Planning commission approves downtown taproom conditional-use permit with stairwell safety condition

The Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional-use permit (26UR013) to permit on-sale alcohol in conjunction with a taproom at 420 Saint Joseph Street, subject to a stipulation that the building owner and architect design the adjacent stairwell access in compliance with building code prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Kip Harrington, long range planning manager for Rapid City Community Development, described the project as a mixed-use building with a first-floor taproom, a fenced patio area and proposed hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Harrington told commissioners the site is in the downtown Central Business District and recommended approval with standard staff stipulations. Neighbors from the South Dakota Stock Growers spoke in public comment, urging protection of a stairwell/easement adjacent to the proposed patio and warning of potential liability and safety issues. As Doris Lauing, executive director of the South Dakota Stock Growers, told the commission: “This easement shall not prevent the granter or its successors in interest from constructing or installing any improvements in this easement area as long as it's done in compliance and applicable with the city codes.”

Applicant representative Chris Larvey said he had not been made aware of the stairwell concern and welcomed working with the neighbors: “I would like to find some kind of solution or a way to make this work.” Commissioners debated whether to require coordination and ultimately approved the conditional-use permit with the specific stipulation that access to the stairwell be designed in compliance with the building code prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. The commission’s approval does not itself issue an on-sale alcohol license; the applicant will still need to obtain a license from the City Council.