SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) Projected population growth for growing Sioux Falls has been significantly scaled back.
City Planner Jeff Schmidt says the new update takes into account the impact of the 2008-2009 recession.
"We thought it was going to be around 270,000 people in Sioux Falls out in that 2035-2040 time period, and now we are looking at about 230-235,000," Schmidt tells KELO Radio News.
Despite the significant drop in projected growth on paper, Schmidt says Sioux Falls is still growing at a healthy clip so the plan for future infrastructure won't really change..
"We need to have enough parks to handle that amount of growth, schools, water lines, sewer lines, roads," says Schmidt.
City Council on Tuesday was being briefed on the updated 'Shape Sioux Falls' plan.
Schmidt is really concerned that not enough citizens in Sioux Falls are talking about planning for future growth.
"They're basically just going: I look to tomorrow, I know what I'm going to do on Wednesday, but are they really looking at 30, 40 years down the road." says Schmidt.