Planning commission approves Sanford Health medical office building with height exception after viewshed debate

The Planning Commission approved a final plan development overlay for a Sanford Health medical office building (26PD011), granting exceptions including a minor front-setback reduction and a height exception that will allow the three-story building to reach roughly 71 feet to accommodate mechanical screening and taller medical-floor heights. Jessica Olson of current planning told the commission the project is phase 1 of a future hospital campus on Addison Avenue and that staff recommended approval with stipulations for utilities, a traffic impact study, landscaping and necessary easement vacations.

Commissioners debated potential impacts to the tourist-facing viewshed of the Black Hills from Mount Rushmore Road, with Commissioner Mike Quasney warning about protecting the view and asking whether the city is reaching a point where it needs to reconsider height limits. Vice Chair Vicky and others noted the building sits on the east side of Mount Rushmore Road and that the applicant supplied photo simulations; Vicky said the design and the mechanical penthouse help reduce sprawl of infrastructure and limit neighborhood impacts. Commissioners also noted parking would exceed minimum requirements (staff said the two buildings together require 304 spaces and are proposing 334). After discussion, a motion to approve with staff stipulations carried by voice vote; the approval is subject to building-permit conditions and other stipulations in the staff report.