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Record of Proceedings

Kearney Planning Commission Meeting – May 15, 2026

Planning Commission — Friday, May 15, 2026
BodyKearney, Nebraska
SessionPlanning Commission
DateFriday, May 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Good morning, everyone.

0:06

Welcome to the City of Kearney Planning Commission.

0:09

I'm gonna call the meeting to order.

0:12

In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review and is posted on the wall over there.

0:26

Malia roll call, please.

0:29

Malone.

0:30

Hi.

0:30

Rickard.

0:31

Here.

0:32

Yeah.

0:33

Here.

0:33

Brunew.

0:34

Here.

0:35

Baker.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Scott Pandor.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Dakon.

0:38

Here.

0:38

McGuinness absent and Cochran absent.

0:41

Thank you.

0:42

We have an agenda.

0:44

And if anyone is interested, there are copies of the agenda.

0:49

We have a quorum.

0:50

There are copies of the agenda out in the hallway.

0:54

Melissa, would you like to introduce our new member?

0:57

Yes, we have officially replaced Stan Dart, her long-standing member with Jamie Brunew.

1:05

He is a uh longtime Kearney residence of over 10 years.

1:09

He has served in the Saratoma Club, um, was a graduate of leadership Kearney, and so he was the appointed choice by city council to bring on to our planning commission.

1:20

So welcome, Jamie.

1:21

Thank you.

1:22

Trying to say a few things.

1:25

I'm just uh excited to be here.

1:27

Um, like I said, I I love the city of Carney, been here like I said, over 10 years uh involved in commercial lending.

1:34

So very interested in in planning and and kind of just the growth of the city.

1:38

So excited to be here.

1:40

Great.

1:41

Thank you.

1:42

Cool.

1:42

Okay, you've all received uh copy of the minutes of our April 17th, 2026 meeting.

1:49

Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

1:52

Mr.

1:52

Chairman make a motion to a approve the minutes that's presented.

1:56

Second, and motion has been made and seconded to approve the minutes.

2:00

Any discussion on the motion?

2:04

Molly, a roll call, please.

2:05

Rickard?

2:06

Aye.

2:06

Yeah, Burnout.

2:08

Abstain.

2:09

Baker.

2:09

I Scott Pandor.

2:12

Abstain.

2:13

Dakin?

2:14

Aye.

2:14

Malone.

2:15

Aye.

2:17

All right.

2:19

Okay.

2:20

Minutes are approved.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████66%
Procedural███████████████████████34%
Summary of Proceedings

Kearney Planning Commission Meeting – May 15, 2026

Meeting Overview

The Kearney Planning Commission convened on May 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in City Council Chambers, 18 East 22nd Street. Seven members were present (Malone, Rickard, Yaw, Bernu, Baker, Scott-Pandorf, Dakan); members McGuinness and Cochran were absent. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, introduction of a new commissioner, and actions on four land-use applications: a subdivision vacation and final plat for Mills Addition, an easement vacation on Butler Second Subdivision, a rezoning and final plat for Butler Fourth Subdivision. All applications were approved unanimously by the commission.

Introduction of New Planning Commission Member

  • Jamie Bernu was formally introduced as the newest Planning Commission member, appointed by City Council to replace Stan Dart. Bernu is a 10-year Kearney resident, involved in the Saratoma Club and Leadership Kearney, and works in commercial lending.

Consent Calendar

  • Roll call identified a quorum.
  • Minutes approval: The minutes of the April 17, 2026 meeting were approved by a roll-call vote (five ayes, two abstentions from Bernu and Scott-Pandorf).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public offered comments during any of the three public hearings.

Discussion Items

Items 5 & 6: Partial Subdivision Vacation No. 1999-21 and Final Plat No. 2026-06 – Mills Addition

  • Applicant/Representative: Craig Bennett, Miller & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C., on behalf of DT Development, Inc.
  • Proposal: Vacate Lot 1 of Stansbury Addition (PID 606089051) and replat it as a 1.31-acre outlot (Mills Addition, Outlot A) west of Country Club Lane, south of the NPPD Tail Race Canal/Hike-Bike Trail. The lot is zoned C-3 (commercial) but is constrained by floodplain and elevation challenges; converting it to an outlot would reduce property taxes and preclude building.
  • Staff comments: City staff found the proposal compatible with the Comprehensive Plan, met C-3 regulations, and involved no new infrastructure. Recommended approval.
  • Commission discussion: Member Scott-Pandorf clarified that the previously approved preliminary plat for Mills Addition (from a prior meeting) remained in effect; only the vacation and final plat were being considered.

