Hastings Planning Commission Meeting - December 16, 2025

The Hastings Planning Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. The agenda indicated the meeting would be held at the City Building, 220 North Hastings Avenue; the minutes state the meeting was conducted at the Hastings Municipal Airport, 3300 W 12th Street. Members present: Michelle Lewis, Shawn Rossi, Craig Hubbard, Jody Stutzman, and Lou Kully. Absent: Chuck Rosenberg, Shannon Adler, Joe Kindig, and Greg Sinner. All votes were 5-0.

Consent Calendar

• Motion to adopt the current agenda passed 5-0.
• Minutes of the November 18, 2025, meeting were approved 5-0. The minutes text contains inconsistent references to a November 16, 2025, meeting and September 18, 2025, minutes, but the agenda and roll call identify the minutes as those of November 18, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Citizen Communications: None.
• Matt Langston with Olsson, 601 P Street, Ste. 200, Lincoln, NE, spoke in support of the Garages 7th Addition plat vacation, stating the lots were being reconfigured to suit the property owners' needs.
• Alan Anderson, 701 North Shore Drive, spoke in support of the rezoning of 205 North Shore Drive, stating he and his wife wanted to build a duplex/townhouse duplex on property they had owned for quite a few years.
• Wes Woods, 3427 Utah Beach Court, Spring, TX, speaking on behalf of his mother/trust that owns 305 North Shore Drive, opposed the zoning change. He argued that commercial zoning would diminish the value of their property and that commercial encroachment generally does not have a positive effect on residential property values. He asked the Planning Commission not to approve the zoning change.
• A letter from Shane Balderston opposing the rezoning was noted. Balderston wrote that commercial property would be encroaching on the residential character of the neighborhood. Wes Woods stated he agreed with the letter's opposition.

Discussion Items

• Final Plat for The Garages 7th Addition: Staff reported the property is zoned I-2 Heavy Industrial, the future land use is parks and recreation, and the plat conforms to the 2025 Comprehensive Plan. Staff recommended approval conditioned on the proposed Annexation and Plat Vacation of The Garages 7th Addition being approved. The commission recommended approval to City Council 5-0.
• Final Plat for The Garages 8th Subdivision: Staff reported the property is zoned I-2 Heavy Industrial with a county industrial tract overlay for a portion, and the proposed use conforms with the parks and recreation land use category. Staff recommended approval conditioned on the proposed Plat Vacation for The Garages 8th Subdivision being approved. The commission recommended approval to City Council 5-0.

Public Hearings

• 2025-661 - Plat Vacation for The Garages 7th Addition (lots 12-49 and associated rights-of-way): Staff recommended approval; Matt Langston spoke in support. The commission recommended approval to City Council 5-0.
• 2025-663 - Annexation of The Garages 7th Addition: Staff recommended approval based on general conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and ability to be served by public utilities, conditioned on the Plat Vacation being approved by both the Planning Commission and City Council. The commission recommended approval to City Council 5-0.
• 2025-662 - Plat Vacation for The Garages 8th Subdivision (lots 59-75 and associated rights-of-way): Staff recommended approval; there were no annexation changes associated with this item. The commission recommended approval to City Council 5-0.
• 2025-664 - Rezoning of 205 North Shore Drive from R-1 Urban Single-Family Residential District to C-O Commercial Office Non-Retail District: Staff explained that C-O allows duplexes while R-1 does not, the adjacent property is already zoned C-O, and the change expands that existing district rather than spot zoning. Alan Anderson spoke in support. Wes Woods and Shane Balderston's letter opposed the change. Commission member Shawn Rossi noted the opposition appeared to stem from the word "commercial" and concern about a business; staff clarified the proposal would allow a residential duplex. Staff acknowledged that after rezoning there is always a possibility the property could be used for a different C-O use, but stated it is highly likely the applicant would build a duplex. The commission recommended approval to City Council 5-0.
• 2025-665 - City Code of Ordinances updates and recodification of Chapter 34: Staff described changes to bring the code into compliance with federal and state standards, including amendments to Sec. 34-200 (Uses and Districts Table), Sec. 34-206(4) (R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District), and Article IV (Standards for Conditional Uses); repeal of Sec. 34-202.01 (R-5 Urban Single-Family Undersized Lot Residential Districts) and Sec. 34-207 (R-4 Urban Neighborhood District); and recodification of Chapter 34, including the PDF and Ordinance 4802, to Chapter 54. Changes addressed halfway houses, group homes, telecommunications, kennels, adult daycare, churches/assemblies, and application deadlines. Commissioner Jody Stutzman asked about Kearney and halfway houses; staff explained the change reflects state laws prohibiting discrimination against halfway houses. Community Risk Reduction Officer Anthony Murphy said fire has no concerns about the setback changes. The commission recommended approval to City Council 5-0.

Reports

• Staff reported that Kevin Kubo and City Planner Ember Batelaan have been dedicating at least eight hours a week to discussing code changes.
• Chief Building Inspector Danny Graves reported construction progress around town, including foundations for the first five townhomes, footings for the next five, and tenants moving into the third apartment house at 26th and Elm later that week.
• Director/City Engineer Lee Vrooman reported that Highway 6 utility work continues, bids opened November 20, Warner was the low bidder, and a pre-construction meeting had not yet been held.

Key Outcomes

• The commission voted 5-0 to recommend City Council approval of: the Final Plat for The Garages 7th Addition; the Final Plat for The Garages 8th Subdivision; the Plat Vacation for The Garages 7th Addition; the Annexation of The Garages 7th Addition; the Plat Vacation for The Garages 8th Subdivision; the rezoning of 205 North Shore Drive from R-1 to C-O; and the City Code of Ordinances update and recodification of Chapter 34 to Chapter 54.
• All motions passed 5-0.
• The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.