Kearney Planning Commission Regular Meeting – January 20, 2023
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Kearney Planning Commission Regular Meeting – January 20, 2023
The Kearney Planning Commission met on January 20, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in City Council Chambers. Chairperson Dave Malone presided. Roll call established a quorum. The commission approved the minutes of the December 16, 2022 meeting, then considered a storm water and drainage easement vacation and three related items (rezoning, preliminary plat, and final plat) for the Spruce Hollow West subdivision. Under reports, members discussed a 36% decline in single-family building permits and other community development topics. All votes on agenda items were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2022 meeting as written. Passed unanimously. (Approval vote: 7-0)
- Storm Water & Drainage Easement Vacation No. 2023-01: Application by Buffalo Surveying Corp. for NP Land Development, Inc. and the Norwoods to vacate a 10-foot-wide easement on each side of the common lot line at 6216 K Avenue and 6302 K Avenue (west of K Avenue and 63rd Street). Staff (Melissa Scott-Pandorf) found the easement no longer needed because the storm system was built north of the property, consistent with the 2016 Comprehensive Plan. Motion to approve based on staff findings passed unanimously. (Vote: 7-0)
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke on any agenda items.
Discussion Items
Rezoning No. 2023-01, Preliminary Plat No. 2023-01, Final Plat No. 2023-01 – Spruce Hollow West
- Applicant: Miller & Associates for DT Development, Inc. (Craig Bennett, presenter).
- Location: Tract east of 30th Avenue and north of 60th Street (part of Section 22, Township 9 North, Range 16 West).
- Proposal: Rezone approximately 5.4 acres from AG (Agricultural District) to RR-1 (Rural Residential District, rural standards); then approve a preliminary plat and final plat for a one-lot subdivision (Spruce Hollow West) with dedicated 50-foot right-of-way and 50-foot building setback. The lot is part of a larger development area that had been planned for single-family homes, but due to infrastructure constraints (e.g., need for a lift station), the developer opted for a single rural lot. Adjacent landowner (Mr. Marlett) agreed to the plan.
- Staff Recommendation: Melissa Scott-Pandorf stated the rezoning is consistent with development trends, compatible with the future land use map (LDR), and meets comprehensive plan goals. Staff recommended approval of all three items.
- Commission Action: Hearings were opened and closed without public testimony. Motions to approve each item based on staff findings passed unanimously. (Rezoning vote: 7-0; Preliminary Plat vote: 7-0; Final Plat vote: 7-0)
Reports and Discussion
- Building Permit Statistics: A member noted a 36% decline in single-family building permits in 2022 compared to prior years. Staff (Melissa Scott-Pandorf) was asked if that trend matches other communities. Staff replied that they had not run comparative statistics but could do so. They noted that Kearney still has platted lots ready (e.g., Arborview, North Point, Fountain Hills) and that development activity continues, which is a positive sign for when market conditions improve.
- Commission Vacancy: A member asked about filling a vacancy on the Planning Commission. Staff explained the process: applications are submitted to the city manager, reviewed with city council, and approved in a public council meeting. Staff will notify commissioners when the new appointee is on a city council agenda.
- Casino Impact Discussion: A member asked whether the city has considered the economic impact of casinos in Hastings and Grand Island. Staff said no formal analysis has been done, but noted that state regulations may limit new casino locations to existing sites. A member mentioned that Kearney has not expressed interest in a casino.
- Other Reports: No official staff reports were presented.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous Approval of Easement Vacation (Storm Water & Drainage Easement No. 2023-01).
- Unanimous Approval of Rezoning (Rezoning No. 2023-01) from AG to RR-1 for Spruce Hollow West.
- Unanimous Approval of Preliminary Plat (Preliminary Plat No. 2023-01) for Spruce Hollow West.
- Unanimous Approval of Final Plat (Final Plat No. 2023-01) for Spruce Hollow West.
- No Action Taken on the discussion regarding building permit trends or commission vacancy; staff agreed to provide additional data upon request.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:15 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, I'm gonna call this meeting on the planning commission to order and ask for a roll call, please. Dart. Here Malone. Here. Scott Pandorf? Here. Cochrane. Here. Ya. Here. McGuinness. Here. We have a quorum. Uh, in accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska revised statutes, current copy of the open meeting act is available for review and is posted on the wall of the council chambers. Um all have copy of the minutes of uh December 16th. The motion in regards to those would be in order. Mr. Chair Person, I would move that we approve the minutes of the meeting held on December 16th, 2022 as so written. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion changes, corrections, etc. Uh motion or roll call, please. Malone. Scott Pandor. Aye. Cochrane. Aye. Yaw. Hi. McGinnis. Aye. Dart. Aye. We have uh a few items on our agenda today. If you're participating in this, please step to the podium and give us your name and address. And as also please stay in contact with the microphone so we get a record of things. The first item that we have, uh, item number four on our agenda is uh a stormwater and drainage easement vacation 2023-01. Um this is an application to vacate a stormwater and drainage easement and a parcel of property or a couple of parcels of property located in northeast Carnia, 6216 K Avenue and 6302 K Avenue, west of the intersection of K Avenue and 63rd Street. The legal identification of the lots is listed in the agenda. Uh very good for the record. Uh, my name is Mitch Humphrey with Buffalo Surveying Corporation. And I'm here to represent Jamie Norwood and NP Land Development Incorporated, who are the current owners of the property on which or across which the easement is located. Um Jamie owns the North Lot 6302, and NP land development owns the south lot at 6216 Avenue K. Really, what we have is a drainage easement. It's a stormwater and drainage easement that that's located 10 feet on each side of that common lot line that we'd like to gain approval for the vacation of. We when the stormwater system was designed and approved by the city of Kearney and ultimately constructed. Uh we found in fact that we didn't need to have a storm story inlet there or any drainage facilities there to accommodate the drainage off of Avenue K. Therefore, it seems reasonable to vacate that easement uh in its entirety. And essentially, that's that's it in a nutshell. Um we just want to vacate the easement, gives them a little bit more unencumbered room across the lot to take advantage of and go from there.
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