Co-developer Michael Stanton of Grand Island talks to Hall County Commissioners Aug. 26 about the Sycamores at Prairie Creek subdivision north of Grand Island, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County Commissioners voted 4-3 Aug. 26 to approve rezoning from A2 to planned unit development for the Sycamores at Prairie Creek subdivision east of Highway 281 and north of One R Road.
Commissioners Ron Peterson, Jane Richardson, Pam Lancaster and Scott Sorensen voted for the motion . At their meeting two weeks ago, Sorensen was absent, and the vote to approve the rezoning was 3-3.
Carl Mettenbrink of 2200 E. One R Road said that the subdivision is a problem for landowners who live downstream from the subdivision.
“I think the Planned Unit Development is your better option,” he said. “You’re putting everybody at risk who’s downstream from the project.”
At the meeting Aug. 12 when the subdivision was discussed, farmers whose land borders the subdivision were opposed to taking agricultural land out of production.
Michael Stanton of 3831 Meadow Road is a co-developer of the project.
“We want to do this,” he said. “Help us help you.”
Commissioner Scott Sorensen said if he was building a house, he would not want to build it at this subdivision.
Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity said that there would be less water exiting the subdivision because of grass on the lots, which would absorb water.
After the matter had been approved, Stanton said that seven lots will be available at the 42.7 acre site, with lots ranging in size from 3 acres to 7 acres. A pond will be on the east side of the subdivision, close to Highway 281.
In another matter, commissioners voted 5-2 to approve a future land use map from the Hall County Comprehensive Plan. Commissioners Karen Bredthauer and Gary Quandt voted against the motion.
Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity said that Hall County is an urban county and is the largest urban county in the state that does not have 100,000 population.
He said that the Regional Planning Commission would use caution to reduce conflict between urban interests and agricultural interests.
Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve revised zoning regulations and a revised zoning map based on the Hall County Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Karen Bredthauer voted against the motion.
In another matter, Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve a bid by Cornerstone Overhead Doors to replace counter window fire doors for the Register of Deeds and County Clerk’s offices. The bid was $7,800 for the County Clerk’s office and $11,000 for the Register of Deeds office.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to deny a claim from Petersen Farms at 1420 E. Capital Avenue for $4,909. The claimant was driving a tractor in a ditch next to his field and ran over a broken off sign post that was hidden by overgrown grass/weeds. The front and rear tire of the tractor were completely punctured and had to be replaced. The Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association recommended that Hall County was not responsible for the property damage because the county did not have any notice that the “Stop Ahead” sign post was down.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve a $10,000 bid from Indoor Climate to provide boiler maintenance for county buildings.
Commissioners also voted 7-0 to have Johnson Control System analyze the HVAC control system at the Hall County Attorney’s building. The control system is currently not working.
