City of Rapid City - Department of Community Development Newsletter - 2025 Summer Edition by RapidCityCommunityDevelopment

Photo by Rebel VanLoh

From the Director… Departmentof CommunityDevelopment

The long lazy days of summer are becoming shorter. I am not sure I found any of them “lazy” days, but enjoyable non-the-less. There is something about walking in grass barefoot or roasting marshmallows overafirepitthatseemstobringout the kid in all of us. Blink and the leaves will start turning colors and we will replace lawn mowers with snow shovels. Our City seems to be changing within that same blink of an eye. As we drive around town, the new construction of projects and infrastructure show the economic growth that we are enjoying right now. Building Permit numbers, both for commercialandresidential,areatahealthyhighsofarthisyear. The Metropolitan Planning Organization projects are on schedule and additional street improvements are being completed to improveour transportation needs inseveral areas ofthecommunity. Ourabatementbudgetfor2025wassecured for an all-time high of $300,000. The hard work of the Code Enforcement Division and Building Services in addressing nuisanceviolationsandsubstandardstructureshasresultedina supplemental request of an additional $150,000 to get us through to the end of the year. Parking Enforcement revenue from metered and permit parking is slightly higher then where we were this time last year. Community Development staff continue to provide support for the Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Adjustment, Building Board of Appeals, Metropolitan Planning Organization Committees, the Parking Advisory Board, the Air Quality Board and the Historic Preservation Committee. More recently, we have taken on the duties of the ADA Coordinator within our department. Overall, this has been a fantastic first half of 2025! We would not be celebrating any of these accomplishments without the dedicated staff within the Department of Community Development. The commitment and work ethic that this team brings to the office each day goes unsung. I humbly serve as theirDirectorandfeelproudtobeapartofthisgreatteam!

. Community Development Director

Purpose: To provide a broad mix of development services including building permits and inspections, development review, transportation planning, air quality inspections, annexation studies and historic preservation assistance as well as parking and code enforcement.

– 2025 Summer Edition

What We Do:

Building Services Division

•Plans examination and building code enforcement

•Building permitting and inspections

•Staff support for Building Code Board of Appeals and Air Quality Board

Current Planning Division

•Plans examination and zoning ordinance enforcement

•Review and processing of land use applications

•Prepares zoning code ordinances and municipal code amendments

•Air Quality monitoring and permitting

•Staff support for the Planning Commission

Long Range Planning Division

•Comprehensive Master Planning

•Transportation Planning

•Neighborhood Planning

•Residential and non-residential growth analysis and projections

•Land Use Plan Amendments

•Staff support for the Metropolitan Planning Organization and committees Code Enforcement Division

•Respond to complaints registered by citizens, Mayor, City Council, or other City Officials

•Initiate enforcement action on violations observed by enforcement officers where no complaints have been filed

•Administer the processes of noticing and abatement of violations

•Assist in the enforcement of the requirements of the Sign Code

Parking Operations Division

•Enforces parking regulations

•Monitors parking that is metered, permitted and/or time restricted

•Maintains several City owned parking lots and the downtown parking structure

•Provides support services to the Parking Advisory Board

•Educates the public on the City's Parking Ordinances

•Serves as an advocate for continued development in downtown Rapid City

Planning Projects Division

•Coordinates planning projects and other studies surrounding growth, development and redevelopment of Rapid City

•Facilitates the creation and implementation of ordinances, policies and procedures

•Historic Preservation

•Reviews development applications and conducts annexation studies

•Staff support for the Historic Preservation Commission, Historic Sign Review, grant management and a community education program

•ADA Coordinator and supports the ADA Committee

Upcoming Meetings:

9/4/25 7:00 am & 9/25/25 7:00 am

ALookintoHistoricPreservation

“TheHistoricPreservationCommissionenhancesthequalityoflifeinRapidCitybyengagingin activitiesthatprotect historicstructuresandsites. Itworksto cultivatea sharedunderstanding of history and culture through ongoing dialogue that strengthens social bonds, shapes communityidentity,andhelpstobridgethecity’spasttoitsfuture.”

The Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission is comprised of seven citizen volunteers appointed by the Mayor and City Council. It is staffed and housed within the City of Rapid City’s Community Development Department. The HPC’s primary duties include:

• Conducting Historic Reviews

• Educating the public on historic properties and issues within the City

• Nominating properties to State and National Registers of Historic Places

• Expending/Recommending Funding

• Maintaining a collection of historic preservation information/archival data

IS A HISTORIC REVIEW REQUIRED?

