SMSC seeks 74 acres for housing, retail

Prior Lake American

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has requested the federal government declare nearly 74 acres of land part of the reservation to be used for housing and "economic diversification."

The land is near the tribe's water tower, adjacent to the reservation and is already owned by the tribe. The tribe wants to convert the land to trust status, meaning the land would be governed by the community.

"The specific purpose in providing for trust status over tribal lands is to restore lands that were historically stolen from or lost by Indian tribes and to permanently protect those lands from future loss," the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Business Council said in a prepared statement. 

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community submitted a written request for the land in October 2016. On trust land, federal and tribal laws apply but state civil laws do not.

Land in trust is also removed from tax rolls. 

Members of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community become eligible to receive a land assignment when they turn 18. Currently, approximately 50 percent of all tribal members are under the age 18, so the tribe will need an additional 250 housing units by 2030, according to the request.

The 74 acres would be enough room for about 38 residential lots. The land is also next to the drinking water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, making it convenient for housing.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community wants to use the land to diversify its economic portfolio beyond gaming.

"Economic diversity is necessary to promote the long-term health of the tribe," said the request, adding that the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community hopes to provide enough resources to sustain seven generations in the future.

"Neighborhood-level retail enterprises" would be put next to County Highway 21 to take advantage of the 10,000 vehicles per day that travel through the area.

The SMSC will also take care of any infrastructure, including roads, that will be needed for the development.

"The SMSC has proven its ability to develop and manage its lands in responsible ways using best practices, so that not only the SMSC benefits, but the surrounding region benefits in many ways as well," according to the statement.

The Prior Lake City Council voted 3-2 to oppose the application in 2016. Former Prior Lake Mayor Ken Hedberg and Councilman Mike McGuire dissented, stating they wanted to cooperate with the tribe, which voluntarily pays Prior Lake $450,000 annually.

The tribe owns about 4,120 acres in Prior Lake and Shakopee, 1,844 of which is trust land.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is processing the application.

The Secretary of the Interior issued a finding of no significant impact on cultural resources, archaeological resources, historic properties and more. The environmental impact "may affect, but not likely to adversely affect" a northern-long eared bat population in the area.