Council approves annexation of Mapleton Highlands after residents press for road maintenance details

The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution to annex approximately 200 acres in the city’s far northeast — the Mapleton Highlands property — after public comment raised questions about who will maintain and pave East 70 Second Street North.

Planning staff said the property owner requested annexation and the parcel was moved to tier‑1 in February after a future‑land‑use amendment; the area will connect to the city at East 70 Second Street North, 470 Sixth Street Avenue and Sligo Creek Road. Staff said utility and infrastructure analyses were completed and that property owners were notified; staff reported two inquiries and “no real opposition.”

Jeffrey Schmidt of Planning and Development Services told the council the request corresponds with the applicant’s final plans and that the parcel is contiguous to the city. “This is a property owner’s request to annex their property in the city limits,” Schmidt said, describing the location and that the site is approximately 200 acres.

During public input, speakers representing nearby township residents and adjacent property owners asked whether East 70 Second Street — now a gravel road — will be included in the annexation and when the city will pave or otherwise maintain it. A township representative said the township cannot maintain that road and urged clarity on the plan. Resident Scott Zwock said the road is heavily used and “gets beat up tremendously,” and asked that the council address paving before heavy new development increases traffic.

Council discussion focused on avoiding creation of service “islands” and on ensuring the city addresses maintenance questions before development proceeds. Several councilors supported a short deferral to let Public Works present a maintenance plan; Councilor McCouris moved to defer to May 6, seconded by Councilor Thomason. After public works staff and the applicant explained project timing (staff described a development timeline in which DEP and subdivision approvals could push construction permitting into midsummer and later), McCouris withdrew the deferral and made a substitute motion to approve the annexation, which passed 8–0.

What was made clear: annexation will add the shaded parcel and adjacent public right-of-way to city jurisdiction, and subsequent development approvals (preliminary subdivision plan, development engineering plan) will follow council action. Public Works staff said paving of East 70 Second Street had been discussed and that, based on preliminary plans, paving was being “eyeballed” for the next year; staff asked for time to coordinate a clear schedule and to provide a plan to council.

Councilor McCouris said he would support approval at the meeting but asked Public Works to work with other directors and return with a concrete plan; he said he intended to use the council’s reconsideration process on May 6 if the requested follow-up had not been produced. The applicant’s representative said a delay of weeks would cumulatively push back engineering and permitting and therefore construction timing.

Ending: The annexation passed unanimously. Planning staff, Public Works and the applicant will continue coordinating engineering and infrastructure plans; councilors requested a follow-up briefing on how and when East 70 Second Street will be addressed.