Kearney Planning Commission Meeting - April 15, 2022
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Kearney Planning Commission Meeting - April 15, 2022
The Kearney Planning Commission met on April 15, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers. The meeting covered a discussion on the Buffalo County Comprehensive Plan survey, postponements, rezoning and planned development approvals for two properties, and three code amendment packages. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The commission approved the minutes of the March 18, 2022 meeting. Vice-Chairperson Monte Dakan abstained; all other members present voted aye.
Discussion Items
- Buffalo County Comprehensive Plan Survey: Tammy Jeffs, Buffalo County Planning Commissioner, presented an update on the comprehensive plan update process. She encouraged all Buffalo County residents to complete an anonymous survey available online, via QR code, or paper through May 16, 2022. The goal is a 30-40% response rate. The plan is expected to be completed by end of summer or early fall 2022. Commissioners expressed interest in a future presentation when the plan is finalized.
- Code Amendments – Parking (Chapter 49) and Definitions (Chapter 12): City staff presented proposed amendments to Chapter 49 (Off-Street Parking) including allowing driveway extensions/parking pads up to 20 feet in front or side yards, clarifying that ADA and EV charging spaces count toward total parking requirements, enabling staff to approve parking reductions of less than 10% without City Council approval, and correcting landscaping references. Corresponding definitions were moved to Chapter 12. Commissioner Rickard noted the changes make it easier for developers and clearer for enforcement. Commissioner Yaw suggested future consideration of requiring garage bays to be recessed to reduce visual dominance.
- Code Amendments – Sign Regulations (Chapter 50): Staff proposed minor revisions including adding the Mixed-Use (MU) district to all sign tables and permitting pole signs in the Business Park (BP) district, but only along arterial streets, with a maximum height of 35 feet and maximum sign area of 150 square feet (reduced from 200). Commissioner Yaw expressed a preference for monument signs over pole signs but did not oppose.
- Reports and Other Items: A discussion arose about signage blocking vision triangles, specifically at Talmage Street corners, and traffic congestion on Talmage Street due to on-street parking. The Planning Director noted contact with Buffalo County for a future presentation.
Key Outcomes
- Postponements: Items 5, 6, and 7 (Petersen Subdivision – rezoning and preliminary/final plat) were postponed to the May 2022 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
- Rezoning 2022-07 and Planned Development Plan 2022-07 (6020 2nd Avenue): Approved unanimously. The rezoning from C-2/PD to C-3/PD and the planned development plan for an additional building included a deviation to allow unpaved outdoor storage to remain and an increase in standard by adding street trees and landscape screening.
- Annexation 1990-03, Building Setback Vacation 2022-02, Rezoning 2022-08, and Planned Development Plan 2022-08 (1700 30th Avenue): All four items approved unanimously. The annexation brings the parcel into city limits. The vacation removes the 100-foot building setback. The rezoning changes from RR-1 to C-3/PD. The planned development plan for 158 self-storage units includes deviations for reduced landscape buffer widths (east: 20ft, south: 15ft, west: 10ft) and no masonry on building ends, with increases in standards such as additional trees and 30-foot-wide paved driveways.
- Code Amendment 2022-01 (Parking, Chapter 49): Approved unanimously, including the previously unadvertised Section 49-104. The motion included all presented changes.
- Code Amendment 2022-02 (Definitions, Chapter 12): Approved unanimously.
- Code Amendment 2022-03 (Signs, Chapter 50): Approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Well, this meeting of the Planning Commission to order in accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska revised statutes. Current copy of the open meetings uh act is available for review as posted on the wall of the council chambers. In addition, if you wish to have an agenda of today's meeting, there are some outside the door. Correct. Roll call, please. Dart. Here. Malone. Here. Dakin Fusner. Here. Rickard. Here. Yeah. Here. McGinnis. Here. We have a quorum. You all have minutes of the March 18th meeting of the Planning Commission. A motion in regards to those would be in order. Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve the minutes of the March 18th, 2022 meeting as so written. Second. Move it and second it. Any discussion. Malone. All right. Dakin. Abstain. Rickard. Aye. Yeah. I McGuinness. Aye. Start. Aye. That motion passes. Just for information purposes, if you are here regarding any of the items associated with the Peterson subdivisions, that would be items five, six, and seven. They have requested to postpone this for a later time, so we will not be hearing it today. Excuse me. A discussion item from the Buffalo County Comprehensive Plan presentation by Tammy Jeffs, above on the Buffalo County Planning Commissioner, and to provide information to the City of Carney Planning Commission regarding efforts to increase responses to a survey for the Buffalo County Comprehensive Plan. Good morning. Good morning. In my real world, I work at Community Action Partnership in Mid Nebraska. I know some of you from Flood stuff that we have done as well. So I appreciate you making time on your day and on the agenda for this. I presented to City Council Tuesday night. Is its opinion on what you want to see done with the development and growth outside of the city limits, including like all the small towns as well. So we want everybody in Buffalo County to take it, not just the ones in the rural and unincorporated area. We're asking all elected officials to do so and appointed individuals, so you're included into that process to give your insight in that.
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