Happy busy August. While I heard the Rally numbers were down, there was sure enough bikes around to make it look a bit crazy!

After getting back from moving the son to Salt Lake City, it took me a week to really get back into things. Might be a bit of missing my adventure buddy in there haha.

My wife and I usually buy the grandstand tickets for the fair to check out the concerts. We ain’t the standing in the pit folks - you’ll see us on the very top somewhere so we have a backrest!

I appreciate all you reading these newsletters. Hope they bring you value and some insight of what’s goin’ on in RC.

Tristan

What news caught the most eyeballs or stirred up the most trouble?

This session focused on residential and industrial development variances, alongside updates to administrative training.

136 Krebs Drive Setback Variance (Approved): The Zoning Board approved a setback variance for an existing storage building on a 0.57-acre lot to reduce the north side yard setback from 35 ft to 9.7 ft and the front yard setback from 35 ft to 32.3 ft. This request was linked to a proposed rezoning from General Commercial to General Agricultural, creating a special circumstance as agricultural setbacks are more restrictive.

Stever Heights Lot C Frontage Variance (Approved): The board approved waiving the minimum 25-foot public street frontage requirement for proposed Lot C in the Stever Heights subdivision. The lot, part of a four-lot replat, will be accessed via a 52-foot-wide private access and utility easement rather than a public street. Long-term maintenance of this private corridor will be handled by adjacent property owners, saving city infrastructure funds.

Contractor Storage Yard Paving Variance (Approved with Stipulations): The board granted a variance to allow asphalt millings instead of hard-surface paving for a 19,000+ square foot contractor storage yard behind a new contractor shop. Heavy tracked machinery (excavators, bulldozers) tends to deteriorate hard pavement rapidly. To mitigate air quality issues, a stipulation was added requiring annual or as-needed dust palliative applications.

Admiral Beverage Corp. Sidewalk Variance (Recommended for Denial): The committee reviewed a request by Sam Larson on behalf of Admiral Beverage Corp. to waive the sidewalk installation requirement at 2720 Creek Drive. Alderman Bill Evans strongly opposed the variance, pointing out that Admiral Beverage has nearly $900 million in annual revenue and can easily afford the $40,000 sidewalk. Although city staff noted there are currently no sidewalks on either side of the dead-end street, the committee voted to recommend that the City Council deny the variance.

McKefield Vision Fund Upgrades (Approved): The committee authorized advertising for bids on the McKefield Vision Fund upgrades project, estimated at $235,000. Funded through a 2025 Vision Fund award to Rapid City High School Baseball, this phase includes replacing the backstop, replacing two dugouts, and constructing an ADA-compliant walkway to the field.

Critical Pactola Reservoir Water Update: Public Works Director Mike Ty warned of extremely low water inflows to Pactola Reservoir. Current inflows are at 6.4 cubic feet per second (cfs) compared to a legal release outflow of 69 cfs. The reservoir level has dropped nearly 10 feet in just over two months. As a result, the city is preparing to elevate its water conservation status to "Alert Status" next week, which will make current seasonal watering restrictions year-round.

Supplemental Appropriation No. 3 (Recommended for Approval): The committee recommended first reading of Ordinance No. 6747 to allocate $1,280,319 in supplemental funds. The vast majority ($1,175,200 from the general fund) will finance the retrofitting of the North Police Department precinct. It also adjusts for three newly awarded grants (Love Your Block, Safe Streets for All, and RAISE) and handles interfund transfers for airport construction and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) projects.

Sanford Health Sports Complex Naming Agreement (Recommended for Approval): The committee approved a 20-year partnership agreement with Sanford Health. Sanford Health will contribute $2 million upfront for construction costs of the new sports complex and $421,000 annually for the next 19 years to cover ongoing maintenance, ensuring the facility is not an ongoing taxpayer burden. The agreement passed with one abstention from Alderman Tamang.

Alcohol-Related Litter Study (Forwarded to Council): Alderman Tamang requested that the City Attorney’s office research legal avenues to reduce alcohol-related litter, including potential restrictions on single-serving alcohol sales. During public comment, "Journey On" representatives presented a week's worth of collected litter to highlight the scale of the problem, and other citizens proposed a bottle deposit system to incentivize cleanup. The item was forwarded to the full City Council without a recommendation.

Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance (First Reading Approved): The Council voted 8-1 (with Alderman Maher voting no and Tamang abstaining) to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 6726. The ordinance establishes an administrative process to grant reasonable zoning accommodations (such as adjusting single-family occupancy limits for disability or recovery group homes like Oxford House). City Attorney Carla Kushman and Planning Director Vicky Fischer clarified that under the FHA and ADA, requiring neighbor notification for these accommodations while exempting other residential uses would constitute illegal discrimination.

Admiral Beverage Corp. Sidewalk Variance (Approved 6-4): In a reversal of the Public Works Committee's recommendation of denial, the City Council voted 6-4 to approve the sidewalk variance for 2720 Creek Drive. Councilmembers supporting the variance noted that Creek Drive is currently a dead-end industrial street with no adjacent sidewalks, meaning a new sidewalk would lead "from nowhere to nowhere."

