City council hears golf course proposal

The Tea City Council met May 18 and heard about a possible golf course proposal.

Landowner Mike Poppens and developer Steve Van Buskirk presented the idea to develop an 18-hole golf course with 360 residential lots on the south end of the city. The pair wanted to bring the concept of the Hammerhead Golf Course to the council to find out if they should continue to pursue the idea and research more costs. Van Buskirk said the community has been asking for a golf course and this would provide another opportunity for housing.

Van Buskirk said they were looking for feedback from the council. The future houses and future taxes would pay for the golf course with the intent that it would be a city-owned facility.

The general consensus of the council is to continue research the numbers and infrastructure needs. The main part is figuring out the price tag. More information about what’s being proposed can be found on the city’s website on the May 18 city council agenda.

Community development director Albert Schmidt provided information on international building code amendments. The five amendments line up with what Sioux Falls plans to adopt July 1. The council scheduled a second reading for the June 1 meeting. Schmidt plans for these amendments to go into effect in Tea in Aug. 1.

They will also hold second readings on amendments to street naming and addressing and the 161 subdivision ordinance. He noted the street name and addressing amendment matches engineering standards and get rid of things that conflict. In the subdivision ordinance, there are no changes to the ordinance. It just gets the numbering correct.

The council approved the removal of two part-time police officers and the addition of one seasonal worker in the street department at $18 per hour.

They held two public hearings. In the first one, the council approved the second reading and adoption of an ordinance rezoning property located at the southeast corner of E. Gateway Boulevard and N. Thomas Avenue from Natural Resource Conservation (NRC) to General Business District (GB) and amending the official zoning map. The first reading was held at the May 4 meeting and the rezone is consistent with the 2050 comprehensive plan.

In the second public hearing, the council approved the second reading and adoption of an ordinance rezoning property located east of N. Ginger Avenue and south of E. Madison Street from NRC to Planned Development District (PD) and amending the official zoning map. 

The applicant also owns the property to the south and west. It in alignment with the 2050 comprehensive plan. Councilman Aaron Otten noted there was a lot of compromise between the landowner and the homeowners abutting the property.

In Schmidt’s report, he asked for direction from the council on the back lots in the Ninemile Lake Addition. After some discussion, the council’s direction was to leave it in an HOA for now.

In city administrator Justin Weiland’s report, he asked for direction on green space dedication in the Heritage Addition. The council advised him to continue to pursue green space that is useable ground.

Weiland also said the chamber has been working on an e-bike and scooter safety campaign. They are working with the police department to reward riders riding responsibly. 

The city received the hotel study document that would recommend a 75-room hotel in the city. They are continuing their research on EMS services.

The council went into executive session at 7:28 p.m.