Historic reviews are required for structures within the West Boulevard Historic District and the Downtown Historic District, as well as individually listed structures on the National Register of Historic Places, including their environs. Contact the Planning Projects Division to see if a historic review is required for your project.

Some common examples include:

Featurestoryby: JenniferBergstrom

Please visit the Historic Preservation Commission website at www.rapidcityhpc.com for more information.

BenefitsofHistoricPreservation:

It takes approximately 65 years for an energy efficient office building to recover the energy lost in demolishing an existing building.

Environmental

It takes energy to build a new structure, from the manufacture and transport of materials, to the assembling of the structure itself. When a building is demolished, that energy is lost.

Employment

Over 40% of the buildings in the United States are over 50 years old. This number will continue to increase. Over the next decade, each year there will be more than 10,000 job openings in the historic trades.

The rehabilitation of existing buildings represents about 19% of the building construction industry and employs more than 1.3 million workers.

40% of waste in the US waste is construction & demolition waste. Buildings account for 40% of global use of raw materials. Adaptive reuse of historic buildings can reduce these numbers.

Property Values

Research has shown repeatedly that properties located in historic districts have a greater rate of appreciation and a lower rate of foreclosure. They also better maintain property values during recession.

DID YOU KNOW?

Economic

Tourism is big business in South Dakota, generating 17% of all the state sales tax in 2024. Heritage tourists have been shown to stay longer, visit more places and spend more per day than other tourists.

78% of leisure travelers in the US engage in cultural or heritage activities. Studies show these travelers are willing to spend twice as much as an average traveler.

A variety of financial resources are available to support the rehabilitation of historic structures. Please visit www.rapidcityhpc.com or contact the Planning Projects Division for more information at 605-394-4120.

1. “Sustainable Stewardship: Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change”, Moe, Richard, March 27, 2008

2. “Status of Historic Trades in America”, PlaceEconomics, prepared for The Campaign for Historic Trades, July 2022.

3. “Economic Impact of Tourism in South Dakota”, 2024; South Dakota Department of Tourism.

4. “U.S. Heritage Tourism Market Size, Industry Report, 2033”, Grand View Research.

5. “Twenty-Four Reasons Historic Preservation is Good for Your Community”, PlaceEconomics.

6. “Demolition vs. Deconstruction: How Shifting to Reuse Impacts the Environment and Economy”, Beth Cochran, 2022.

CurrentPlanning

YeartoDateOverviewfor2025

The Current Planning Division has accepted 156 development applications so far in 2025 Of the submitted applications, the majority are for the subdivision of land, and the next two highest number of submittals are for Planned Development Overlays and Conditional Use Permits. Between January 1 and June 30, 2025, 145 new lots have been platted and 352 new lots were preliminarily approved Current Planning Division staff also manages the Air Quality Program From January to June 2025, there were 111 active air quality permits and 14 permits that were issued

The Current Planning Division assists in the administration, leadership, management, and quality control of current planning development applications, which guides the physical development of the City. The Division provides local officials, developers, engineers and others with information and assistance regarding comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations and other ordinance requirements and their application to specific development proposals The Division provides support and administration for the functions and agendas of the Planning Commission. It is the goal of this Division to develop partnerships and strong working relationships with other departments, elected and appointed officials and the public to attain excellent customer service

The division reviews development proposals and commercial building permits for conformance with Rapid City Municipal Code (RCMC) Title 17 –Zoning, and reviews all plat applications within the City’s 3-mile platting jurisdiction for conformance with RCMC Title 16 –Subdivisions. The Division also reviews Air Quality permits and ensures conformance with RCMC Chapter 8.34 – Fugitive Emissions and the Abatement of Smoke

Block 5 Planned Development Overlay

Major Amendments:

• 24PD028: To allow on-sale liquor use at a hotel

• 25PD010: To allow on-sale liquor use at Toastique

The Block 5 project at 525 Saint Joseph Street has been underway since 2022 and opened in Spring 2025. The project consists of a 10-story mixed use building with commercial retail space, a covered parking garage, apartments, and a hotel and conference center Most recent approvals include three major amendments to the Planned Development Overlay on the property to allow on-sale liquor in conjunction with the hotel and conference space in the new restaurants “The Placery” and “Toastique,” as well as a sign package to request exceptions to the total size and number of signs allowed due to the large scale of the building The amendments were approved and have been integrated into the final project.

