From a South DaCola foot soldier;
This hearing could have a significant impact on future Lincoln County development policy.  A parcel that is 250 feet from city limits of Lennox,and just a few hundred feet from city utilities may be allowed to be developed as “Rural Residential”. As an un-annexed housing development, this would mean a huge loss of potential sales/excise and property tax revenues for the city of Lennox. The Lennox city attorney is on the record as feeling it would be detrimental to the city. The city engineer has stated his opposition to this approach  to this style of development.
And yet Lennox Mayor Orville Wiebers has sent a letter of support for this to the County Commission.  At the County Planning Commission on Monday night, they voted to send it to the County Commission as recommended for approval. This was despite the opposition of all the surrounding land owners, half the Lennox City Council and a petition from over 50 Lennox residents. If it becomes the policy of Lincoln county to reopen the permitting of this type of development (a moratorium has been in place for over a decade) this could change the face of development for every city in the county.
Sioux Falls, Tea, Harrisburg, Canton, Beresford, Worthing.

3 Thoughts on “RE-zoning hearing at the Lincoln County Commission meeting 3/25

  1. Taxpayer-Voter on March 19, 2014 at 2:37 pm said:

    rufusx,

    Since I believe you are running for Mayor of Lennox, here’s an opportunity to state your position on an issue important to your own community (instead of Sioux Falls).

  2. rufusx on March 19, 2014 at 10:10 pm said:

    Sate my position? Hah!!! Way ahead of you on this one tax-payer.

    When I was on the planning commission I worked for 5 years to make sure this was done properly. I even got a unique ordinance passed that would allow the developer to be annexed into the city without it effecting his property taxes until such time as it was actually built out and connected to the city utilities. .

    I am the person who marshaled the opposition of half the council AND got the petition signatures to present to the County Commission. Stayed tuned for more.

  3. rufusx on March 19, 2014 at 10:29 pm said:

    BTW – the Planning Commissioner – and also a Lincoln County Commissioner, that led the push to approve is Jim Schmidt. He represents SE Sioux Falls on the Lincoln County Commission. One of the bits of rhetoric he tried to justify his action with was the empty “It’s positive economic development for Lennox.” Yeah, right.

    Do the math, based on sales taxes collected in Lennox, and the number of housing units in a 6-mle market radius – each house will contribute approx. $7/ month to the city, and an average of $.45 (yes – that’s cents) a week in profits to the typical Lennox business.

    If annexed into the city, each home would contribute approx. $4700/year in property taxes. That’s more than the entire development will contribute via sales taxes. In addition, by being outside of the city, the 2% contractors excise tax for the city on the build-outs will not be applied – that could amount to $1/2 MM.

    Schmidt claimed he owned land near Lennox and spent his money in town. It sounds like the town doesn’t want it. I sell him a cup of coffee and a donut a couple times a month. SAs far as I know that’s the ONLY thing he buys in Lennox. There are no AG businesses in town, so it sure ain’t farm supplies he buys there.

    He tried the “affordable housing” dodge. I pointed out this has been sold to the city as being “like Bakker Crossing” – $400 -600 K homes. I pointed out – that’s not “affordable housing.”

    Next move was is statement that “none of that matters – all we’re here to decide is the zoning.” The County Drainage administrator pointed out the land in question is nominally in a flood plain – and needs to e studied using FEMA standards to make a definite determination. All, the neighbors related how wet the land is -and how long it takes to dry out.

    Didn’t make a bit of difference to Schmidt. Remember this guy next time you get to vote for/against him.

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