KSFY-TV: Laurent Debate
Salem, South Dakota is similar to many small towns in the state. Most of the stores are within walking distance and neighborhoods are small and friendly. But some say this type of community is disappearing, thanks to suburbs and acreages. “We’ve actually forced people who want to live in the country to buy 20 acres or use 20 acres and waste the rest of it,” feels McCook County Planning & Zoning Member John Knox.
But Knox says the proposed town for the deaf, known as Laurent, would bring about a return of the traditional neighborhood. “About 30% of the people in the U.S. would prefer to live in a walkable community,” says Knox. At Tuesday’s McCook County Planning meeting, Commissioners moved forward with an ordinance that could help make Laurent a reality. “It allows them to choose a site that they can build a community on and then the County Commission or the governing body, if it’s a town, has total control on where they go,” says Knox.
It’s been a long road. Many local farmers voiced concerns about Laurent’s impact on their ag-land. To improve communication, Laurent developers, county leaders and residents incorporated what’s known as a charette process. “It’s just a huge public meeting with everybody involved before the application is even made,” says Knox.
Through a series of hearings, it’s aimed at keeping everyone informed about the status of the proposed town. The new ordinance is a product of such hearings. For now, it remains a work in progress. But developers are optimistic the process is helping those on both sides of the Laurent issue find common ground. “We’re happy to see that the Commissioners are working very hard on making sure that all of the concerns are solved and addressed,” says Laurent Company COO Marvin Miller.
Knox says a condensed community like the proposed town for the deaf would cut down on the sprawl that’s taking away productive farmland.
By Leslie Rupiper