MINNEHAHA COUNTY & CITY OF SIOUX FALLS
PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 22, 2021
MEETING MINUTES
Page | 5
options such as approval of all or portions of the proposed airport. In addition the Planning
Commission may request additional information prior to a decision.
(b) Measures shall be taken to ensure that the proposed use does not alter the general
character of the area or neighborhood.
The general character of the neighborhood is agricultural uses mixed with low density rural
residential. The proposed expansion will create a visible runway with lights, and an area for
hangars, parking, and airplane refueling. Traffic will likely increase along 268
th
Street. The
Planning Commissions may consider a road agreement between the petitioner and the township
in order to prevent undue ware on the gravel roads from 57
th
Street to the driveway. It is likely
that the existing dwellings across 268
th
Street will be most affected by the proposed expansion.
(c) The effects of noise, odor, traffic, air and water pollution, and other negative factors
shall be eliminated or controlled through the use of screening, setbacks and orientation.
An airport has the potential to produce negative factors including noise, light, and traffic.
Mitigation of nuisances is difficult because of the nature of the use and the scale of the airport.
The petitioner has suggested that as his goal is to have residential dwellings along the airport.
The residents who live with their planes would not like to have nuisances any more than other
residential properties in the area.
Below is a list of a few potential nuisances with some considerations about each nuisance. The
petitioner has not submitted any plans to reduce nuisances from the property. The Planning
Commission may consider additional conditions or have the petitioner present additional plans
for potential screening of nuisances such as walls, fences, or screens. It is likely that the
neighboring public will add to concerns regarding potential nuisances, and it is possible that the
planning commission would find more information helpful prior to approval of the conditional
use permit request. The Planning Commission may defer action to a later meeting in order to
obtain further information, plans, or studies.
Noise – Airplanes by their nature create noise, and some planes create more noise than
others in a similar way that cars and motorcycles create different noises. The primary planes that
will be used at the airport will be small airplanes which create less noise than commercial planes
common to the regional airport. The primary runway is planned to be 4,100 feet long and will be
able to support small jets. The proposed airport is on a large parcel. Distances will allow some of
the potential noises do dissipate before reaching property boundaries, but there are no mitigation
techniques which will eliminate noise.
Lighting – The petitioner plans to install runway lighting to allow for expanded use of
the airport into non-daylight hours. The lighting may be considered an annoyance by neighboring
property owners and residents. The scale of the proposed airport would make it difficult to screen
all lighting from all neighbors by using conventional methods such as trees. The scale of the