Item 7: Easement Vacation No. 2026-02 – Stoneflex, LLC

  • Applicant/Representative: Craig Bennett for Stoneflex, LLC.
  • Proposal: Vacate a platted 10-foot utility easement along the south property line of Lot 1, Butler Second Subdivision (5508 Chase Avenue). The easement would be rendered unnecessary if the contiguous Butler Fourth Subdivision (Item 9) is platted, with a continuous easement provided.
  • Staff comments: Staff noted the easement limits building placement; no infrastructure exists within it. Recommended approval.
  • Commission action: No public hearing required; item was voted on directly.

Items 8 & 9: Rezoning No. 2026-13 and Final Plat No. 2026-07 – Butler Fourth Subdivision

  • Applicant/Representative: Craig Bennett for Butler Machinery Company, Inc. (Owner Dan Werdel).
  • Proposal: Rezone 5.05 acres from AG (Agricultural District) to BP (Business Park District) and approve the final plat of Butler Fourth Subdivision (5.36 acres including Chase Avenue right-of-way) at the southwest corner of 56th Street and Chase Avenue. The site is adjacent to recently platted Butler Second and Third Subdivisions, and will be served by existing 12-inch water main and 15-inch sanitary sewer with stub-out. Stormwater detention will be required.
  • Staff comments: Staff found the rezoning consistent with adjacent zoning, the Future Land Use Map (BP), and the 2016 Comprehensive Plan. The lot complies with BP regulations. Recommended approval.
  • Commission discussion: Member Rickard asked about annexation. Staff responded that the property is not currently adjacent to city limits but could be voluntarily annexed by the owner in the future.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion 1 – Partial Subdivision Vacation No. 1999-21: Approved unanimously (7 ayes).
  • Motion 2 – Final Plat No. 2026-06 (Mills Addition): Approved unanimously (7 ayes).
  • Motion 3 – Easement Vacation No. 2026-02: Approved unanimously (7 ayes).
  • Motion 4 – Rezoning No. 2026-13: Approved unanimously (7 ayes).
  • Motion 5 – Final Plat No. 2026-07 (Butler Fourth Subdivision): Approved unanimously (7 ayes).

Reports and Announcements

  • June meeting rescheduled: The June 2026 Planning Commission meeting is moved to Monday, June 22nd, same time and place.
  • Upcoming items: Staff mentioned an update to the Airport Zoning Overlay map and noted that the Hilltop Mall Apartments case (postponed twice by the applicant) will be heard at the May 22, 2026 City Council meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the City of Kearney Planning Commission. I'm gonna call the meeting to order. In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review and is posted on the wall over there. Malia roll call, please. Malone. Hi. Rickard. Here. Yeah. Here. Brunew. Here. Baker. Here. Scott Pandor. Here. Dakon. Here. McGuinness absent and Cochran absent. Thank you. We have an agenda. And if anyone is interested, there are copies of the agenda. We have a quorum. There are copies of the agenda out in the hallway. Melissa, would you like to introduce our new member? Yes, we have officially replaced Stan Dart, her long-standing member with Jamie Brunew. He is a uh longtime Kearney residence of over 10 years. He has served in the Saratoma Club, um, was a graduate of leadership Kearney, and so he was the appointed choice by city council to bring on to our planning commission. So welcome, Jamie. Thank you. Trying to say a few things. I'm just uh excited to be here. Um, like I said, I I love the city of Carney, been here like I said, over 10 years uh involved in commercial lending. So very interested in in planning and and kind of just the growth of the city. So excited to be here. Great. Thank you. Cool. Okay, you've all received uh copy of the minutes of our April 17th, 2026 meeting. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? Mr. Chairman make a motion to a approve the minutes that's presented. Second, and motion has been made and seconded to approve the minutes. Any discussion on the motion? Molly, a roll call, please. Rickard? Aye. Yeah, Burnout. Abstain.

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