Watertown City Council to Consider Rezoning Historic 2nd Street SE Home for Residential Use
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council will hold a first reading of Ordinance No. 26-35 at its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, to consider a zoning change that would allow a historic property at 2nd Street Southeast to return to residential use.
According to a memorandum from City Manager Alan Stager, the ordinance would amend the city's zoning map to rezone 700 2nd Street SE from a C-3 Highway Commercial District to an R-2A Single Family Attached Residential District. The property, owned by Brian and Danica Boydston, features a single-family home originally constructed in 1909.
Because R-2A is a closed district, the Watertown Planning Commission initiated the rezoning process, which it approved on Sept. 10, 2026, according to the meeting agenda. The Planning Commission officially recommended approving the rezoning to the City Council with a 4-1 vote at its Sept. 24 meeting.
The property was previously used as commercial office space. City staff noted that in 2011, the Planning Commission rezoned the surrounding residential properties on the block from C-3 to R-2A. The 2011 rezone excluded this lot because of its commercial use at the time, but the structure remains configured as a single-family home.
The lot also has a 1,440-square-foot detached garage permitted under C-3 commercial regulations in 1991. If the property is rezoned to R-2A, the garage will become a legal nonconforming structure because it exceeds the current 1,260-square-foot residential accessory structure limit, has five garage doors instead of the permitted four, and features metal siding, which is not permitted in residential districts.
The structure may remain a legal nonconforming use; however, if it is destroyed, demolished, or condemned, any reconstruction must comply with applicable residential regulations.
Community Development Manager Brandi Hanten oversees the project. Because Monday’s presentation is a first reading, the council will not take a formal vote or action on the ordinance.
