By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – On Tuesday, July 21, Minnehaha County Commissioners approved the addition of six additional housing lots to the Cedar Ridge planned development on the east side of SD Highway 115, one mile north of Renner.
While the vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Cindy Heiberger voting “no,” most commissioners had some misgivings about the addition. Although a majority did finally agree, they did so after stating they wanted certain restrictions put in place.
The plan for this development was originally brought in 2016 by Brad and Laura Wagner at 47543 257th St. At that time, they were planning on only having 16 lots for houses.
Laura Wagner, who has worked with horses for 40 years, said she looked at this plan as her “passion” to develop an “equestrian community.”
According to the maps presented to the Planning and Zoning Board, the Wagner’s are developing the lots they are selling around a horse stable, arena and pasture.
The area to the east was originally planned for a park and pond, and that is still the plan, but with the approval of the additional lots, that area will be scaled back, somewhat.
During the discussion, commissioners were concerned about water and sewage, the loop road inside the development, flood management, etc., but most of their concerns seemed to be assuaged by engineer Eric Willadsen, as well as the Wagner’s themselves.
Heiberger was concerned that the internal loop road had not been completed since the project was first approved in 2016.
She also felt like she should side with the Planning and Zoning members who voted 4-2 to deny the additional lots.
In the end, the Wagner’s did go on record to have the road completed by Dec. 31, 2022.
County Planning Director Scott Anderson also pointed out that according to the zoning ordinance, the road will need to be paved, too.
As this would be a private road, the responsibility to pave it lies with the Wagners.
There was no one present who opposed the additional lots.
Other business
At the meeting, commissioners were briefed by Commission Administrative Officer Carol Muller on the 2021 provisional budget, which would be presented for a vote on Tuesday, July 28.
She explained that, so far, the budget does not call for any additional opt-outs – or any additional dollars from the current opt-out being spent.
After the provisional budget is voted on, the next budget hearing will be on Sept. 8.
Final adoption will take place on Sept. 29.
Muller also talked about money the county will receive as part of CARES funds.
CARES, which stands for Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security, is a federal program passed by Congress to help communities deal with the current pandemic.
Last month, Gov. Kristi Noem announced that South Dakota cities and counties would have access to $200 million of the funds, with Minnehaha County being eligible to receive just over $12.7 million of those dollars.
Any money that is used from the CARES fund will have to be go toward COVID-related expenses, and cannot be used on items that were previously part of the regular budget.
The Minnehaha Commission has its regular meetings each Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the county administration building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
These meetings are open to all, and public comment is always encouraged.
