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Council advances rezoning first reading for parcel at Princeton Street and SD‑50 amid traffic safety concerns
Summary
On Dec. 1 the Vermillion City Council advanced the first reading of Ordinance 15‑49 to rezone a portion of a recently annexed parcel at the Princeton Street/SD Highway 50 intersection from NRC (Natural Resource Conservation) to general business. Staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval; neighbors and councilors pressed staff and DOT on traffic and safety.
The Vermillion City Council on Dec. 1 voted to advance the first reading of Ordinance 15‑49, a request to rezone a roughly 3‑acre portion of a larger parcel at the northeast corner of Princeton Street and South Dakota Highway 50 from NRC (Natural Resource Conservation) to general business.
City staff (Jose) told the council the application was submitted by Christian Cabrera as the owner’s representative and that the larger 37‑acre parcel was annexed into the city earlier in 2025. "Once it's annexed, the property is placed in the most restrictive zoning district that we have, which would be the NRC," Jose said, adding that the owner has one year after annexation to request rezoning and that public‑notice steps required by state law were completed.
Staff said the Planning and Zoning Commission met earlier the same day and unanimously recommended approval. As Jose summarized the commission discussion, "there were 8 out of the 8 commissioners present [who] voted for the commission for the council to approve the rezoning." He said the application listed likely commercial uses such as a fuel station and a car wash, with the specific use to be considered later by the commission.
Several council members pressed staff about traffic and safety. Councilor Toller asked whether access would be from Princeton Street; Jose answered that the approach would be from Princeton and that the South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) had declined access from the bypass. Jose said DOT reviewed the project and "said that just because of the size and the possible traffic volumes that that was not required" — meaning DOT did not require a traffic impact study for this specific proposal, though staff acknowledged additional development later could trigger further DOT review.
Resident Jose Lira, who lives on Purdue Avenue near the intersection, asked to speak by unanimous consent and described near misses and a recent crash. "It is very, very dangerous," Lira said, urging the council to "push the DOT" for a traffic signal or roundabout: "Someone's gonna die."
After discussion, Councilor Monroe moved to advance the ordinance to a second reading scheduled for Dec. 15; the motion was seconded by Councilor Holland and passed by voice vote. Council members and staff agreed to invite DOT to a community meeting to gather local input about intersection safety.
The ordinance remains at first reading; staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended the rezoning and additional site‑specific reviews will occur before any development permits are issued. The council will take up the ordinance for final action at a later meeting.