Air Quality Update | Public Service Announcement

REMINDER REGARDING UNCOVERED TRUCK LOADS WITHIN AIR QUALITY CONTROL ZONE: City Environmental Planner Morgan Twombly reminds the public that all truck loads must be covered for drivers passing through the City’s Air Quality Control Zone

It is a violation of Rapid City Municipal Code to transport materials that have the potential to emit fugitive dust without a covering. All vehicles used for transporting such materials must be equipped with a tarp

“This includes those passing through Rapid City on the interstate as well as those hauling material outside the City but within the Air Quality Control Zone The zone is a 10x10 mile area around all of Rapid City, excluding the portion which is located within the city limits of Box Elder,” said Twombly “Truck loads, no matter how small, must be covered, and large material is not exempt ” Twombly said the issue greatly impacts Rapid City’s air quality.

“This is an issue that has persisted for quite some time and directly contributes to Rapid City’s air quality,” Twombly said “Contractors, in particular, are well aware of the requirement ”

Contractors are advised covering truck loads is a stipulation of approval for air quality permits, and failure to cover loads will result in fines up to $500 per day of violation or 30 days in jail

LongRangePlanning

TheLongRangePlanningDivisioniscurrentlyinvolvedwithanumberofexcitingprojects!

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), formerly known as the Long Range Transportation Plan is in development. The purpose of this plan is to encourage and promote a safe and efficient transportation system to serve future year transportation demands. Results of the MTP process are intended to serve the overall mobility needs of the area, while also being cost effective and consistent with state and local goals and objectives This document presents the tasks and data requirements to identify and develop a list of transportation projects to meet anticipated future demand needs of the Rapid City Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) through the year 2050 Major components of this process include consistency with federal and state guidelines and significant attention to public participation, mapping, data development, and model validation. These components will establish a policy foundation for metropolitan transportation decisions affecting the MPA The MTP is scheduled for completion in August

The Railyard Relocation and Railway Alignment Study recently kicked off In 2022, the Rapid City Area Metropolitan Planning Organization adopted the Cambell Street Structure Study This study examined the reconstruction of a bridge structure on Cambell Street in Rapid City, as well as possible changes to the routing of motorized and non-motorized traffic through the area of study.

Cambell Street is a north-south arterial street that includes a large structure over the main rail line and multiple rail switching lines utilized by the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad (RCPE). The structure is currently anticipated to be reconstructed around the year 2030 The RCPE switchyard is located adjacent to Cambell Street south of the structure

The study evaluated multiple options for the realignment of roadways to enhance mobility over and around the structure. As a part of the study, the idea of relocating the railyard was introduced. By relocating the railyard, the switching movements could be moved to a location that will no longer block arterial and local streets in Rapid City Additionally, a desire to identify a possible reconfiguration of the rail lines through Rapid City was identified to provide a more efficient through movement of rail traffic

All train traffic through Rapid City must utilize the railyard switching facility, as there is no direct eastwest rail route through the city. The main RCPE line currently uses a “Y” intersection at Pressler Junction, located near the intersection of SD Highway 44/Omaha Street and 3rd Street in central Rapid City. All trains entering the city must travel to the railyard before reversing direction and exiting the city. These switching movements can block traffic on multiple streets in the southeastern area of Rapid City, including East Saint Patrick Street, an east-west arterial street Traffic congestion due to the switching movements can also have a significant effect on emergency response

The intent of this project is to build upon the foundation created by the Cambell Street Structure Study to examine the feasibility of relocating the current RCPE switchyard in Rapid City to an alternate location or locations, identify prospective locations, provide planning level cost estimates for relocation scenarios, and determine if a more efficient rail line configuration can be identified.

