Planning Commission Meeting – December 19, 2025
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Planning Commission Meeting – December 19, 2025
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.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of November 21, 2025 – Approved as written. (Vote: 6‑0‑2 abstentions (Dakan, Baker), 2 absent (Scott‑Pandorf, Cochrane).)
Discussion Items
Item 4 – Easement Vacation No. 2025‑04 (2915 Marshall Avenue)
- Applicant Craig Bennett (Miller & Associates) requested vacation of the north 10 feet of the east 890 feet of Lot 2, Cherry Avenue Industrial Park – a utility easement that limits building expansion for OE Engines/Blueprint Engines. Staff found no infrastructure in the easement and recommended approval. No public testimony.
Item 5 – Rezoning No. 2025‑16 (Stoneridge Lake area)
- Bennett requested rezoning of approximately 30 acres (the lake and its banks) from R‑1 (Urban Residential Single‑Family) back to AG (Agricultural). The property is outside city limits and was rezoned in 2007 in anticipation of development that never occurred. The future land use map designation (Parks/Open Space and LDR) would not change. Staff recommended approval. Public speaker Tim Norwood (6104 K Avenue) noted the county already taxes the property as agricultural. The commission approved.
Items 6‑11 – Oldfather Property Package (174 acres north of 11th Street, west of 24th Avenue)
- Future Land Use Map Amendment No. 2025‑03 (Item 6): Unified existing LDR, MDR, MU1 designations into Office/Commercial Retail Mixed Use (MU2) for the western portion and Neighborhood Mixed Use (MU1) for the eastern portion. Approved.
- Future Land Use Map Amendment No. 2025‑04 (Item 7): Changed remaining area from LDR and MDR to MU1. Approved.
- Rezoning No. 2025‑17 (Item 8): Rezoned a 3.57‑acre lot (vacant land west of 2915 West 16th Street) from AG to BP (Business Park) to allow a one‑lot subdivision (Oldfather First Addition). Approved.
- Preliminary Plat No. 2025‑13 (Item 9): Preliminary plat for the entire 174‑acre site showing 14th Street, Yannie Avenue, and a future 12th Street connection. After discussion with landowner Mitch Humphrey (Buffalo Survey Inc.), who expressed concerns about access to his adjacent 8‑acre strip, the commission adopted a motion that included extending 12th Street east to the property line. Approved with that condition.
- Final Plat No. 2025‑13A (Item 10): Final plat for the 3.57‑acre lot (Oldfather First Addition). Approved.
- Annexation No. 2025‑03 (Item 11): Annexation of the 3.57‑acre lot into city limits. Approved.
Items 12‑13 – Code Amendments (Short‑Term Rentals and Downtown Residential)
- Code Amendment No. 2025‑01 (Item 12): Added definitions for “Short‑term Rental” and “Sleeping Area” to Chapter 12 of the Unified Land Development Ordinance. Staff noted a subcommittee (Dave, Rich, John, Jeff) met three times and added occupancy limits (max 12), an appeals process, and enforcement provisions. Commissioner Brent Yaw expressed opposition, arguing it over‑regulates short‑term rentals while ignoring long‑term rental issues. Commissioners John Rickard and Jeff Baker supported the amendment as a safety‑focused starting point. Approved.
- Code Amendment No. 2025‑02 (Item 13): Revised Chapter 46 to regulate downtown residential uses – limiting residential on ground floors in the CBD, requiring a Board of Adjustments hearing for conversions in multi‑story buildings, and restricting single‑story buildings to 40% residential. Commissioner Yaw voiced strong opposition, warning it would harm downtown vitality. Approved.
Key Outcomes
- Easement Vacation No. 2025‑04 – Approved unanimously (6‑0‑2).
- Rezoning No. 2025‑16 – Approved unanimously (6‑0‑2).
- Future Land Use Map Amendments No. 2025‑03 and No. 2025‑04 – Approved unanimously (7‑0‑1, 7‑0‑1).
- Rezoning No. 2025‑17 – Approved unanimously (7‑0‑1).
- Preliminary Plat No. 2025‑13 – Approved unanimously (7‑0‑1) with the condition that 12th Street be extended east to the abutting property line.
- Final Plat No. 2025‑13A – Approved unanimously (7‑0‑1).
- Annexation No. 2025‑03 – Approved unanimously (7‑0‑1).
- Code Amendment No. 2025‑01 – Approved (7‑0‑1).
- Code Amendment No. 2025‑02 – Approved (7‑0‑1).
- The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:45 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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