STURGIS, S.D. – A proposed 51-lot housing development in Meade County that includes plans for a private airstrip on the southwest corner of Elk Creek Road and Haines Avenue has neighboring land and homeowners seeing red.
The project, kept quiet by county officials and developers according to some Meade County residents, was brought forward by Infinity Properties LLC and approved as a preliminary plat by the Meade County Commission in March. It has drawn criticism from nearby landowners who worry the development will disrupt them and raise noise, safety, and environmental concerns.
This won’t be the first time in recent years that the Meade County Commission has found itself in the cross-hairs of a land-use dispute. It began in 2021, when the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks proposed to open a 400 acre sports shooting complex in southeast Meade County near the intersections of Elk Vale and Elk Creek Roads. Heavy opposition ensued.
After being made aware by those opposing the shooting range that the county could make the final determination of whether a shooting range could be built or not based on South Dakota Codified Law 21-10-32, the commission instead, asked that a draft ordinance be developed outlining requirements for such a construction. The ordinance passed after a second reading.
Despite legal and legislative actions (or non-action as the case might be) taken by adjacent landowners and other stakeholders, the project has moved forward thanks in part to a $13.5 million Future Fund award and a $2.5 million general fund allocation from former Gov. Kristi Noem used to offset the estimated building cost of $20 million – up considerably since 2021 when it was estimated to cost $10 million. It is set to open in the Fall.
In this most recent project proposal from Infinity Properties, some residents are alleging unauthorized work is being done by the developers. Michelle Marshall, who often rides horseback in the area, claims a section line is obstructed.
But representatives for Craig Baumiller, the developer of the project, say the process has followed county requirements, adding, “We think this is a good thing for Meade County, the tax base, population, housing….everything.”
The Meade County Commission is scheduled to meet Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 9:00a.m. when the project will be on the agenda for discussion.
