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JOINT MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2026
MINUTES OF THE JOINT
MINNEHAHA COUNTY & SIOUX FALLS PLANNING COMMISSIONS
January 26, 2026
A joint meeting of the County and City Planning Commissions was held on January 26, 2026, at
7:00 p.m. in the Commission Room of the Minnehaha County Administration Building.
COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Bonnie Duffy,
Mike Ralston, Cindy Heiberger, Ryan VanDerVliet and Joe Kippley.
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS’ PRESENT: Bradyn Neises, Mike Gray, Erik
Nyberg, Dana Fisher and Dave Van Nieuwenhuyzen
STAFF PRESENT:
Scott Anderson, Kevin Hoekman, & Mason Steffen – County Planning
Maggie Gillespie – State’s Attorney Office
Karla Resendiz – City Planning
The County Planning Commission was chaired by Commissioner Bonnie Duffy. The City
Planning Commission was chaired by Commissioner Neises.
Chair Duffy called the Joint Minnehaha County and City of Sioux Falls Planning Commission
meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Commissioner Duffy opened the floor for public comment, and nobody moved to speak.
Consent Agenda
Commissioner Duffy read each item on the consent agenda, and no items were requested to be
moved to the regular agenda.
A motion was made for the County by Commissioner VanDerVliet and seconded by
Commissioner Ralston to approve the consent agenda consisting of Items 1 & 2. The motion
passed unanimously with 4 votes in favor and 0 votes against the motion.
The same motion was made for the City by Commissioner Nyberg and seconded by
Commissioner Van Nieuwenhuzen to approve the consent agenda consisting of Items 1 & 2.
The motion passed unanimously with 4 votes in favor and 0 votes against the motion.
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JOINT MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2026
ITEM 1. Approval of Minutes – October 27, 2025
As part of the consent agenda, a motion was made for the County by Commissioner VanDerVliet
and seconded by Commissioner Ralston to approve the meeting minutes from October 27, 2025.
The motion passed unanimously with 4 votes in favor and 0 votes against the motion.
The same motion was made for the City by Commissioner Nyberg and seconded by
Commissioner Van Nieuwenhuzen to approve the meeting minutes from October 27, 2025. The
motion passed unanimously with 4 votes in favor and 0 votes against the motion.
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JOINT MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2026
Consent Agenda
ITEM 2. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT #26-02 to exceed 1,600 square feet of accessory
building space (requesting 1,680 square feet) on the property legally described as
Lot 19 Block 1 Split Rock Heights Section 19 T101N-R48W Split Rock
Township.
Petitioner: Connie Keller
Property Owner: Same
Location: 1609 S Shafer Drive
Staff Report: Mason Steffen
General Information:
Legal Description – Lot 19 Block 1 Split Rock Heights Section 19 T101N-R48W
Split Rock Township
Present Zoning – RR Rural Residential
Existing Land Use – Residential Acreage
Parcel Size – .82 Acres
Staff Report: Mason Steffen
Staff Analysis: The petitioner is requesting conditional use permit approval to allow 1,680
square feet of detached accessory building area on the subject property. Currently, there are no
accessory buildings on the property, and the petitioner is requesting to build a 40’ x 42’ detached
garage in the southwest corner of the property. The materials submitted state that the building
will be utilized for personal storage and will use the existing driveway of S Shafer Drive.
On January 7, 2026, staff conducted a site visit to the subject property and surrounding area. The
property is located in the southwestern portion of the Split Rock Heights subdivision, which is a
subdivision of over two hundred dwellings almost entirely surrounded by the city of Sioux Falls.
Most of the properties immediately surrounding the property are similar in size and several of
them have detached accessory buildings. Given that the proposed request is only eighty square
feet over the allowed 1,600 square feet, the effect on development within the subdivision should
be minimal. This request was sent to the city of Sioux Falls planning staff for comments, and
they had no additional comments or concerns with the request.
Conditional Use Permit Criteria:
1) The effect upon the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for
the uses already permitted, and upon property values in the immediate vicinity.
The accessory building should have no anticipated negative effect upon the use and enjoyment of
the residential properties in the immediate vicinity. Property values in the area should not be
negatively impacted by the personal use and size of the proposed building.
2) The effect upon the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding
vacant property for uses predominant in the area.
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JOINT MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2026
This subdivision is almost entirely surrounded by the city of Sioux Falls, and there are no vacant
lots within the subdivision. Due to this fact, any development of vacant land is likely to take
place within the city of the Sioux Falls. Allowing the accessory building on an existing acreage
in this large subdivision will not impact development that takes place in the city now or in the
future.
3) That utilities, access roads, drainage and/or other necessary facilities are provided.
The proposed building will utilize the existing access for the property onto S Shafer Drive. The
property owner will be required to extend all necessary utilities to the structure. The site of the
accessory building is mostly flat with a slight slope towards the dwelling, and the size of the
proposed building should have a minimal impact on drainage.
4) That the off-street parking and loading requirements are met.
The proposed site of the accessory building is large enough to accommodate the off-street
parking requirement. The accessory building will also add additional off-street parking and
storage to the property.
5) That measures are taken to control offensive odor, fumes, dust, noise, vibration, and
lighting (inclusive of lighted signs), so that none of these will constitute a nuisance.
