Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - Once again it's a green light for Costello Property Management at 85th and Brett.
A group of neighbors successfully petitioned the City Council to reconsider allowing the company to build workforce apartments in the growing neighborhood, fearing their property values would go down, outdoor living spaces would be disturbed, and for the safety of their children crossing 85th street. Many of those concerns were addressed during the discussion on the matter, and Costello themselves came forward with some concessions as well to help ease the transition.
One of those concessions was dropping the number of planned units from 144 to around 96. Another calls for the planting of some trees to go with a fence between the apartments and neighboring homes. Costello is also promising a 40 foot buffer, well above what is already required by ordinance.
Some residents still questioned the efforts to meet in the middle. One man went so far as to bring a tape measure to the meeting to give a visual of what 40 feet is, saying it's still not enough to keep disturbances out of my backyard.
Resident Nathan Shower called on the council to consider the safety of those crossing 85th Street as well, saying that as the corridor turns into a retail area things will only get worse, "I wish we could show you a video showing the number of kids who cross 85th in the morning, and again in the afternoon. I think you would be surprised at how high that number is. Now imagine another 50 small children on top of that, crossing the same street." City Traffic Engineer Heath Hofteizer quelled those concerns by saying there is a plan to put at least two stoplights in along 85th Street in the next five years, including one at the intersection with Brett.
Discussion from the council was largely the same as it was during the initial vote on the matter. Theresa Stehly provided the lone no vote, saying she wanted to stand up for the current property owners and their investments. Christine Erickson, who was intentionally against the project, said after meeting with representatives from the company she feels the land is in good hands. "We know what kind of business they are in, so it wasn't a surprise," adding that the group has done their homework on the plan.
Just before the final vote Marshall Selberg called on Costello's Joan Franken to confirm that they have submitted final plans for the apartments. "The plan that you see right now, is fully what we intend to do. And based on our reputation, you all know we do what we say we are going to do."