The Oldfather Addition, generally located north and east of W. 16th St. and 24th Ave. and north of 11th St., (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Questions regarding street access were raised during the discussion of the preliminary plat of the Oldfather Addition during the Kearney Planning Commission meeting on Friday, Dec. 19.
Craig Bennett with Miller & Associates appeared on behalf of RHOJCOAMT Partnership with a Future Land Use map amendment, a rezoning, preliminary plat, final plat and annexation for a property in the Oldfather Addition, generally located north and east of W. 16th St. and 24th Ave. and north of 11th St.
It was noted the requests were for future residential and commercial development.
Bennett said that the final plat would involve a 3.57-acre one lot subdivision that would lie to the east of the Buckle and north of Brookestone Gardens.
Bennett said this process created an opportunity to look at the entire Oldfather Addition, around 174 acres, from a planning standpoint.
“The preliminary plat for Oldfather Addition contains 174.67-acres and 116 lots, ranging in size from 0.28-acres to 6.85-acres. The phasing of the development is unknown at this time; however, it is anticipated that development will occur from west to east, as indicated by the platting of one lot subdivision, Oldfather First Addition,” according to the City of Kearney staff.
“The request for a preliminary plat for such a large area establishes street and utility connectivity, assisting future development. The proposed preliminary plat provides options for larger-lot commercial or residential development and lots for potential low-density residential development (located in the eastern portion of the property)” per the City of Kearney staff.
“In future phases of development, 16th Street, as platted today, will be renamed 14th Street and extended eastward to the extent of the property,” the city staff wrote of the street development mentioned in the preliminary plat.
“An east-west arterial street is indicated as 16th Street, which will connect to 16th Street east of the canal and trail, then extend west to terminate in a cul-de-sac. Two north-south arterial streets, 24th Avenue and Yanney Avenue, will extend from 11th Street north and terminate at the proposed 16th Street,” per city staff.
“East of Yanney Avenue, local streets have been provided to show connectivity throughout the planned residential portion of the property. These include north-south streets, 19th Avenue and 18th Avenue, which will extend from the proposed east-west street, 12th Street, north to the proposed 16th Street,” city staff wrote.
“The last proposed street, 17th Avenue Place, is a north-south street that extends from the proposed 16th Street and terminates in cul-de-sacs at both ends,” the city staff noted.
During the public comment period, Mitch Humphrey, who owns land on the southeast side of the Oldfather Addition appeared with concerns about street access that was listed in the preliminary plat.
Humphrey noted there were many things he agreed with in the plat but questioned the street access through the property, if it were to be developed that way.
He said his “concern is access in the area…we need more connections in the area.” Humphrey noted that there are limited connection points on 11th St. due to the traffic generated by Kearney High School and Kearney Regional Hospital.
A solution was reached to include an extension of 12th St. into the preliminary plat area to help with the traffic flow.
As for the more limited final plat, “Oldfather First Addition…is located along the west side adjacent to the Buckle Distribution Center. In 2017, south of the proposed lot, the Brookstone Gardens Subdivision was platted, including the dedication of the 16th Street right-of-way.”
Bennett was also requesting that the area of the Oldfather First Addition be annexed into the city limits.
The city staff reported to the planning commission that they recommended approval of Future Land Use map amendments, rezoning, preliminary plat – including the 12th St. amendment, final plat, and annexation.
The planning commission approved all of the actions, including the preliminary plat with the amendment.
