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Lincoln County and Sioux Falls planning commissions approve 'Sioux Falls 2050' comprehensive plan
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Summary
After a presentation by Fletcher (City of Sioux Falls), the Lincoln County Planning Commission voted to approve the Sioux Falls 2050 comprehensive plan (county vote: five yes, one abstention); City of Sioux Falls participants likewise approved the plan on the city side.
Fletcher of the City of Sioux Falls presented the draft Sioux Falls 2050 comprehensive plan at a joint Lincoln County and City of Sioux Falls planning commission meeting on March 17, describing population and land-use projections that planners used to guide future growth.
Fletcher said the region currently has a population “of about 225,000” and described a projected future population “of 370 to 413,000 potentially,” noting an estimated 900 acres of development per year and 2–3% annual population growth. He told commissioners the plan includes six public-engagement themes — housing and neighborhoods; transportation and mobility; conservation and resiliency; economic development; community services and public health; and infrastructure and public spaces — and proposes subarea plans and neighborhood action plans as the primary implementation tools.
The presentation outlined the plan’s tier maps for development timing (tier 1: 1–5 years; tier 2: 6–15 years; tier 3: 16–25+ years), future land-use guidance that supports higher-density residential near arterial corridors, and green-designated flood areas where development should be approached cautiously. Fletcher reviewed the adoption schedule: planning commission recommendation (Jan. 7), City Council adoption (Feb. 10), the current joint Lincoln County hearing (March 17), an upcoming Minnehaha County joint meeting (March 23) and a final elected-official meeting for joint adoption on April 28.
With no public comments during the advertised hearing, Lincoln County moved to approve the plan. The motion was recorded as moved by Boots and seconded (seconder not clearly identified in the transcript). The county conducted a roll call: Commissioner Sweeter voted yes; Boots recorded yes; Commissioner Scott recorded yes; Commissioner Odden announced an abstention; Donoso voted yes; and John Lee voted yes. The county motion carried (five yes, one abstention).
On the city side, City of Sioux Falls participants also moved and seconded approval of the plan; the city-side vote was recorded as passing.
The chair praised the work that went into the plan, saying it is “very important in shaping our county,” and the joint commissions closed the meeting and adjourned. The plan now proceeds through the remaining scheduled joint adoption steps in late March and April.
Actions recorded at the meeting are entered in the official minutes; commissioners asked no substantive questions during the joint hearing and no public testimony was offered during the advertised public comment period.