No commercial business or storage will be allowed in the proposed accessory building at any
time. Any public nuisance violations will be addressed upon the Planning Department receiving
a complaint about the subject property. All new outdoor lighting will need to be directed
downward onto the property. Lighting must be designed to be fully-shielded and fully-cutoff to
prevent light pollution off site.
6) Health, safety, general welfare of the public and the Comprehensive Plan.
The building will meet all of the required setbacks to property lines and buildings in the area.
The health, safety, and general welfare of the public should not be negatively affected by the
construction of the proposed accessory building. The proposed building generally conforms to
the goals and policies of the Envision 2045 Comprehensive Plan and will not overly impact any
future uses of the property, including if the property were to be annexed into the city of Sioux
Falls.
Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of Conditional Use Permit #26-02 with the
following conditions:
1) The building location shall adhere to the submitted site plan.
2) The total area of all accessory buildings may not exceed 1,680 square feet.
3) That the building shall be an accessory use to the continued use of the property as a
residential lot.
4) That the building shall not to be used for commercial uses or as a residential dwelling at
any time.
5) That any new or replacement outdoor lighting shall be of a full cutoff and fully-shielded
design to prevent direct spillage of light beyond the property boundaries.
6) That a building permit is required prior to construction of the accessory building.
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JOINT MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2026
7) That the Planning & Zoning Department reserves the right to enter and inspect the
accessory building at any time, after proper notice to the owner, to ensure that the
property is in full compliance with the conditional use permit conditions of approval and
the Minnehaha County Zoning Ordinance.
Action
As part of the consent agenda, a motion was made for the County by Commissioner VanDerVliet
and seconded by Commissioner Ralston to approve Conditional Use Permit #26-02 with
the staff recommended conditions. The motion passed unanimously with 4 votes in favor and 0
votes against the motion.
The same motion was made for the City by Commissioner Nyberg and seconded by
Commissioner Van Nieuwenhuzen to approve Conditional Use Permit #26-02 with the staff
recommended conditions. The motion passed unanimously with 4 votes in favor and 0 votes
against the motion.
Conditional Use Permit #26-02 – Approved
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JOINT MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2026
Regular Agenda
ITEM 3. REZONING #26-01 to rezone from the A-1 Agricultural District to the C
Commercial District the properties legally described as Lot 1 & Lot 2
Sundermann Addition S½ SE¼ Section 26 T102N-R50W Benton Township.
Petitioner: Tad Fiegen
Property Owner: Same
Location: Located approximately ½ mile west of Marion Road on SD Highway 38.
Staff Report: Kevin Hoekman
General Information:
Legal Description – Lot 1 & Lot 2 Sundermann Addition S½ SE¼ Section 26 T102N-
R50W Benton Township
Present Zoning – A-1 Agricultural
Existing Land Use – Vacant Lot
Parcel Size – 8.00 Acres
Staff Report: Kevin Hoekman
Staff Analysis:
The petitioner is applying to change the zoning on two properties directly west of Sioux Falls
City limits along SD Highway 38. The property is located approximately 0.4 miles west of the
intersection of SD Highway 38 and Marion Road. The applicant did not provide a narrative for
the request; however, the described purpose of the rezoning is to use the property for
manufactured home sales.
After publications for notice were sent to the County approved newspapers, the applicant
requested deferral of the decision on the rezoning request. The reason for deferral is to allow
more time to create a plan for the property for this request and to understand staff concerns
regarding the rezoning request.
Recommendation: Staff finds that the deferral request is reasonable and recommends deferral
of Rezoning #26-01 to the February 23, 2026, Joint Planning Commission Meeting.
Public Testimony
Kevin Hoekman, of county planning staff, explained that the petitioner has requested to defer
action on the proposed rezoning until the February 26, 2026, Planning Commission meeting.
Kevin explained that the petitioner requested the additional time in order to gather more
information and present a more detailed plan of the property to city and county staff.
No members of the public were present to discuss the proposed rezoning.
Action
A motion was made for the County by Commissioner Kippley and seconded by Commissioner
Heiberger to defer Rezoning #26-02 to the February 26, 2026, Planning Commission meeting.
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JOINT MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2026
The motion passed unanimously with 4 votes in favor and 0 votes against the motion.
The same motion was made for the City by Commissioner Fisher and seconded by
Commissioner Nyberg to defer Rezoning #26-02 to the February 26, 2026, Planning
Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously with 4 votes in favor and 0 votes against
the motion.
Rezoning #26-01 – Deferred to the February 23, 2026, meeting
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JOINT MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2026
Old Business
None.
New Business
Scott Anderson, the County Planning Director, explained to the commission that the Planning
Commission meeting scheduled for June of this year has been moved from June 22 to June 29.
Mr. Anderson explained that this is due to the expected city election that will be utilizing the
County Commission meeting room on the normal June 22 meeting date.
Kevin Hoekman, of county planning staff, presented the commission with several ordinance
amendments that staff is expecting to bring to the commissions for consideration this year. These
proposed amendments included updating the permit fees and building permit regulations in every
zoning ordinance for the county. Kevin also explained that the main change in the joint
jurisdiction with Sioux Falls will be updating the sign regulations throughout the joint zoning
ordinance, in order to better match the existing county regulations.
Adjourn
A motion was made for the County by Commissioner Heiberger and seconded by Commissioner
VanDerVliet to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.
The same motion was made for the City by Commissioner Fisher and seconded by
Commissioner Van Nieuwenhuyzen to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
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