Kearney Planning Commission Approves Tech One Subdivision, Sign Code Amendments, and Capital Expenditures - July 19, 2019
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Kearney Planning Commission Approves Tech One Subdivision, Sign Code Amendments, and Capital Expenditures - July 19, 2019
The Kearney Planning Commission met on July 19, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. in City Council Chambers, 18 East 22nd Street. The commission considered four related items for the Tech One Second Subdivision, a comprehensive rewrite of the city's sign regulations (Chapter 50), and the 2019-2020 capital expenditures budget. All actions were recommendations to the city council.
Consent Calendar
- Meeting Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the minutes of the June 21, 2019 meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided testimony on any agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Tech One Second Subdivision (Items 4-7): Craig Bennett of Miller & Associates, representing the City of Kearney, presented a proposal for a 16-acre subdivision at 3215 Global Drive Place. The site is adjacent to the existing Tech One subdivision and is intended for a data center. The commission jointly considered four items: a Land Use Map Amendment from Business Park (BP) to Light Industrial (LI) for a 5-acre lot, a Rezoning from BP/PD to M-1 Limited Industrial for the same lot, and the Preliminary and Final Plats for the entire 16-acre two-lot subdivision. Staff noted that the rezoning is necessary because the data center's open-air design with gravel drives does not conform to BP standards. The M-1 zoning is more appropriate and will be buffered by BP along main corridors. Colette from staff confirmed the proposal is consistent with the comprehensive plan and compatible with surrounding uses. The commission asked clarifying questions about the procedural flow and the nature of the business.
- Code Amendment Chapter 50 – Sign Regulations (Item 8): Brenda Jensen, Assistant Development Services Director, presented the proposed rewrite of the sign code. The update was prompted by the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Reed v. Town of Gilbert, which requires content-neutral sign regulations. The new code classifies signs by type (e.g., freestanding, banner) rather than by content (e.g., political, commercial). Other goals included improving user-friendliness with diagrams and step-by-step processes, and maintaining the existing character of Kearney's signage. The rewrite involved input from registered sign installers, a planning commission subcommittee, city staff, and legal counsel. No changes were made to outdoor advertising (billboard) regulations except for section renumbering. The proposed effective date is October 1, 2019, to align with building code updates. The commission moved to approve the code amendment.
- Capital Expenditures Presentation (Item 9): Wendell Wessels, Assistant Finance Director, presented the capital outlay portion of the 2019-2020 city budget. Key items included $500,000 for paving districts, $1.5 million from the state for Second Avenue improvements (11th to 25th Street) as part of the highway relinquishment, and various street reconstruction projects (e.g., 31st Street, Avenue N). Sanitary sewer and water funds were also allocated. Future projects related to the recent flooding were mentioned but not yet detailed. The commission approved the capital improvement plan.
Key Outcomes
- Land Use Map Amendment (Item 4): Motion to amend the future land use map from BP to LI for the 5-acre lot. Approved unanimously by voice vote.
- Rezoning (Item 5): Motion to rezone the property from BP/PD to M-1. Approved unanimously.
- Preliminary and Final Plats (Items 6 & 7): Motion to approve both plats for Tech One Second Subdivision. Approved unanimously.
- Code Amendment (Item 8): Motion to approve Code Amendment No. 2019-01, Chapter 50 Sign Regulations. Approved unanimously.
- Capital Expenditures (Item 9): Motion to approve the capital improvement plan. Approved unanimously.
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting started at 9:00 a.m. and concluded with adjournment. All votes were unanimous.
Meeting Transcript
The meeting room right over there. Roll call, please. Ricker? Here. Hello? Here. McGinnis. Here. Dart? Here. McDermott. Here. Bacon. Here. Fusener. Here. We have a quorum. You all have a copy of and probably have read the um meeting minutes of June 21st. A motion in regards to those would be in order. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes as so provided. Oh second. Move to second. Are there any comments, questions, additions, corrections? Nancy? Fusener. I. Dart. I. Rickard. I McDermott. Aye. Dakin. I McGinnis. Aye. All right. The motion passes. We have several items on the agenda today. As a formality, when it's your turn to uh present to us this morning, please come to the central podium and speak into the microphone so that we have you for the record. We are a recommendative body. Anything we do here is recommendation to the city council. Items four, five, six, and seven all pertain to the same parcel of property. Each one has a different uh focus. The property is the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 29 Township 9, North Range 15 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, Buffalo County, Nebraska. Uh property located 3215 Global Drive Place. The first action that we're going to look at today is item number four, a land use map amendment for that portion. Uh tech one's second subdivision. Subsequently we'll talk about the rezoning of tech one sub second subdivision and then the final and preliminary and final plates. We'll discuss them all together and vote on them individually. Good morning. Good morning.
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