is about 0.2 acres.

On inspections, staff said three inspectors performed 932 inspections last year with a 92% pass rate; the presenter noted that framing and final-building inspections accounted for the majority of failures and identified targeted educational opportunities with the Black Hills Home Builders Association.

The report also compiled planning activity and housing-tracker data. Staff said planning commission activity included 23 meetings and 17 public hearings in the year. Citing a 2022 Black Hills housing study benchmark, the presentation said the city has "overbuilt by a 110 single family units" relative to projections and still needs about 60 multifamily units to meet the 2030 target; staff indicated that TIF‑backed projects (including Peaceful Pines and Stoneridge Commons) include units tied to affordability mechanisms.

The report will be available online and staff said they will present it again to the city council as part of an upcoming study session and budget presentations.