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Rapid City zoning board denies gravel surfacing for Marlin Drive storage lot, approves garage-height increase and temporary parking deal
Summary
At its June 25 meeting the Zoning Board of Adjustment denied a variance to allow gravel or asphalt millings at a private storage lot on Marlin Drive over air-quality and neighborhood-impact concerns, approved a detached-garage height variance on Cliff Drive, and granted a time-limited shared-parking allowance for a Mountain View Road shopping center to keep a local business in operation.
The Rapid City Zoning Board of Adjustment on June 25 denied a variance request that would have allowed gravel or asphalt millings instead of a hard surface at a private storage lot planned at 2526 Marlin Drive. Staff recommended denial, citing the lot’s proximity to a principal arterial (Elkville Road), adjacent residential properties across Marlin Drive, and concern that gravel could worsen air-quality impacts to nearby homes.
Will Vanderland, representing V4 Properties and the applicant, told the board the lot would serve his family’s medical-waste transport business and said gravel would make cleanup easier in the unlikely event of a spill. “We handle almost 6 million pounds a year,” Vanderland said, adding that gravel is easier to excavate and that hard surfacing could make spill response more complicated in winter conditions.
City environmental planner Morgan Twomly questioned that rationale. “The reason that we worry about gravel as it pertains to air quality is because of the fines associated with it,” Twomly said, and she warned gravel could increase the risk of contaminants infiltrating the soil near the neighborhood to the south.
After public testimony and staff guidance, Commissioner Mike Quasnney moved to deny the variance; Eric Hikus seconded and the motion carried.
On a separate item, the board approved a height variance for a detached garage at 4670 Cliff Drive. Staff said the existing garage (built in 1965) sits roughly 220 feet from Cliff Drive, is visually screened by mature trees and topography, and that a 21.8-foot peak would be minimally impactful. Commissioner Eric (first name used in record) moved to approve, and the board voted in favor.
The board also resolved a long-running parking dispute at 780 Mountain View Road by approving a reduced minimum-parking allowance with conditions. Staff had recommended denying the applicant’s request to lease 75 parking spaces (reducing required parking to 80) as larger than the “minimum adjustment necessary” and because a pending Chick-fil-A and prior parking-agreement changes make future circulation uncertain. Patrick Vidal, co-manager of JB Properties, and Jeremy Orstad of Kelly Sports Lounge urged a temporary arrangement to avoid forcing Kelly’s out of compliance while the lounge pursues permanent parking.
Commissioners reached a compromise: the board approved reducing the minimum required parking from 155 to 114 spaces, allowing up to 41 leased spaces to Kelly Sports Lounge under a shared-parking agreement for a one-year period. The stipulations require that the city be notified and made a party to the shared-parking agreement and that Kelly’s secure alternative parking or seek a subsequent variance after the one-year term. Commissioner Karen moved the compromise; Pat Rosland seconded and the motion carried.
The Zoning Board adjourned and the Planning Commission convened to take up separate agenda items.