The study will consider impacts to the existing RCPE rail line and switchyard, traffic patterns on roadways affected by the RCPE rail line, and mobility of non-motorized transportation users, with a focus on the Cambell Street structure reconstruction or removal

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan is underway. This Action Plan is funded through a discretionary USDOT grant program, and Rapid City was awarded the grant to complete the Plan in 2023 The intent of this project is to build upon the foundation created by the existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan to create a plan to reduce or eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries in Rapid City for all roadway users, and provide a list of prioritized projects for future SS4A Implementation The purpose of the SS4A program is to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through safety action plan development and implementation focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, personal conveyance and micro mobility users, and commercial vehicle operators. After the Plan is complete, Rapid City will be eligible to apply for additional SS4A funding to construct recommended infrastructure improvements

PlanningProjects

ComprehensivePlanOpenHouse andSpeakerPanelEvent:

Throughout the last year, the Rapid City Department of Community Development has been working with the consulting firm Logan Simpson to update the Rapid City Comprehensive Plan, which will serve as the primary policy tool to guide future growth and development of the city for the next 10 years. The draft Plan will be available for public review and input during the final open house event on September 4, 2025 at the Dahl Arts Center from 4:00PM - 6:00 PM The Plan covers a wide array of topics including but not limited to land use, housing, transportation, infrastructure, parks and recreation, arts and culture, and education and is reflective of the top priorities of the community identified throughout the public engagement process. During the Open House, members of the public will have the opportunity to review and vote for their top three policies and actions across plan topic areas which will help the City prioritize implementation of the Plan once it is adopted Following the Open House, staff will work with the consultant to incorporate public feedback on the draft Plan before it goes through the adoption process in September and October Visit the project website at https://www.rapidcitycomprehensiveplan.com/ to review the draft Plan and stay informed on project updates.

More Information

New Comprehensive Plan Open House Event

RentalOpenHousesattheDahl ArtsCenterJanuary28,2025and CityHallonJuly24,2025:

Roughly 150 community members attended the vacation home rental open house held January 28, 2025 at the Dahl Arts Center Roughly 50 community members attended the vacation home rental draft ordinance open house held July 24, 2025 at City Hall. The purpose of event was to allow members of the community to learn about draft ordinance and ask City staff and Vacation Home Rental Committee Members questions about the proposed regulations which were reflective of the final recommendations made by the Committee Following the event, City staff began working with the South Dakota Department of Health to develop a strategy to ensure State licensing inspections align with current State staffing capacities. The City’s next step is to bring the draft ordinance before the Planning Commission and City Council following approval on the 2025 Rapid City Comprehensive Plan Stay tuned for additional project updates on the City’s website and social media accounts

Vacation Home Handout

This packet is designed to help you navigate the proposed vacation home regulations, including how the proposal was formed and information that was considered prior to the recommendation

Historic Review processes are established in South Dakota codified Law 1-19A-11.1 and Rapid City Municipal Code Chapter 17.54.080. The historic review process uses the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (the Standards) when reviewing proposed projects These are best practices for the treatment of historic property In general, the Standards recommend repairing historic fabric rather than replacing it whenever possible. If replacement is necessary due to substantial deterioration, the new material should match the old in design, color, texture, and material whenever possible A historic review may be required for any project affecting the exterior of a structure within a historic district or its environs Interior alterations are reviewed on a limited basis for commercial properties. Please contact Jennifer Bergstrom, Special Projects Planner I, at 605-394-4120 ext. 2339 to determine if a historic review is required for your project

Urban3 Economic Analysis:

Near the end of 2024, the City of Rapid City took a major step towards better understanding our community’s long-term fiscal health with the launch of the Urban3 Economic Analysis. Urban3 is a consulting firm working to bridge the gap between economic analysis, public policy, and urban design, empowering communities with the ability to promote development patterns that both ensure its longterm fiscal success and create a strong sense of place A recurring theme of the currently adopted Rapid City Comprehensive Plan is for the City to promote a balanced pattern of growth that is compact and efficient to reduce urban sprawl, however, the City currently lacks essential economic and land use data to assess and understand the fiscal implications of our current growth pattern – that’s where Urban3 comes in. Urban3 will work partner with the City of Rapid City, South Dakota Department of Revenue, and Pennington County Department of Equalization to procure infrastructure, tax assessment, and sales tax data to analyze the fiscal implications of differing development patterns down to the level of individual parcels but at the scale of the entire community The study is set to be completed in November of this year and will serve as an important tool in assisting City staff and decision makers to guide Rapid City into a financially sustainable future.

BuildingServices

CITY BUILDING SERVICES PERMITS & VALUATION TOTALS SO FAR IN 2025

Articleby:DarrellShoemaker

The City has issued 1,439 building permits for a combined total valuation of more than $226.6 million The valuation total through the first seven months compares to $185.1 million in combined building permit valuation issued during the January through July period of 2024

The City issued 286 building permits in July with a combined valuation of more than $65.1 million. The valuation total was the secondhighest valuation total ever recorded for Rapid City in the month of July. The 286 permits issued were the most permits issued in the month of July since 2021.

