The Kearney Planning Commission met on December 19, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in City Council Chambers. The commission considered a consent calendar item, nine public hearings, and two code amendments. All actions were taken unanimously unless noted. Key items included an easement vacation for Blueprint Engines, a rezoning to agricultural for a lake parcel, and a comprehensive set of approvals (future land use amendments, rezoning, preliminary and final plats, and annexation) for the 174‑acre Oldfather property – which also generated extended discussion about future street connectivity. The commission also approved two code amendments concerning short‑term rentals and downtown residential regulations.
Of the planning commission to order and um the um open meetings act in accordance with section 841412 or Nebraska revised statutes current copy of the open meeting act is available for review and is posted in the meeting room right over there roll call please Dart here Malone here Dakin here Scott Pandorf absent baker here Cochrane absent record here yeah here McGuinness here we have a quorum you all have a copy of and have read the meeting uh approved the meetings the minutes of the meeting of November 21st. Is there a motion in regards to that? Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve agenda item number three minutes on the meeting held November 21st, 2025, as so written. Second, been moved and seconded. Any discussion, please Malone, Daken, Abstain, Scott Pandorf absent Baker, abstain, uh Cochrane absent record. Aye, yeah, McGuinness, Dart. Aye. Motion carries. Uh this morning we have a somewhat extended uh process, a variety of um places to consider. If you are going to comment on them, uh please come to the center podium and speak into the microphone. Provide us also with your name and your address. Uh we'll clarify what time it's important for you to show up, but there's a lot of other stuff going on here. Uh the first item we have on the agenda is an easement vacation number 202504. Uh this is uh a uh to vacate a to vacate the north 10 feet of the east 890 feet of lot two Cherry Avenue Industrial Park, property located at 2915 Marshall Avenue. Good morning. Good morning, Chairman. My name is Craig Bennett, 1111 Central Avenue with Miller Associates, and um what we have here is uh utility easement um for OE engines, um also known as blueprint engines out there, but what everybody would recognize as the property location. So Marshall Avenue, just east of the Kearney Express bypass there, south of the railroad. Um, the easement that uh we've got it exaggerated here, but it basically is along the north side of what is blueprint engines. Uh when we platted a two-lot subdivision, there was a utility easement that we platted along the north side and around some of the lots. There was also a um an early 1900s of Dawson Public Power electrical easement that they have as that's there as well. That there's no utilities in for electrical that go across this. So we'll be vacating that electrical easement there, but we in order to do any expansion in the future. This utility easement that we have here would be in the road. So we're asking to vacate that utility easement that we have here. Um the electrical easement starts here and it continues until it's picked up, and then it does actually have utilities in it going east of there. But um in this particular portion, that's what we're asking to vacate. So when we platted Cherry Industrial Park, um the electrical easement that I was referring to is centered on both sides, which goes across there, but the utility easement that we're asking to vacate starts here just offset because there's a utility easement that comes in here, so it's the east 890 feet of the west or the 900 feet by 10 feet across the north side. So that's essentially what we're asking to get rid of since it shows up on the platform. Any questions from Ms. Bennett hearing none, I'd ask for a motion in regards to item number four, the easement vacation 202504. You think our wonderful staff has any facts? Okay, we'll do that too. Just kind of speeding along here. Uh the staff's findings are factor that the platted utility easement limits the placement of buildings on the lot as buildings cannot be constructed over easements. No infrastructure is placed within the easement. The vacation of the utility easement is consistent with the 2016 comprehensive plans, policies, and strategies as referenced. The development service department is not aware of any other financial obligations affecting the city that may be associated with this project, and staff recommends approval of the vacation of the utility easement as presented. Is anyone who wishes to be heard on this item? Um I will take a motion for item number four, Mr. Chairman. I'll make a motion uh to approve the easement vacation number 2025-04. Due to staff's finding a fact. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion. Thank you. I Scott Pandark, absent Baker. Aye.