Special zoning sought for Mitchell housing development

Talk about it

A proposed housing development in southern Mitchell moved ahead after the Mitchell Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Tuesday at City Hall.

The planners recommended approving the rezoning of South Point Village, which wants to switch from highway oriented business district and urban development district to a planned unit development district.

“This is the only way to go,” said Commission Chairman Jay Larson. “It’s the best option. They can mix and match what they want out there.”

If given final approved by the City Council, which will review the planners’ recommendation Monday, this would be the fourth or fifth planned unit development district in Mitchell, according to City Planner Neil Putnam.

“They make up their own zoning district with rules that are unique to that development,” Putnam said after the meeting.

The developers can have their own permitted and conditional uses, writing all new guides, or blend them with current city codes, he said.

They can be amended, but that is done through the regular zoning code amendment process with a hearing and approval needed from the commission and the council, Putnam said.

Mitchell Technical Institute’s new campus is a planned unit development, as is Woodland Heights and one or two other developments, he said.

The zoning application created is only applicable to this project, Putnam said. The 20-acre development may have five phases. The initial one is to build 52 townhome apartments.

There would be four 13-unit apartment buildings. The apartments will be 1,000 to 1,300 square feet and will be one to four bedrooms.

Mitchell lawyer Don Petersen, who represents the developer, South Point Village LLC, urged the commission to support the project.

“I think this is a really good plan for this,” Petersen said. “It works really well for them and it also works well for the city.”

A tax increment financing district may be proposed if the zoning change is approved by the council. Through the TIF, Capital Street would be improved.

“We’re trying to use this as a big old stone to get Capital Street into development,” Public Works Director Tim McGannon said.

Petersen termed it a “win-win situation” for the city and the development. Capital Street is already platted and is a gravel road now. The TIF would allow the installation of pavement, curb and gutter.

The commissioners debated allowing 28-feet streets within the development. The streets would only be built if more phases of the project are undertaken.

Originally, no public streets were planned, just access to a parking lot. But the Public Safety Department asked for public streets to guarantee access to buildings.

No parking would be allowed on the narrow streets, which would be called South Point Village Street and East South Point Village Avenue.

While 28 feet is narrower than most city streets by 10 feet or more, without parking the streets would be about as wide as other streets, Larson noted.

Commissioner Bernie Schmucker had his doubts.

“I understand why they’re doing it,” Schmucker said. “I don’t know that it’s right.”

“I think all the positives of this development outweigh the negatives,” said Commissioner Don Meyers, who made the motion to recommend approval. It passed by a unanimous vote.

The planners also recommended approval for the development plan.

The commission heard requests from four businesses that sought approval for signs, and three received it.

The commissioners approved a request from Sioux Signs LLC for an off-premise billboard by Kay and Boyd Reimnitz’s mini-storage buildings in the 400 block of West Birch Avenue.

They also approved a new sign for the Moonlight Bar & Lounge, 413 N. Main St. Schmucker voted no but offered no reason why.

They tabled a request from AutoZone, 424 E. Havens Ave.

Changes are being made to the proposed sign, Putnam said. The commission also tabled the sign for Casey’s General Store, 701 N. Main St. Putnam said he will ask the company to change the color red on the sign, since it may cause confusion with stop signals.

Other business

Commissioners Doug Molumby and Craig Fergen were absent.

The planners normally meet on Mondays, but they met Tuesday because city offices were closed Monday for Native American Day in the state.

In other business, commissioners:

• Recommended approval of the application of Tom Diamond for a variance of 5 feet instead of the mandated 10 feet between his house and a detached garage at 309 N. Iowa St.

• Recommended approval of the application of Bruce and Karen Yakley for a roadside variance of 19 feet instead of the mandated 35 feet at 170 N. Harmon Drive.

• Recommended approval of the plat of Tract 1-C of Starlite Estates in the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 34, Township 103, Range 60, west of the 5th prime meridian in Mitchell.

• Recommended approval of the plat of 1-D of Starlite Estates in the same area.

• Recommended approval of the plat of S.J. Nebelsick Tract 1 in the northeast quarter of Section 17, Township 102, Range 60 west of the 5th prime meridian in Davison County.

• Recommended approval of the plat of Lot 1-A, block 9 of the Woods First Addition, a subdivision of the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 23, Township 103 N, Range 60 W of the 5th prime meridian in the city of Mitchell.

• Reviewed a planned parking lot improvement for Vern Eide Ford. Asphalt will be added and the drainage will be approved. No building permit is required but Vern Eide sought commission input and advice.

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