A total of 23 permits were issued in July with a valuation total of more than $1 million The top permit for the month was valued at $6 million and was issued to Yasmeen Dream LLC with McGough Construction Company LLC as contractor for construction of the new Caterpillar facility at 1941 E. Anamosa Street. A permit valued at more than $3 7 million was issued to the City of Rapid City with Complete Contracting Solutions as contractor for the Southwest Booster Station as 3008 Spring Brook Road. A permit valued at more than $2 87 million was issued to Monument Health with Scull Construction Service, Inc. as contractor for alterations to the inpatient pharmacy at 353 Fairmont Boulevard.

- 1944

- 1479

- 763

- 936 Fuel Gas - 512

2025 YTD Permit Fees

Main Permits by Type YTD totals for 2025

Block 5 Project:

The Parking Enforcement Division is in the midst of a busy summer The Block 5 Project was completed in June The mixed-use building contains retail and restaurant space; a hotel and convention center; and apartments. The project completion coincided with the start of tourism season in the Black Hills. Occupancy levels continue to rise in the downtown area, and the Parking Enforcement Division is closely monitoring the area to see if any parking system adjustments are needed.

Year-to-date Revenue Comparison 2023-2025

$450,000.00

$400,000.00

$350,000.00

$300,000.00

$250,000.00

$200,000.00

$150,000.00

$100,000.00

$50,000.00

Above:Block5Project-PhotobyRebelVanLoh

Year to Date 2025 Citations: 7481

Immobilized vehicles: 70

ADA space violations: 62

Expired meter violations: 5017 - 65%

Timed parking violations: 1183 - 18%

Leased parking violations: 663 - 8%

Other: 618 - 9%

CodeEnforcement

CodeEnforcementUpdate:

Code Enforcement has had an extremely busy spring and summer season. The amount of heat and rain we have seen, has us running hard this summer. We have received over three inches of rain (total) this year above our yearly average The more heat and rain the faster the grass and weeds grow We are attempting to keep our city mowed and presentable to every neighbor in every neighborhood We continue to work with the police on properties containing junk and debris, which are usually breeding grounds for crime and disorder. Our partnership with our very own Building Services Division is helping to rid us of substandard buildings and structures. The city uses a team approach with the Fire Department and City Attorney when they are needed as well We have never worked closer than we do right now with Public Works on inspecting overlapping problems in major drainage, water usage, city green spaces and garbage collection We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our city clean and safe for all of our citizens and visitors.

Properties need to be maintained throughout the growing season All grass and weeds having reached a height greater than 8 inches can be declared a nuisance.

and Weeds 8.28.020 All bushes/shrubs/trees overhanging any city sidewalk shall be kept trimmed so that the space between said sidewalk and the lowest branch overhanging said sidewalk is not less than 7 feet...and the lowest branch overhanging said street and alley is not less than 11 feet.

Sight

Tree/Bush

Vehicle

Zoning

Signage

Structure

Fence

Department Happenings so far in 2025!

NEW EMPLOYEE 2025 | WELCOME BACK MARLO KAPSA!

Having previously served as a Current Planner in 2022, Marlo Kapsa returned to the City of Rapid City Community Development team in January of 2025 as the Planning Projects Division Manager. After graduating from Belle Fourche High School, Marlo earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies with a Minor in Water Resources from Montana State University and a Graduate Degree in Urban Design and Planning from the University of Washington. Her education and professional planning experience in both the public and private sectors have shaped her expertise in transportation, land use, and hazard mitigation planning Since moving back to South Dakota in 2020, Marlo has worked as a planner in Meade County and Rapid City and prior to her new role as Planning Projects Division Manager, she served as the Planning Director for the City of Spearfish Welcome back, Marlo!

PLANNING COMMISSION NEWS | FAREWELL TO BROOK KAUFMAN

On March 27, 2025 the Rapid City Planning Commission said goodbye to Brook Kaufman, who has served as a member of the Commission since July of 2022 For the last three years, Brook stood as CEO for Visit Rapid City, which is Rapid City’s official Destination Marketing Organization. Brook now serves as the new CEO for Visit Corpus Christi in Texas. Department staff and other commission members wish her well on her next endeavor!

