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Record of Proceedings

Planning Commission Meeting - April 17, 2026: Multiple Zoning and Development Approvals

Planning Commission — Friday, April 17, 2026
BodyKearney, Nebraska
SessionPlanning Commission
DateFriday, April 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

It's like what's up, good sign.

0:10

Going to call the meeting of the planning commission to order.

0:14

And I'd like to first read the open meetings act statement.

0:18

In accordance with section 84-1412 of the Nebraska revised statutes.

0:24

A current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review and is posted in this meeting room to my left.

0:33

Roll call, please.

0:34

McGuinness.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Here.

0:37

Ricker.

0:37

Here.

0:38

Yeah.

0:38

Here.

0:39

Baker.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Here.

0:41

Dankin.

0:42

Here.

0:42

Scott Candorf Abset.

0:44

We have a quorum.

0:47

Before we do the minutes, just wanted to point out to everyone who's here that we do have copies of the agenda in the hallway.

0:53

If you'd like to take one, there should be an extra copies for you.

0:59

Everyone has copies of the minutes of the last meeting.

1:03

Is there a motion?

1:05

Second to approved.

1:07

Mr.

1:07

Chairman, I move we approve the minutes of the March 2026 meeting.

1:12

Second.

1:14

We have a motion and second.

1:16

Any comments?

1:17

Hearing none.

1:18

Roll call, please.

1:19

Hello.

1:20

Rickard.

1:20

Aye.

1:21

Yeah.

1:21

Aye.

1:22

Baker.

1:23

Abstain.

1:24

Dakin.

1:25

Aye.

1:25

Again, S.

1:26

Aye.

1:28

Motion carries.

1:31

First item that we will address today is agenda item number four.

1:38

For those present who at any time of the meeting today who would like to present, please state your name and address for the record and speak into the microphone at all times.

1:52

As I mentioned, the first item on the agenda is item number four for a conditional use permit 2026-03 to locate a telecommunications tower site on property zone district agricultural district and located on the south side of West 11th Street, about 1,200 feet west of the intersection of 30th Avenue.

2:16

Who here will present to the commission?

2:26

Chairman, Commission members, good morning.

2:30

State your name, please.

2:39

The Towers is a built-to-suit partner with Verizon Wireless and this conditional use permit application.

2:46

My address, by the way, 973 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

2:55

That's the office address.

3:03

There we go.

3:04

All right.

3:04

So we're uh submitting application for uh uh telecommunications tower site of this yellow circle here on the map was our search area, half mile radius.

3:18

The yellow pin there is uh the candidate that we're discussing here today.

3:26

Uh the uh nearest residence is this one here, which is uh about four-tenths of a mile west of the proposed tower site.

3:42

You can see the property lines uh in the general uh surroundings there on that map.

3:50

Um towers has executed a uh memorandum of lease agreement with the uh uh landowners, the knaps and branch uh for that location where the yellow pin is.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Technology and Innovation█████████████████17%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████16%
Public Safety██2%
Affordable Housing█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning Commission Meeting - April 17, 2026

The Kearney Planning Commission convened on April 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in City Council Chambers. The commission approved a telecommunications tower conditional use permit, two rezoning requests, a preliminary and final plat for a business park subdivision, a rezoning and setback vacation for rural residential lots, a subdivision vacation, a future land use map amendment and rezoning for a downtown property, and a rezoning of city-owned properties. All votes were unanimous except for one abstention on the minutes approval.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The commission approved the minutes of the March 20, 2026, meeting by a vote of 5-0-1 (Baker abstained).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public testified during any of the public hearings. For item 5 (Rezoning No. 2026-08), staff reported three phone calls and one email inquiring about the proposal, with one caller concerned that a nursing home might be built. No opposition was expressed.

