In considering a revision to the city’s subdivision ordinance, streamlining and simplifying the platting process has been foremost, according to city administrator Justin Weiland.

The council approved at the June 18 meeting the first reading of the ordinance, which would set in play revised subdivision regulations within the City of Dell Rapids. This also served as an official public hearing on the matter. (For more information on the proposed subdivision revision, contact City Hall.)

Toby Brown, from the South Eastern Council of Governments (SECOG), was on-hand to discuss the subdivision ordinance proposal. He has been working with administrator Weiland on drafting the ordinance for several months. One major change to the ordinance would be that administrative approval would be more clearly defined.

“We wanted to entertain a process in which we could have administrative plat approval,” Brown said of the regulation, which he said is in use in other cities such as Tea, Harrisburg, Elk Point and Worthing. “If the plat matches what we’ve already approved in the preliminary plan, it’s common sense (for administrative approval).”

The four-step process for subdivision plat approval set forth in the revision would begin with a concept plan, followed by a preliminary plan approved by the planning commission and city council, engineering planning on water and sewer and the plat process – the legal transfer of property.

Councilor Dave Sommerfeld said that the revision is very close to what’s already in place. “As far as specifics,” he said, “it’s already the same as what we have.”

Brown added that the revised version is “just better defined now.”

The SECOG rep iterated that revising the plat rule better streamlines the process, with the council looking at the big picture situation and whether the development in question “belongs in Dell Rapids.”

He also said that giving administrative approval to City Hall saves time and money in cases of minor plats, or plat approvals that have minimal ramifications. Brown said that ultimately, if the city staff denies the plat request, it can still be appealed to the council.