With Brook leaving the Planning Commission there were some changes with other commissioners. Eirik Heikes was moved from serving as 1st Alternate to a Voting Member and Alicia Ginsberg was moved to 1st Alternate in his place Mayor Salamun appointed Dr Jeff Baillie to complete Brook’s term which expires in October of 2027 and now serves as 2nd Alternate for the Commission. Department staff and other commission members welcome him to the team!

Pictured:BrookKaufman,VickiFisher–CommunityDevelopmentDirector,VinceVidaland MikeGolliher–PlanningCommissionmembers. PhotosprovidedbyDarrellShoemaker.

54th ANNUAL COMMUNITY CLEANUP WEEK | NEARLY 850 TONS OF MATERIAL

The Department of Community Development and numerous other departments within the City, participated in the 54th annual Community Cleanup Week in April The City employee volunteers along with volunteer teams of citizens collected approximately 7 tons of material throughout the week

The total amount of material that was collected City wide was nearly 850 tons, which includes 640 pounds of material that was recovered by ReStore in Rapid City instead of being disposed of in the Landfill.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION|

Historic Preservation Seminar

Scott Sidler with Austin Historical, Inc. held a 90-minute seminar on June 5th at the Dahl Arts Center focused on the financial benefits of historic preservation for both homeowners and communities, how preservation affects property values, and how it benefits the economy and the environment. Mr. Sidler founded Austin Historical, Inc , a Florida-based company focused on historic preservation and restoration He is a #1 Amazon best-selling author on home repair and runs a blog called “The Craftsman Blog”.

Historic Window Restoration Workshop Scott Sidler with Austin Historical, Inc. taught a 2-day hands-on workshop at the “Y” House at 830 Quincy Street on June 6-7th Fourteen participants learned how to repair historic windows and were able to participate in detailed window restoration processes from start to finish Continuing education credit hours were offered for the City of Rapid City contractor’s licensing program

Historic Real Estate Workshop

Kevin Kuchenbecker, City of Deadwood Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Officer, led a full-day workshop on June 17th at the Dahl Arts Center The workshop focused on educating real estate agents and homeowners on the responsibilities of owning a historic property Multiple speakers presented a variety of topics, and continuing education credits were offered for real estate agents. All events were free and open to the public.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH | NORM E. NELSON ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

In celebration of Historic Preservation Month, the Norm E Nelson Achievement Award was awarded to three recipients at the May 6th City Council meeting This award recognizes local efforts to restore and rehabilitate historic structures in a way that respects and preserves our community’s history. The Historic Preservation Commission selected the following recipients for their outstanding work:

1. Copper Canyon Homes – for excellence in the restoration of the “Zach Holmes House” at 818 Saint James Street

2. John & Sherri Raforth – for excellence in the rehabilitation of the West Boulevard District Home at 926 Quincy Street

3. Hills Properties – for excellence in façade improvements at 510 Saint Joseph Street in the Downtown Commercial Historic District

Upcoming Events!

NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN | FINAL OPEN HOUSE EVENT!

An open house on draft updates to Rapid City’s Comprehensive Plan will be held Thursday, September 4 from 4-6 p m at the Dahl Arts Center, 713 Seventh Street

The City has hosted several public input and review sessions and conducted several public surveys to develop a new comprehensive plan. Please join City staff to review the data that has been collected and to share your voice in the creation of the official policy document to guide the development of Rapid City and shape the shared vision for the future of our community

Plan Rapid City, Rapid City’s Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2014. Since then, the city has seen a 20% increase in population to near 85,000 residents Growth is anticipated to continue, with Rapid City’s population reaching 100,000 by the year 2040 With this growth, Rapid City is facing challenges related to infrastructure capacity and maintenance, housing availability and affordability, transportation efficiency, the provision of public services, and access to parks and open spaces

The draft plan focuses on topics including growth and land use, housing, transportation, public services and facilities, education, recreation and natural resources, arts and culture, local partnerships, and the economy. The Plan consists of goals, policies, and actions to provide long-term direction, guidelines to inform decision makers, and strategies to achieve the vision and desired outcomes of the community. “Serving as the primary decision making tool for the next ten years, the Plan builds upon what is working well in our community today, and identifies opportunities for improvement in areas to increase the quality of life for residents and visitors alike”, said Project Planning Manager, Marlo Kapsa

This will be the final Open House before bringing the Comprehensive Plan forward for approval by the Planning Commission and City Council

PSA:DarrellShoemaker