Sanford Health Naming Agreement (Officially Approved): The Council voted 9-0 (with Tamang abstaining) to officially ratify the 20-year naming rights and maintenance funding agreement with Sanford Health.

Alcohol-Related Litter Research Directive (Approved 7-3): The Council approved Alderman Tamang's directive for the City Attorney's office to research legal options and comparative city ordinances aimed at reducing alcohol-related litter. The motion passed 7-3 (with Leman, Roberts, and Maher voting no) after the Police Department shared data showing a 49% increase in DUIs since January 2025 and 3,700 intoxicated-subject calls so far in 2026.

Major Rezoning Applications (Second Readings Approved):

4121 Homestead Street & 1225 Neil Street: Rezoned from Commercial to Public District to accommodate municipal facilities.

500 Krebs Drive: Rezoned from Low-density Residential to General Agricultural in conjunction with a planned development designation to preserve natural space.

Commerce Road & Deadwood Ave Areas: Approved several rezonings to General Commercial and General Agricultural to guide commercial expansion.

GCC Dakota Inc. Rezoning: Approved rezoning to a Mining and Earth Resources Extraction District on a 9-1 vote (Alderman Evans opposed).

Supplemental Appropriation No. 3 (First Reading Approved): Ratified first reading of the $1.28 million budget adjustment primarily for the North Police precinct retrofit.

Significant Bill Approvals: The Council approved the payment of $195,694.94 for Main Street Square/Visit Rapid City and $10,540,292.87 for other municipal expenditures.

How come I didn’t get to vote for that?

There have been a few developments, buildings and announcements that have had some outcry from the public: “we didn’t get to vote on that!”.

But you kinda did - indirectly. The people you voted to serve representing your area on city council and other city offices are the ones making the final decisions.

Here’s how it works.

Zoning Rules and Regs

The city every so often comes up with a growth plan where it establishes future streets, neighborhoods, shopping areas, and industrial park areas. Each area is then designated with a zoning category - whether it’s residential, commercial, or industrial.

Each zoning is located in the city’s ordinances and municipal codes. You can find those here: https://rapidcity.municipal.codes/

Approved and Conditional Uses

Each zoning category is built with “approved” and “conditional” uses already established. If your business or company wants to build a business within the approved uses list, they get issued a building permit and away they go. It doesn’t (normally) get sent to any committee because it falls within the approved use list.

So if you want to start a coffee shop in a general commercial space, it’s off to the races.

However, if your intended use falls into the conditional use list, then there is a process that includes public notice and multiple city council readings and approvals.

A miniature golf course is a conditional use withing general commercial zoning. To put in putt putt in that area, you need the blessing from on high.

The same thing happens if you want to change the zoning of an area for your use - am example occurrence here is a storage unit business that needs light industrial zoning. A recent one being built worked with the city to change the zoning from general commercial to light industrial.

This gives YOU the public a chance to attend the meetings, chat with your representative, and share your grievances or concern about anything that might impact your life.

(This is why there is conversations to add all data centers to the “conditional uses” list. That way there is a public approval process that it must go through)

Overlays add to the Mix

Some areas have additional conditions built into them that are usually established when the lot is platted. This can be certain requirements for building, specific covenants and more.

The lot that the new Les Schwab Tire Center is on had a sign overlay. That required them to present their plans and signage needs to the city for approval.

If you hear the term PUD - that’s what this is.

Don’t like it? Petition

There is a way to bring a development to vote - as we saw for the Libertyland TIF. The public said “we wanna vote on this” with enough signatures (done in a legal way) and it was brought to vote and defeated.

A few people are outcrying over the Sports Center. That was a similar TIF at the time that could have also been challenged. Since it was not, it moves forward through the council without public vote.

You still have a chance to go to the meetings and give your opinions, but your elected official will have the final say on the project based on what he/she feels is good for the city and your ward.

The City is Not a Gatekeeper

In general if a business wants to move into an area and they fall within the approved use plans for the area, the city is gonna take their money and give them the building permit.

Whether we think another McDonalds is needed or not. LOL

Hopefully this quick overview of the process gives you a feel of how things flow. If the growth of Rapid City concerns you, talk to your elected officials, attend meetings, and get involved. This is the way.

Atomic Wings - fresh, never frozen chicken wings and more

Opening soon this fall is Atomic Wings franchise. They have 2 locations in Sioux Falls and are now expanding to Rapid City.

They’ll be at 4040 Cheyenne Blvd, Suite A - right across the street from McDonalds on Exit 61.

From the owner: Our Chicken and Fresh Cut Fries are FRESH NEVER FROZEN and MADE TO ORDER.  So, you can order ahead of time and come to the restaurant, get your food just made for you and sit down and enjoy or take to go.....totally up to you!  We will have hand scooped handmade milkshakes, tap/can cold beer, With the Wind Wine, and eventually handmade Dirty Soda's later this year!  

We have fantastic everyday value for everyone and especially families with kids as our kids meals start at $4.99!  We do catering and large pick up orders as well!

57718 Zip Code…

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