RAPID CITY, S.D. – Future use of property along Creek Drive south of East St. Patrick Street was discussed Tuesday as the necessity for sidewalks there came into question at the Rapid City Public Works Committee meeting.

On Tuesday, the Public Works Committee members heard a request on behalf of Admiral Beverage Corporation to waive the requirement to install a $40,000 sidewalk at 2720 Creek Drive as part of a project there.

Councilman Bill Evans said he would consider waivers for hardship cases and where there’s no future potential the sidewalk would be connected to anything as the area was developed.

“But this is kind of the opposite of this,” Evans said, citing the $900 million annual revenue of the business and the possible future development of the area.

“This is a way to start putting sidewalks in that area because eventually it’s going to become a pedestrian walkway connecting that part of town with all the development that’s going up by Family Thrift Center,” Evans said.

The project general contractor said the waiver request was based on the location of the property and lack of sidewalks in the area, not the cost of the project.

Public Works Director Mike Theis said the primary reason for the variance request was criteria like the distance to other sidewalks – about 2,800 feet – and the areas primarily industrial use.

“I don’t disagree that future plans that maybe that area will develop and connect something,” Theis said. “Today where we’re at there’s not a lot out there and not a lot of need for pedestrian traffic.”

City Engineer Roger Hall said the council does have the authority to order in a sidewalk, at the owner’s expense, at a later date.

The Public Works Committee unanimously denied the waiver request, sending the item to the full city council for consideration.