Council to look at proposed COVID-19 road map

Affordable housing request, concrete plant also on agenda

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BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council will learn about a proposed COVID-19 phased plan for reopening, hold a public hearing for a concrete plant and consider waiving building permit fees for a new affordable housing project this week.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the City & County Government Center. 

COVID plan

“The City of Brookings implemented various COVID-19 ordinances since March in an effort to reduce the impact to the community. The City has desired a plan and thresholds for movement between phases that impact businesses and residents,” according to a memo by City Manager Paul Briseno, which is attached to the agenda.

“The proposed plan has a flexible design that allows Council to adjust ordinances based on community metrics. More thorough data and knowledge now exists, allowing considerations of movement between phases and provided by local professionals,” according to Briseno’s memo.

The City took action in March on the first of three ordinances designed to reduce the impact of COVID on the community, Briseno reported. 

Ordinances regulating businesses and offering individual guidance included a Stay at Home 20-006, Closure of Social Businesses 20-005 and Re-opening 20-010. 

“Data available to date has evolved from the state Department of Health and local professionals. Knowledge at the time of implementation was gained from these sources and utilized to make the best decision at that time for the public health and local economy,” according to Briseno’s memo.

Presentation

“Staff has developed a phased plan for the City of Brookings based on existing regulations and recommended metrics. The plan identifies the specific phases but allows Council the fluidity to adjust ordinances and move based on the existing conditions and known factors,” according to Briseno’s memo.  

The plan phases include:

Phase 1 / Severe – Stay at Home Ordinance 20-006

Phase 2 / High – Closure of Social Businesses Ordinance 20-005

Phase 3 / Moderate – Re-opening Ordinance 20-010

Phase 4 / New Normal – No Current Ordinance TBD

“Community partners with access to data, not available to the City, will provide guidance of strategic community thresholds weekly. These partners include SDSU, USD, Brookings Hospital, Avera and Sanford. This information will be provided in our daily and weekly community updates found on our webpage and social media,” according to Briseno’s memo. 

The plan’s three major thresholds include:

• Cases over the past 14 days as it relates to the local epidemic;

• Hospitalization and capacity to address any influx of cases;

• Testing capabilities as it relates to a percentage of positives.

“These metrics are not available to the City, but our local partners can provide high level guidance. Though more specific information is desired, this is the best available resource the City has. 

“Once movement of the phases is warranted, Council can relax regulations with an ordinance that requires two readings.  Council can take necessary emergency action passing a more restrictive ordinance quickly based on the thresholds,” according to Briseno’s memo.

Concrete plant

The council will consider a conditional use permit to establish a concrete plant in the Telkamp Industrial Addition, at 302 32nd Ave. S., on the corner with Prince Drive. 

“The owner is interested in developing a concrete plant on the south side of the existing buildings. The ordinance lists a concrete plant as a conditional use in the I-1 District,” according to the attachment to the agenda.

“The Planning Commission voted 6-0 recommending approval of the conditional use permit with the following contingency: A row of trees shall be planted (one per 40 linear feet) along 32nd Avenue South to mitigate impacts to surrounding properties; and outdoor storage along 32nd Street South shall be prohibited,” according to the attachment.

Affordable housing

The council will consider a resolution of support and the forgiveness of building permit fees for a proposed townhome development. It’s called Edgebrook Townhomes and planned for property southwest of the intersection of 20th Street South and 22nd Avenue South, directly west of Hillside Trailer Court.

“The project is a 40-unit affordable workforce housing project with rents based on income. A need for renter-occupied affordable housing was outlined within the 2017 Brookings Affordable Housing Task Force Report. The development and request are consistent with the report’s findings and recommendations,” a memo from Briseno says.

Haan Development constructed the Brookings Prairie View Townhomes, which contain 40 units directly south of Mickelson Middle School, Briseno added. The estimated building permit fee to be waived for the new development is approximately $15,000.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.