Shape Sioux Falls 2050 Plan Enters Final Phase
Published on January 07, 2026
Following nearly two years of public engagement and writing plan updates, the Shape Sioux Falls 2050 comprehensive development plan is in its final draft and will be presented to the City of Sioux Falls’ Planning Commission for consideration today, Jan. 7, 2026 and to the Sioux Falls City Council for its consideration and approval on Feb. 10, 2026.
Shape Sioux Falls 2050 will be used to help guide future growth and development in Sioux Falls for the next 25 years. Comprehensive plans are essential tools for communities to effectively manage growth, plan neighborhoods and land use that minimize conflicts and improve the resilience of the community.
“Shape Sioux Falls 2050 is about creating a roadmap that reflects the values and priorities of our community,” said Jeff Eckhoff, the city’s planning and development services director. “This plan will help us manage growth responsibly, invest in infrastructure and ensure Sioux Falls remains a vibrant, resilient city for decades to come.”
Growth management practices, like comprehensive development plans, have been used by the city for decades, with the original comprehensive city plan done by Harland Bartholomew and Associates and published in November 1950. The current comprehensive plan for Sioux Falls is Shape Sioux Falls 2040, which was adopted in September 2016 and amended in summer 2019.
Regular updates to the comprehensive plan are considered best practice and South Dakota law requires cities to base zoning regulations on a comprehensive plan. If approved by city council, the final Shape Sioux Falls 2050 plan will provide data, maps and guidance to help the city administration, city council and city boards and commissions make informed decisions on policy, zoning, annexation and development.
Work on the Shape Sioux Falls 2050 plan began in spring 2024 and includes three primary components: public engagement, data analysis and drafting updates to the document. To support this effort, the city hired an external consultant, Confluence, which has partnered with Sioux Falls on other community projects.
“The City of Sioux Falls has a solid tradition of proactively planning for its future and the results speak for themselves,” said Christopher Shires, principal and vice president at Confluence. “The Shape Sioux Falls 2050 Comprehensive Development Plan continues that tradition, setting the stage for its continued success.”
Public engagement for the Shape Sioux Falls 2050 plan spanned over six months and included a statistically valid survey, pop-up booths at community events, four public visioning and neighborhood workshops, two community listening sessions, stakeholder interviews and focus group meetings and an online engagement website.
During the public input phase, six key trends emerged. These trends helped guide the plan and were reviewed and vetted by an advisory committee of more than 25 community members representing a diverse range of public interests. The key trends are:
- Housing and Neighborhoods
- Preserve and protect existing neighborhoods, encourage neighborhood-friendly commercial development and provide clear transitions and buffers between different land uses.
- Transportation and Mobility
- Promote safe, walkable and bikeable development; require pedestrian connections in parking lots; use traffic-calming measures to reduce speeding; support transit service; provide adequate parking with landscaping and improve traffic circulation to ease congestion.
- Conservation and Resiliency
- Conserve natural open spaces, protect archaeological and historical sites, reserve land for future parks and greenbelts, evaluate stormwater ponds as amenities and promote resilient landscaping, infrastructure and debris management.
- Economic and Cultural Development
- Encourage infill and redevelopment in key areas, support new business and industrial sites, promote mixed-use development, foster growth in tech and healthcare and coordinate with schools to ensure quality education in expanding neighborhoods.
- Community Health and Services
- Support community health services, strengthen childcare options, promote the arts and prioritize efficient, responsive city services.
- Infrastructure and Public Spaces
- Prioritize maintaining and improving city infrastructure, ensure adequate public facilities to support growth and provide public spaces that enhance residents’ quality of life.
To learn more and view the proposed Shape Sioux Falls 2050 plan, visit www.siouxfalls.gov/shapesf2050 under the “Resources” section.