Kearney Planning Commission Meeting – July 17, 2020
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Kearney Planning Commission Meeting – July 17, 2020
The Kearney Planning Commission met on July 17, 2020, at 9:00 AM in City Council Chambers. The commission considered three related items for the proposed North Pointe subdivision (rezoning, preliminary plat, final plat) and received a presentation on the city’s 2020-2021 capital expenditures budget. All three development items were approved unanimously. The meeting also honored outgoing commissioner Patrick O’Neill.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of June 19, 2020 – Approved unanimously by roll-call vote (8 ayes, 0 nays).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Seth Cheddar (TS Development, adjacent landowner) – Expressed support for the North Pointe subdivision, noting no opposition from neighboring property owners.
Discussion Items
North Pointe Subdivision (Items 4, 5, 6)
- Rezoning No. 2020-07 – Application by Miller & Associates for RK Development LLC to rezone 29.30 acres (part of the Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter, Section 16, Township 9 North, Range 16 West) from District AG (Agricultural) to District RR-1 (Rural Residential). The site is north of 70th Street and 40th Avenue, within the city’s two-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The future land use map designates the area as Rural Estates; surrounding parcels are zoned RR-1 or AG.
- Preliminary Plat No. 2020-06 – For the entire 79.56-acre parcel (East Half of the Southwest Quarter of said section), proposing a horseshoe-shaped road network (40th Avenue extension, 41st Avenue, and a cul-de-sac for a future 78th Street). All lots are a minimum of 3 acres. Roads will be constructed to Buffalo County RL-2 rural road standards; the developer initially plans to pave them with 25-foot-wide concrete. A 66-foot right-of-way is dedicated along the north for potential future east-west circulation. Drainage flows north toward the Wood River; no FEMA 100-year floodplain is present. An infrastructure feasibility plan restricts well placement to a 50-foot offset from side property lines.
- Final Plat No. 2020-06 – For the southern 29.3 acres (same area as the rezoning), creating 8 lots. The rest of the preliminary plat area will be developed in a future phase.
- Staff position – Colette (Development Services) recommended approval, citing compatibility with the comprehensive plan, compliance with RR-1 lot area/width standards, and adequate street connectivity. Staff praised the infrastructure feasibility plan.
- Applicant presentation – Craig Bennett (Miller & Associates) detailed the site characteristics, road alignment, drainage, and county coordination. He noted that the property is primarily grassland with rolling hills, and that most lots will allow walkout basements.
- Commission questions – Members asked about well placement control (HOA or plat notes), road paving vs. gravel (paving is current plan but not required for approval), and stormwater pipe easements. Bennett confirmed that future stormwater structures will be covered by separate easements.
Capital Expenditures (Item 7)
- Presentation by Wendell Wessels (Finance Director) – Outlined major capital projects in the 2020-2021 City of Kearney budget:
- Street Improvement Fund: $500,000 for miscellaneous paving districts; $2.7 million for Avenue N (28th Street to 39th Street) – total removal and replacement; Second Avenue overpass improvements (approaches, lighting, railing); Western Nebraska Property Development (Third Edition) – paving portion $630,000 (developer reimbursed over 10 years).
- Special Sales Tax Fund: $340,000 for asphalt street replacement; $25,000 for street curb replacement; $523,000 for 31st Street (Avenue D to Avenue G) – remove and replace; $215,000 for Pony Express sanitary sewer north of 39th Street.
- Water/Sewer Funds: $500,000 for miscellaneous sewer districts; $398,000 for sewer associated with Western Nebraska development; $400,000 for water districts; $174,000 for water associated with Western Nebraska development.
- Several projects were postponed from the current year due to COVID-19 uncertainties but are now planned for 2020-2021. Wessels noted that the city pays for oversizing of sewer trunk lines and street intersections, and that developers reimburse the city over 5–10 years. The 2.7 million in TIF (Tax Increment Financing) approved by city council does not directly impact the city’s budget.
- Commission discussion – Members asked about the longevity of curb replacement programs and the impact of postponing multiple large projects on contractor availability and pricing. Wessels confirmed that the Avenue N and 31st Street projects were postponed and may push other work to 2022.
- Action – A motion to recommend the capital expenditures as presented to city council was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Rezoning No. 2020-07 (North Pointe) – Approved unanimously (8-0).
- Preliminary Plat No. 2020-06 (North Pointe) – Approved unanimously based on staff findings of fact.
- Final Plat No. 2020-06 (North Pointe) – Approved unanimously (recommendation to city council).
- Capital Expenditures Presentation – Commission recommended the capital projects to city council; vote unanimous.
- Recognition – Commissioner Patrick O’Neill was recognized for his service and presented a certificate from the mayor.
Meeting adjourned after the recognition.
Meeting Transcript
Yeah, that clocks fast. Which is on my computer chain every time like our clock. All right, we're ready to go. Good morning. In accordance with section 84 1412 of the Nebraska revised statutes, a current copy of the opening and open meetings act is available for review and is posted on the wall over here to the side. Roll call, please. Rickard? Here. Hello. Here. McGuinness? Here. Dart. Here. Deacon. Here. O'Neill. Here. Fusener. Here. We have a quorum. You all have the minutes of the meeting of June 19th. Uh, and have read those. A motion in regards to them would be in order here. Mr. Chairman, I move we approve the minutes as distributed from the June 19th meeting. I'll second. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion on the minutes from June 19th? Hearing none, Nancy. Dart. Aye. Fusner. I Rickard. Aye. O'Neill. Aye. Hello. Deacon? Aye. McGinnis. All right. The motion passes. Um before we get underway here today, just as a formality, would remind you that if you are speaking to the group, please come to the center podium, give us your name and address, and talk with us as uh needed. Um you'll be provided with the opportunity to do so along the way. Um this morning we have um three items, three items on our agenda that pertain to the same parcel of property, and one later one item number seven that does not pertain. Um items number four, five, and six uh are a rezoning uh in item number four, a hearing for preliminary plat on item number five, and a hearing on the final plat for item number six for what will become the North Point subdivision. Uh this application is being submitted by Miller and Associates for RK development LLC and Nebraska Limited Liability Company to rezone the property just from District A G agricultural district to district RR1 rural residential district rural standards. Uh for all three of these items, the property is a tract of land being part of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter, section 16 Township 9 North Range 16 West of the sixth principal meridian. Properties located north of 70th Street and 40th Avenue.
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