Planning Commission Meeting – June 18, 2021: Millennial Estates, Oak Park Center, and Annual Report
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Planning Commission Meeting – June 18, 2021
The Kearney Planning Commission met on June 18, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting covered several development items, including a requested continuance for the Millennial Estates Fourth Addition due to ownership questions, a postponement of the Millennial Estates Fifth Addition items, approval of the Oak Park Center Third subdivision, and a review of the annual Planning Commission report. Commissioners also discussed the local housing market and lumber shortages.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of May 21, 2021: Approved unanimously with one abstention (Commissioner Rickard abstained).
Discussion Items
- Millennial Estates Fourth Addition (Items 4 & 5): Applicant Jacob Ryder (Olson Engineers) presented a request for a revised Planned Development Plan and Final Plat for six duplex lots. The request sought a reduction in the rear yard setback from 25 feet to 21 feet. Staff noted that the original deviations stand and recommended approval. However, during discussion, Commissioner Rickard raised a concern about whether all property owners had signed the revised plat. Staff requested time to verify ownership of the affected lots. The commission continued both items to the July 16, 2021, meeting.
- Millennial Estates Fifth Addition (Items 6 & 7): The applicant requested postponement of the Planned Development Plan and Final Plat hearings to the July 16, 2021, meeting. The commission approved the postponement unanimously.
- Oak Park Center Third (Items 8, 9, 10): Craig Bennett (Miller & Associates) presented the subdivision vacation of Lots 3 and 4 and the preliminary and final plats for Oak Park Center Third. The vacation and replat corrected a lot line alignment error from a previous plat and shifted the lot line to center it between two existing buildings. A sign easement was also created. Staff recommended approval. The commission approved the vacation (Item 8) and the preliminary and final plats (Items 9 & 10) unanimously.
- Annual Planning Commission Report: Staff presented the report covering activities from 2020-2021. Commissioners noted that despite the pandemic, the number of hearings remained comparable to the previous year. Discussion followed on the Kearney housing market: Commissioner Bernu noted only 21 houses on the market, a severe housing shortage, and the impact of lumber shortages and rising prices on development. Lumber futures had recently fallen, but it would take time to filter through. Commissioner Bernu also asked about new developers showing interest; the new city planner, Melissa Doherty-O’Hara (introduced at the start of the meeting), indicated she had not been involved in those meetings.
Key Outcomes
- Items 4 & 5 (Millennial Estates Fourth Addition): Continued to July 16, 2021, due to unresolved ownership verification.
- Items 6 & 7 (Millennial Estates Fifth Addition): Postponed to July 16, 2021, at the applicant’s request.
- Item 8 (Subdivision Vacation – Oak Park Center): Approved unanimously.
- Items 9 & 10 (Preliminary and Final Plat – Oak Park Center Third): Approved unanimously.
- Annual Report: Received and filed; no formal vote taken.
Meeting Transcript
I'm gonna call this meeting of the Planning Commission to order and ask for a roll call, please. Dart. Here. Daken. Here. Here. Malone. Here. McGuinness. Here. Ricker. Here. Yeah. Here. Cochran. Here. We have a quorum. In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska revised statutes. A current copy of the open and meeting act is available at free review and is posted on the wall of the meeting room. You all have copies of the minutes from the previous meeting. Motion in regards to those would be in order. Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve the minutes as so written. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion questions? Roll call, please. Taken. Stay. All right. Hello. McGinnis. Hi. Rickard. Abstain. Y'all. Aye. Cochrane. Aye. Sorry. Hi. Motion carries. Before we go too far into this, we're having a change of venue of change of forces here. And I want to recognize the people involved in this. First of all, Colette is moving on to become a full-time gardener. Yep. And I'm sure you all appreciate her thoroughness in what she has done with us. Her dedication towards perfection, which is always important. And she's also done it often with a smile, and that's really helpful. And so we really thank you very much for your service to the city in that regard, but thank you very much for taking care of us.
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