The Planning Pushback
l3wis In the latest episode of ‘Planning Preview‘ Jeffrey Schlitz-Smidt, explains ‘buffers’ and how the public may not understand them. But he is willing to have ‘coffee’ with constituents to explain them.
Thanks Jeff.
Planning Commission
City Planner, Mike Cooper, guest on SuFuStu today
I find it interesting that Mr. Cooper would be doing a media show in light of his recent testimony in the Walmart zoning hearings, in which Mr. Cooper is accused of doing some ‘internal’ zoning without the consent of ‘others’. Be interesting to see if anyone asks him about the hearings.
Arrogance Bordering on Abuse? Board of Adjustment meeting, 9/28/2015
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx0hF0K0qd8[/youtube]
We found another Sioux Falls Zoning Board of Adjustment (BOA) meeting on Monday September 28, 2015. Cameraman Bruce was there to capture the process the board goes through to determine if property variances should be granted.
Property variances are granted if extenuating circumstances exist to make the property more usable without hurting the neighbors or neighborhood.
We witness what a broken water main can do to a business owner. A homeowner with a garage-less monster truck trying to get forgiveness, variance and building because much of the work is already done. Then we have a business owner trying to get by without following the Shape Places code rules by planting a flag with a few Subaru Foresters. What were they thinking? See if they can grow?
With as many people already questioning Shape Places and the way it has screwed up, it does have some good features. One thing we have learned, neighborhoods must be ready to fight for their rights or forever lose them.
What would think if your neighbor planted a flag and a few cars in their yard like Columbus in 1492, would you see the natives revolt? We saw a revolt caused by uncaring arrogance bordering on abuse, pushed back. It felt good.
Sioux Falls Board of Adjustment to consider variance today
The new Subaru dealership on 85th & Minnesota is asking to change their buffer zone from 10′ to 0′ feet, essentially allowing them to park vehicles right up to Minnesota Avenue. As if it wasn’t bad enough they put up Pirate flags (that had to be taken down) and Walmart continues to build on land that may have been illegally re-zoned internally by a director acting alone, that area of town is becoming a real clusterf’ck.
The meeting is at 6 PM tonight at Carnegie Hall.
DOC AGENDA: 09-28-15-zoning-boa-agenda
Sioux Falls City Council does their job, denies casinos
While the planning department and planning commission think they can hand over approvals of permits to the city council on a silver platter, it seems this time around those two departments were not following the rules and just approving the casinos all will-nilly;
But residents argued that under zoning ordinances, alcohol isn’t to be sold within 500 feet of single family housing, even if the casinos are in a commercially zoned area, and that Soberg shouldn’t get a variance.
Councilor Greg Jamison agreed, saying the council shouldn’t stray from the 500-foot standard it established in its Shape Places zoning ordinance. “We set the standards with Shape Places, and we need to commit to that,†Jamison said. “Just the fact that this is close to single-family homes, it just doesn’t fit. It isn’t right.â€
So why didn’t the planning department catch this pesky little rule? Or did they think they were going to slip this by the council? While I am not opposed to bars in neighborhoods (they are actually great meeting places) This is NOT a bar where people sit and chat and hang out, this is a telephone booth VL casino where people become zombified in front of a machine. Also, it is too close to a school bus stop. The council did the right thing in denying this request. But will there be any repercussions for the planning department for recommending this be approved?