Lifescape can't convince trio of councilors to close Elmwood — again

Hours of discussion and input from four dozen constituents didn't change the minds of eight city councilors when it came to closing a stretch of residential road in central Sioux Falls.

After months of discussion and a failed attempt last fall to close two blocks of Elmwood Avenue near its campus to make way for a new parking lot, the nonprofit Lifescape's plans suffered yet another blow.

Along the same voting lines cast last September when Lifescape first applied to close Elmwood Avenue between 26th and 28th Streets, the council Tuesday night again voted 5-3 in favor of the street vacation request. But because closing a street requires a super-majority — six votes — to earn approval, the resolution suffered the same fate.

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And, like in September, it was Councilors Janet Brekke, Pat Starr and Theresa Stehly who stood in the way of the nonprofit's ambitions, aimed at adding parking spaces for its employees and clients as well as providing a safer drop-off and pick-up zone for its students with special needs.

Despite the needs of Lifescape and no homes remaining on that portion of Elmwood Avenue after they were relocated last year, Brekke defended her vote by saying the street continues to serve the public good.

"This is about the vacation of a public right of way," she said after hearing from 48 members of the public, including Lifescape officials and employees, during a meeting that went on for more than four hours. "It's a viable thru street."

But for the five councilors who supported the street vacation, they said the benefits to the community that Lifescape provides, as well as the increased safety for its clients, outweigh keeping Elmwood Avenue open to the general public.

Following the council’s first rejection of the street vacation five months ago, Lifescape came up with an alternative plan to achieve its parking needs that didn't include closing Elmwood Avenue by building the lot solely on land it already owns west of its campus.

That plan called for a smaller parking lot with boundaries closer to neighboring homes. The smaller lot wouldn't alleviate the on-street parking that's currently occurring on 26th Street and other nearby streets.

"The parking lot, whether this vacation is approved or not, is going to go in. That’s a fact. … It’s already a done deal," Councilor Rick Kiley said before the votes were cast.

Kiley noted that Elmwood Avenue is congested with on-street parking during the day and dead-ends to the north at 26th Street, which he said reduces its effectiveness and benefit to the traveling public.

"The street doesn't serve a purpose," he said.

With the homes across from Lifescape already relocated, the nonprofit is free to begin construction on its alternative plans anytime or make a third run at getting Elmwood Avenue vacated in the future.