Kearney City Council Meeting July 9, 2024: Rezonings, Plat Approvals, and Essential Air Service Decision
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Kearney City Council Meeting - July 9, 2024
The Kearney City Council met on July 9, 2024 at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included public hearings on rezoning and plat applications, consent agenda approvals, and a discussion on Essential Air Service carrier proposals. All items were approved as noted.
Public Hearings
- Items 1 & 2 – Rezoning at 715 Avenue D: Dan Bucher of A & D Rentals LLC requested an amendment to the Land Use Map from Medium Density Residential to Office/Commercial Retail Mixed Use (MU2) and a rezoning from R-3/PD (Planned Development) to C-3 General Commercial. Mr. Bucher stated the property has a storm drain that limits development and they plan to build a commercial building for their construction company. The Planning Commission recommended approval. The council voted to close both public hearings and approved Resolution 2024-88 and Ordinance 8684 unanimously (with all present voting in favor).
- Items 3 & 4 – Village Plaza Second Addition: Craig Bennett from Miller & Associates presented a request to rezone from M-1 (Limited Industrial) to R-3 (Urban Residential Multi-Family Medium Density) for a 5.8-acre lot east of 30th Avenue and north of Railroad Street, and to vacate the existing plat (Lot 5, Block 2, Tony H. Addition) and approve a final plat creating multiple lots with infrastructure extensions. The Planning Commission recommended approval. Council approved Ordinance 8685 and 8686 and Resolution 2024-89 unanimously.
- Item 5 – Younes Center Eleventh Addition: Also presented by Craig Bennett. This involved vacating a lot (Lot 3, Block 3, Younes Center Seventh Addition) and approving a final plat for a 29-acre area including the sportsplex and additional parking. No rezoning required. Council approved Ordinance 8687 and Resolution 2024-90 unanimously.
- Item 6 – Conditional Use Permit for Telecommunications Equipment: Withdrawn due to incomplete application. Council voted to withdraw.
Consent Calendar
The consent agenda included items 1, 2, and 4-8 (item 3 postponed to July 23 meeting). Approved under one motion:
- Approve minutes of June 25, 2024.
- Approve claims.
- (Item 3 postponed) Resolution 2024-91 for Western Nebraska Property Development Addition.
- Resolution 2024-92 for Aspen Meadows Third Addition.
- Resolution 2024-93 for Younes Center Tenth 24-plex.
- Deed of Reconveyance for Talmadge JAM, LLC.
- Release of Restrictive Covenant for Talmadge JAM, LLC.
- Annual renewal of manufactured home court licenses (Valley View approved; East Lawn granted 30-day extension).
Consent Agenda Ordinances
Ordinance 8689, repealing Ordinance 8661 and amending the salary ordinance for pay plan adjustments, was approved on final passage (suspending three readings). Unanimous.
Regular Agenda
Essential Air Service Discussion: City staff reported that the current contract with Denver Air Connection expires October 31, 2024. The only bid received was from SkyWest Airlines to provide 12 weekly flights to Denver using 50-seat CRJ aircraft for a three-year term starting November 1, 2024. Council members expressed appreciation for Denver Air Connection's service and noted that SkyWest had previously served Kearney successfully. There was a hope for future Chicago service but no commitment. Council adopted Resolution 2024-94 authorizing the Mayor to send a letter of recommendation for SkyWest.
Key Outcomes
- All public hearing items approved as recommended (unanimously or with all present in favor).
- Consent agenda approved except item 3 postponed.
- Salary ordinance approved.
- Letter of recommendation for SkyWest Airlines for Essential Air Service approved.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. I pledge the new flag of the United States of America. And it stands one nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice throughout. Thank you. In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska revised statutes, a current copy of the open meetings act is available for use. We take roll call, please. Mayor Claus. Bush Cutter. Here. We are absent Nicola. Here. More here. Okay, we have no oral communication, no unfinished business, so we'll move right into public hearings one and two, and they can be discussed together but vote on separately. And they pertain to the application submitted by Jack Bessey for A and D Reynolds LLC for property located at 715 Avenue D. Planning Commission recommended approval. No Jack. Ohny's way. That's what I thought. I'm here. Okay, name and address. No, not everybody knows you. Yeah. Dan Bucher. I live at 6112 Avenue Cube Place. And we own the property at 305 East A Street. And the property, the lot across the street that we want to rezone. And right east of D Avenue. It was originally zoned M1 when this subdivision was created and it's been jockey around, but we plan on building a another commercial building on it for our business. There's a third drain right in the corner. And the drain for that runs caddy cornered across lot one. So it almost makes it impossible to build a building on lot one. You could put up a small building clear to the south end of lot one, but the north end's got a big storm shore that runs diagonal underneath of it over to the field to the east and then goes south to the canal. So nothing could be built on the north end of that lot. Okay. Any questions? Sounds good. Jackie is just essentially an office building that you're putting up there, right? Right for our construction company. Yeah. Anything else? No. Okay, thanks, Dan. Okay, this is a public hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to address public hearings one and two? Okay, do we have a motion? Yes. That's no question. It's uh words. Okay.
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