April 23, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

The city of Tea is exploring the possibility of adding a large new multisport complex, both as an amenity for residents and a way to draw in out-of-town business.

It’s one of many proposed improvements for the fast-growing Lincoln County community, which has seen significant residential and commercial growth in the past five years and is positioned for more.

“The community is growing at a rapid rate, and we have large-scale infrastructure projects that need to be built, no question,” said city administrator Justin Weiland, who began his role in September 2023.

“The issue is finding a way to balance all that infrastructure with quality-of-life improvements and a strategy for funding, which is why comprehensive planning is really important.”

On Thursday, the city will hold the first opportunity for public input as it updates its comprehensive 2050 plan, likely the start of a yearlong process to develop a plan that will address future zoning as the community identifies its growth areas, as well as needed road and utility improvements, pedestrian trails and other park enhancements, along with the potential to create more of a downtown area.

“There’s been a ton of change already since this plan was most recently updated in 2018, and it’s becoming clear this community will face a lot of decisions in the next decade,” Weiland said.

One of those decisions could come sooner than later. Tea is exploring the possibility of building an indoor multipurpose sports complex on land in the Bakker Landing development, adjacent to where Orthopedic Institute is building a two-story office and clinic and Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital owns land for future potential development.

Last fall, the Tea City Council approved the boundary for a tax increment financing district that includes about 95 acres. The difference between the base value of the property last year and a future projected value yet to be determined will become the increment. That incremental difference in property tax collected would be used to fund several major road projects in the area in addition to the sports complex, assuming the city decides to move ahead with it.

“This is something we’re looking at to improve the quality of life for our growing population, along with the potential of bringing in visitor business as we look to host tournaments or other events,” Weiland said. “The intent is not to affect property taxes but to scale a project to what increment will be available through the TIF.”

A report, presented by Kentucky-based Pinnacle Indoor Sports, found that there is unmet demand for such a facility in the market and that it could spur additional hotel, retail and restaurant development.

Its initial recommendation is for an 85,000-square-foot building that would include:

• Six basketball courts.
• 12 volleyball courts that could convert from basketball.
• Court space that could be flexible enough for pickleball, futsal, dance, gymnastics, wrestling and mat sports.
• One synthetic turf field.
• An elevated walking track.
• Office space.
• Flex spaces for uses such as storage.

The city now is moving toward establishing the type, size and cost for a facility and will hold a City Council meeting today to approve hiring an owner’s representative consultant to navigate design and construction estimates. A steering committee of community members has been formed to help elected officials through the facility planning process while providing feedback. Tea does not own the proposed site of the new recreation center but has an opportunity to buy it from an investment group that includes surgeons from Orthopedic Institute.

“There’s going to be a full public engagement process around this before any project would move forward,” Weiland said. “We’re gathering information and anticipate many avenues to provide input.”

A recommendation on pursuing tax increment financing for the area is expected later this summer.

“We’re collaborating closely with Tea on this opportunity as well as its longer-term planning,” said Tyler Tordsen, CEO of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. “Tea has a lot of opportunities ahead – the key is determining how to capitalize on them in a way that’s sustainable and makes the optimal use of tax dollars and other available financing options.”

The relationship with SMGA has been “one of bouncing around ideas at this point,” Weiland said. “Tyler has been a great help in that way already and has been taking an active role in helping us assess our options.”

In looking at the future comprehensive plan, Tea is considering about a 3-mile radius outside the current city limits, mainly to the south and west as the future 85th Street interchange represents its northern boundary with Sioux Falls.

The community’s estimated population has grown to more than 7,000, driven by major new housing developments.

“As we move ahead with updating the 2050 plan, we’ll also want to look at strategies for balancing multifamily housing, as well as the needs of our school district,” Weiland said. “They have a huge stake and interest in how the community grows and how they have to adapt and plan.”

The public meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Tea City Hall, 600 E. First St.

Those who aren’t able to attend the meeting will be able to take an online survey here, plus there will be additional opportunities for updates and input in the months ahead.