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Record of Proceedings

Kearney Planning Commission Meeting – March 25, 2020: Hilltop Mall Second and Blessing Premier Subdivision

Planning Commission — Wednesday, March 25, 2020
BodyKearney, Nebraska
SessionPlanning Commission
DateWednesday, March 25, 2020
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 42:15

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Well, I don't know.

0:04

Okay.

0:06

We'll see.

0:18

I don't know who's talking.

0:19

Are you it's not coming through?

0:23

Yeah, that particular connection might want to hang up and reconnect.

0:32

Hi, Stan.

0:35

Good morning.

0:37

You're kind of breaking up.

0:39

Yes, you are.

0:40

Yep.

0:43

Trying to get a fix.

0:46

Very good.

0:53

We're getting feedback.

1:01

There's speakers.

1:10

Okay.

1:13

Are we available?

1:16

That sounds great.

1:19

Dave, I'm here, Stan.

1:25

This Monty, I'm here.

1:29

Okay.

1:29

Um, we'll have to work through this.

1:32

It probably would be appropriate for us at this point to actually call the role to make sure that everybody is hearing everything, uh and then we can proceed with some of the other uh initial formalities.

1:49

Uh so at this point, I am going to call the roll, and if you would please indicate that you're here or not, if you're not here, indicate that as best you can.

2:03

Uh Monty Dakin.

2:06

Here.

2:09

Thank you.

2:10

Marion McDermott.

2:13

Here.

2:14

Thank you.

2:16

Richard McGuinness.

2:19

Here.

2:20

Thank you.

2:23

Jeremy Fusener.

2:26

Here.

2:28

Thank you.

2:30

Patrick O'Neill Patrick O'Neill.

2:33

Here.

2:35

Thank you.

2:37

Joey Cochran.

2:39

Here.

2:41

Thank you.

2:42

Dave Malone.

2:44

Sure.

2:45

Thank you.

2:46

John Rickard.

2:51

Thank you.

2:52

We have a quorum.

2:54

So at this point, we'll proceed with a couple of formalities.

2:59

Thank you for joining us at today's unique regularly scheduled planning commission meeting.

3:04

Prior to the meeting, I wanted to provide some insight on how this meeting will proceed as this is the first time we've uh planning commissions to held a public meeting using this technology.

3:15

We appreciate that you may find uh uh may experience a few technical hiccups along the way, so remain patient as we work through this process throughout the meeting.

3:25

I'm sure we will have attendees connect and disconnect as well, which is acceptable.

3:30

However, I ask that you please mute your microphones so as not to disrupt the meeting progression.

3:37

I would provide reminders of this throughout the meeting as needed.

3:41

Uh for those present today, please be prepared to begin following the open to begin following the opening of our agenda.

3:49

If you're here to speak on an agenda item, I ask that you hold any comments or questions until the agenda item is opened, and the following is the uh and following the presenter's presentation.

4:00

You will then have the opportunity to speak.

4:02

Please remember to provide your name address prior to discussing the agenda item.

4:07

As a reminder, participants are encouraged to follow along with the agenda.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Procedural███████████████████████████████████38%
Technology and Innovation██████7%
Real Estate Matters██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Kearney Planning Commission Meeting – March 25, 2020

The Kearney Planning Commission held its regular meeting remotely via phone/video due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission voted to continue the Blessing Premier Subdivision items to April 17, 2020, and unanimously approved three interrelated items for the Hilltop Mall Second development: a lot vacation, a final plat, and a revised development plan. No public comments were heard. A commissioner also reported on a recent planning conference and discussed electronic meeting provisions under Nebraska's Open Meetings Act.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of February 21, 2020: Approved unanimously by roll call (8 ayes).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke on any agenda item.

Discussion Items

Continuation of Blessing Premier Subdivision (Items 4–6)

  • The applicant requested to continue the rezoning, preliminary plat, and final plat for the Blessing Premier Subdivision (3985 Coal Chute Road) to the April 17, 2020 meeting. The commission voted unanimously to grant the continuance.

Hilltop Mall Second – Lot Vacation, Final Plat, and Revised Development Plan (Items 7–9)

  • Presenter: Craig Bennett (Miller & Associates) representing Hilltop Holdings LLC. The proposal covers a 8.49-acre site (former Herberger's/Walmart) at 4915 2nd Avenue.
  • The requested actions were:
    • Vacation No. 1983-11: Vacate Lot 1, Hilltop Mall Subdivision.
    • Final Plat No. 2016-08: Create Hilltop Mall Second (three lots) from the vacated lot.
    • Revised Development Plan No. 1983-09: Approve a revised plan for a commercial building on proposed Lot 3 (office building) and maintain a restaurant on proposed Lot 2.
  • Bennett noted that preliminary plat was approved in 2017; the current final plat matches it. Ingress/egress easements across the campus were highlighted. The office building plan was revised to add 9 additional parking stalls (total 24) by utilizing an existing alleyway.
  • Commissioner questions: Rich McGuinness asked about tenant count for the office building—unknown at this time. Staff clarified that uses are tied to the development plan; less intense uses could be approved administratively, but the applicant intends a restaurant on Lot 2 and an office on Lot 3.
  • Staff recommendation: Colette Gruber (Planning) recommended approval based on six findings of fact, including compatibility with the MU2 future land use, consistency with the comprehensive plan's infill/redevelopment policies, and use of existing infrastructure.

Reports

  • Commissioner Rich McGuinness reported on the NPZA conference (early March). He noted that current Nebraska Open Meetings Act does not allow electronic meetings without a governor's executive order. He suggested the city consider advocating for legislative changes to permit electronic meetings for emergencies like snowstorms.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to continue Blessing Premier Subdivision (Items 4–6): Approved unanimously (8 ayes).
  • Vacation No. 1983-11 (Hilltop Mall Lot 1): Motion to approve passed unanimously (8 ayes).
  • Final Plat No. 2016-08 (Hilltop Mall Second): Motion to approve passed unanimously (8 ayes).
  • Revised Development Plan No. 1983-09 (Lot 3 commercial building): Motion to approve passed unanimously (8 ayes).
  • Adjournment: Motion carried without objection.

Meeting Transcript

Well, I don't know. Okay. We'll see. I don't know who's talking. Are you it's not coming through? Yeah, that particular connection might want to hang up and reconnect. Hi, Stan. Good morning. You're kind of breaking up. Yes, you are. Yep. Trying to get a fix. Very good. We're getting feedback. There's speakers. Okay. Are we available? That sounds great. Dave, I'm here, Stan. This Monty, I'm here. Okay. Um, we'll have to work through this. It probably would be appropriate for us at this point to actually call the role to make sure that everybody is hearing everything, uh and then we can proceed with some of the other uh initial formalities. Uh so at this point, I am going to call the roll, and if you would please indicate that you're here or not, if you're not here, indicate that as best you can. Uh Monty Dakin. Here. Thank you. Marion McDermott. Here. Thank you. Richard McGuinness. Here. Thank you. Jeremy Fusener. Here. Thank you. Patrick O'Neill Patrick O'Neill. Here. Thank you. Joey Cochran. Here. Thank you. Dave Malone. Sure. Thank you. John Rickard. Thank you. We have a quorum. So at this point, we'll proceed with a couple of formalities. Thank you for joining us at today's unique regularly scheduled planning commission meeting.

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