Lincoln County, Sioux Falls approve 2050 plan; data center moratorium rejected

A joint meeting with the Lincoln County and City of Sioux Falls elected officials was held Tuesday, August 25. 

A public hearing was scheduled for a resolution adopting the joint jurisdictional Lincoln County/City of Sioux Falls 2050 Comprehensive Plan. Senior Planner for the City of Sioux Falls, Fletcher Lacock, was present to get the meeting started. 

“This has been a two-and-a-half-year process of public engagement, and this is our final step in the process of adoption. We really put in a lot of effort working with our stakeholders, a lot of pop-up events that staff went to and got public engagement at different events,” he said. 

Focus group meetings, stakeholder interviews, and an advisory committee were all used to gather information from the public. From the information gathered at the meetings, the three main goals for the next 25 years are to effectively manage growth, plan neighborhoods, and improve the resilience of the community. 

“These are the goals that came out of our 2040 plan, and they were so effective that we kept them in place,” Lacock said.  

Motion was made to approve with two amendments by Joel Arends seconded by Doug Putnam. 

“I’m asking this body to support a temporary pause, otherwise called a moratorium on the development of large-scale data centers within the joint jurisdictional area shared by the City of Sioux Falls and Lincoln County,” Arends said. “In case you haven’t been following here in Lincoln County, we didn’t want a prison, we didn’t want a pipeline, we didn’t want a campground on our golf course. People have real concerns about land use conflicts and in order to alleviate those concerns, but also to build trust between the people and their government and now is the time to hit the timeout button, hit the pause button, and then bring these two bodies together, the City of Sioux Falls and the county to have a true collaborative discussion about what the guard rails will be,” Arends continued. 

The second amendment Arends is asking for is an amendment stating Lincoln County and the City of Sioux Falls cannot sign a non-disclosure agreement covering zoning projects in the area. 

“There’s been issues with the use of non-disclosure agreements right in Sioux Falls. I’m a Sioux Falls resident, Sioux Falls voter, Sioux Falls taxpayer and I want the public’s business to be in the light and be discussed in the light of day. It can’t be shielded and hidden behind non-disclosure agreements because it’s antithetical to everything we’re about here in America when it comes to transparency,” Arends said. 

Chairwoman Tiffani Landeen asked Arends to wrap up his statements so they could move on. 

“Let him speak,” Putnam said. 

“You haven’t been recognized commissioner Putnam,” Landeen said. 

“I don’t care,” Putnam responded. 

“Obviously,” said Landeen. 

Commissioner Putnam was next to voice his opinion. 

“Well, I concur with Joel. He does a good job. He’s seen what’s going on and I believe him to be spot on the money on this. So, I’d like to hear him speak again and finish up his deal,” Putnam said. 

Chairwoman Landeen asked if there were any other commissioners who had a comment. Arends’ motion failed 2-3 with Jim Schmidt, Herman Otten, and Landeen being the nay votes. City Council was asked for a motion to approve a Resolution adopting the Joint Jurisdictional Lincoln County/City of Sioux Falls 2050

Comprehensive Plan, motion by Spellerberg, seconded by Baisy. Substitute motion to adopt the joint jurisdiction between Lincoln County and the city of Sioux Falls on the 2050 Comprehensive Plan by Schmidt, seconded by Otten. 

“I would make an amendment to your substitute motion stating that Sioux Falls City Council and the Lincoln County Commission will meet in October and have a discussion between us and the community the last Tuesday in October at 7 p.m.” Arends said. 

Motion carried 4-1 with Landeen being the nay vote. Motion to approve to approve a Resolution adopting the Joint Jurisdictional Lincoln County/City of Sioux Falls 2050 Comprehensive Plan was then carried by Lincoln County Commissioners unanimously.  Motion was made to approve the plan by the City Council and also carried unanimously. 

Chairwoman Landeen opened the floor to public comment.

 June from Sioux Falls stood to express her opinion. 

“I live in Minnehaha County. Thank God. In my opinion, this is a dog and pony show. I was here for the prison initiative to the same kind of meeting and it was a dog and pony show and I left here very frustrated. We have a moratorium that could have been passed and I there was a little bit of arguing which I think was theater and then of course it was not passed in our favor. That’s my understanding of what was going on. If you are for we the people for goodness sakes pass the darn moratorium. What are you afraid of? The truth?” she said. 

Two others expressed similar opinions to June’s. 

Chairwoman Landeen spoke to the crowd gathering to speak. 

“I’m going to first ask if there’s anybody that would like to make public comment for items not on our agenda tonight. We did have public comment on the agenda item regarding the data centers.” 

The crowd disagreed. 

“I did ask for discussion from the audience,” Landeen said. 

“Let them speak,” Putnam said. 

Chairwoman Landeen gave a deadline of 8 p.m. and nearly ten people voiced their opinions against data centers. Chairwoman Landeen asked for a motion to adjourn. Motion carried 3-2 with Arends and Putnam being the nay votes. 

City Council members agreed to hear more public opinions. Caitlyn Music thanked the council for their behavior during the meeting. 

“I want to say thank you to the Sioux Falls City Council for hearing our input and for being respectful while we provide feedback to you. I’m not going to make a comment on data centers, I’m just really appreciative to have such an incredible city council,” she said. 

Four others addressed the council before the meeting was adjourned.