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Sioux Falls council upholds planning commission to allow drive‑through neighborhood taco shop despite resident objections
Summary
The City Council on Dec. 2 upheld a planning commission approval for a conditional use permit to allow a drive‑through taco shop at E. 57th St. and S. Bahnson Ave., rejecting neighborhood concerns about noise, headlights and traffic by a 7‑0 vote.
The Sioux Falls City Council on Dec. 2 voted 7‑0 to uphold a planning‑commission decision that grants a conditional‑use permit for a drive‑through restaurant proposed at the southeast corner of East 57th Street and South Bahnson Avenue.
Planning and Development Services planner Jason Bieber told the council the use itself is allowed in the live‑work zoning district but the drive‑through component required approval. Bieber stressed the project is designed to be a small neighborhood retail/restaurant with restricted hours and no alcohol, noting that screening standards for headlights and a four‑foot fence, wall, berm or shrubs can be used to mitigate glare.
Neighbor speakers were sharply critical. Keisha Dykstra said the proposal represents “a fundamental departure from the residential character” and warned, “a permanent drive thru food truck is a wrong answer for the residential neighborhood.” Chad Dykstra, who cited 15 years of restaurant experience, told council the site would bring unavoidable noise, headlights, litter and traffic congestion to nearby homes.
The applicant, Ryan Olsen of BHI Construction, and the site owner told council the building will be a conventional, stick‑built drive‑through structure with no indoor seating. Olsen said the design orients the speaker and service window away from adjacent twin homes and that existing city planning and zoning rules address many resident concerns.
Councilors asked staff about traffic and screening; Bieber said engineering and site rules require stacking space and screening to prevent headlights from shining into homes. After a brief debate, Councilor Sighetty moved to uphold the planning commission and Councilor Bassey seconded the motion. A roll‑call vote recorded all seven members in favor.
The council’s decision leaves the developer able to proceed under the conditions described by staff; any future change in use, hours or construction that conflicts with historic‑district or planning approvals would require additional review.
