The South Dakota Supreme Court reversed a circuit court decision regarding an agricultural land zoning dispute involving MRose Development’s request to rezone land near Swan Lake in Turner County for lakefront housing.
Turner County had denied the rezoning request after opposition from local residents during a public hearing. MRose argued that the county succumbed to public pressure without justification, and the circuit court initially ruled in favor of MRose.
However, the Supreme Court found that the lower court misinterpreted state zoning laws and that MRose failed to prove the county acted arbitrarily.
The absence of recorded notes from the public hearing meant there was no statutory requirement for the county to provide a detailed explanation for its decision, leading the Supreme Court to uphold the county’s original denial of the rezoning request.