Discussion Items

  • Item 4 – Conditional Use Permit 2026-03 (Telecommunications Tower): Woody Krog of Buell Consulting, representing The Towers LLC (applicant), presented a proposal for an 85-foot monopole (90 feet including lightning rod) on agriculturally zoned land at 11th Street and 30th Avenue. The tower will be built to suit Verizon Wireless and can accommodate up to three carriers. Staff recommended approval with conditions including a maximum height of 90 feet, maintained screening, and notification of ownership changes. The commission approved unanimously.
  • Item 5 – Rezoning 2026-08 (2500 Block West 49th Street): Casey Brandt, applicant, requested rezoning from R-1 (Urban Residential Single-Family Low Density) to R-1D (Residential District) for three lots (about 48,000 sq ft) owned by Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. The area has remained vacant since plating in 2014. Staff found the rezoning compatible with the future land use designation and surrounding development. The commission approved unanimously.
  • Items 6-8 – Butler Third Subdivision (56th Street and Chase Avenue): Craig Bennett of Miller & Associates, representing Butler Machinery Company, presented three related applications:
    • Rezoning 2026-09: 4.71 acres from AG (Agricultural) to BP (Business Park) to match adjacent zoning.
    • Preliminary Plat 2026-04: Revised plat of 71.79 acres reflecting updated infrastructure and a new lot for McClintock development.
    • Final Plat 2026-05: 5.05 acres including dedicated right-of-way. Staff found all proposals consistent with the comprehensive plan. The commission approved each unanimously.
  • Items 9-10 – Turkey Creek Lots 5 & 6 Rezoning and Setback Vacation: Craig Bennett presented for owners Rodney L. Hinz, Deone R. Hinz, Jirayus Tan Chaowalit, and Annette F. Chaowalit. The properties are currently zoned RR-1/PD (Rural Residential with Planned Development Overlay). The request was to rezone to RR-2/PD (Intermediate Standards) to allow front and rear yard setbacks to reduce from 50 feet to 40 feet (front) and 30 feet (rear), while maintaining 25-foot side yard setbacks. Staff recommended approval, noting that the RR-2 district is compatible with the existing rural estates future land use. The commission approved both the rezoning and the setback vacation unanimously.
  • Item 11 – Subdivision Vacation 2013-20 (Lot 7, Turkey Creek Second Subdivision): Craig Bennett, for Turkey Creek Properties LLC, requested vacating Lot 7 (1.93 acres) to return it to unplatted status. The lot is currently used as a soccer field and is not intended for development. Staff recommended approval. The commission approved unanimously.
  • Items 12-13 – 2017 Avenue B Future Land Use Map Amendment and Rezoning: Craig Bennett, representing Caliber Nebraska LLC, requested:
    • Future Land Use Map Amendment 2026-02: Change from Medium Density Residential (MDR) to Central Business District (CBD).
    • Rezoning 2026-11: From M-1 (Limited Industrial) to CBD (Kearney Center Mixed Use). The site has been cleared of previous industrial buildings. Staff noted the CBD district is less intense and will allow flexible parking requirements. The commission approved both unanimously.
  • Item 14 – Rezoning 2026-12 (City-Owned Properties): City Planner Melissa Scott-Pandorf presented a request to rezone multiple city-owned parcels (2010 Avenue B, 120 East Railroad Street, 2017 & 2025 Avenue A) from M-1 to CBD to achieve zoning consistency with surrounding downtown uses. No development is planned. Staff recommended approval. The commission approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Conditional Use Permit 2026-03 (Telecommunications Tower): Approved unanimously with conditions limiting height to 90 feet, requiring ongoing screening, and 30-day notification of ownership changes.
  • Rezoning 2026-08 (West 49th Street): Approved unanimously.
  • Rezoning 2026-09, Preliminary Plat 2026-04, Final Plat 2026-05 (Butler Third Subdivision): Each approved unanimously.
  • Rezoning 2026-10 and Setback Vacation 2026-01 (Turkey Creek Lots 5 & 6): Approved unanimously.
  • Subdivision Vacation 2013-20 (Turkey Creek Lot 7): Approved unanimously.
  • Future Land Use Map Amendment 2026-02 and Rezoning 2026-11 (2017 Avenue B): Both approved unanimously.
  • Rezoning 2026-12 (City-Owned Properties): Approved unanimously.
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned after staff reports regarding email phishing scams targeting planning commission members.

Meeting Transcript

It's like what's up, good sign. Going to call the meeting of the planning commission to order. And I'd like to first read the open meetings act statement. In accordance with section 84-1412 of the Nebraska revised statutes. A current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review and is posted in this meeting room to my left. Roll call, please. McGuinness. Here. Here. Ricker. Here. Yeah. Here. Baker. Here. Here. Dankin. Here. Scott Candorf Abset. We have a quorum. Before we do the minutes, just wanted to point out to everyone who's here that we do have copies of the agenda in the hallway. If you'd like to take one, there should be an extra copies for you. Everyone has copies of the minutes of the last meeting. Is there a motion? Second to approved. Mr. Chairman, I move we approve the minutes of the March 2026 meeting. Second. We have a motion and second. Any comments? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Hello. Rickard. Aye. Yeah. Aye. Baker. Abstain. Dakin. Aye. Again, S. Aye. Motion carries. First item that we will address today is agenda item number four. For those present who at any time of the meeting today who would like to present, please state your name and address for the record and speak into the microphone at all times. As I mentioned, the first item on the agenda is item number four for a conditional use permit 2026-03 to locate a telecommunications tower site on property zone district agricultural district and located on the south side of West 11th Street, about 1,200 feet west of the intersection of 30th Avenue. Who here will present to the commission? Chairman, Commission members, good morning. State your name, please.

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