By Dave Baumeister
County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – While a few people stayed to make random comments, at the end of a marathon Minnehaha County Commission meeting this week, much earlier, around 50 people were there to oppose a rezoning measure for a private development near Crooks.
The second reading and final vote on rezoning 61 acres of land from A1 Ag to Rural Residential was for the purpose of developing a subdivision of 25 to 30 lots, approximately one-and- one-half miles northeast of the Crooks/Renner exit off I-29.
This issue had been denied at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Feb. 28, but, as Planning Director Scott Anderson explained, all rezoning issues automatically go before the county commission for final approval or denial.
Developer and property owner Brian Hefty spoke of the benefits of the development for the tax base of Minnehaha County and Baltic School District.
However, 10 nearby landowners, representing many of the other people present to oppose the issue, talked about several other problems with the major drawback being the effect on Mapleton Township roads.
Several pointed out the increase of around 200 vehicles per day going over gravel roads two or more times each day, along with an increase of sanitation and delivery vehicles servicing the development.
Problems with the proximity to Sioux Falls wells and frequent flooding impacting emergency services were also discussed.
Overall, though, those who spoke were not against development, but felt this location and plan were not appropriate.
In his rebuttal to opponents, Hefty acquiesced to many of the neighbor’s comments, but he did point out some erroneous information and made it clear, if not now, the land would be developed at some time in the future, and he asked for direction from the county and planning commissions on how to do it correctly.
Commissioner Dean Karsky also believed the development would eventually happen, but more needed to be done to make the project palatable to others.
A motion to deny the development and uphold the planning commission’s decision was approved 5-0.
Vacation rentals
In another planning and zoning matter, county commissioners approved the adoption of a new short-term rental policy on a 3-2 vote.
Planning Commission liaison Joe Kippley said that the ordinance verbiage was mainly to clear up old wording in the zoning ordinance.
As it is now, the best definition for a vacation/short-term rental falls under “bed and breakfast” rentals, and that doesn’t really apply to Airbnb/Vrbo-type businesses.
The new wording/ordinance called for the need of a conditional use permit for these types of rentals.
Karsky and Commissioner Jen Bleyenberg, the two “no” votes on approving the ordinance, spoke about the difficulties involved with the CUP process, and that it was overly burdensome to put property owners through that.
“This is a solution looking for a problem that doesn’t exist,” Karsky said.
The next meeting of the county commission will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 4 on the third floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building.
