The Kearney Planning Commission voted in favor of a multi-family family housing development for three apartment buildings located along Parklane Dr., (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The Kearney Planning Commission voted in favor of a multi-family family housing development for three apartment buildings located along Parklane Drive during their meeting on Friday, March 20.
The property owner, Kearney Mall Associates and the applicant Jacob Reiter with Olsson is requesting approval of a Planned Development Plan for the property located at 5110 Parklane Dr. just east of the Hilltop Mall, for a multi-family housing development plan.
The site is 3.21 acres and the site plan includes three buildings, two three-story buildings with 27 units and a third two-story building with 21 units. There will also be three garages and a dog park.
The apartments will include 33 one-bedroom apartments, 30 two bedrooms and 12 three bedrooms.
“The three-story buildings are located with one along the north property line, and the other on the west property line. The two-story building will be located in the southeast portion of the property, adjacent to Parklane Drive,” per a memo from the City of Kearney staff.
It was noted that the two story building was placed strategically on the property, as not to loom over the neighbors in the area.
The site will be able to accommodate 91 parking spaces and 24 garage spaces. The developer has worked with Hilltop Mall to use 16 parking spaces of the mall parking lot. Reiter said the residents would be discouraged from parking along Parklane Dr.
“Primary access to the property is from Parklane Drive, with two secondary access points on the west side that allow access to the east parking lot of the Hilltop Mall,” per the City of Kearney staff.
Melissa Dougherty-O’Hara, Kearney City Planner, said in the staff’s finding of fact that the subject property has been vacant for 25 years and that the overall layout of the three buildings provides adequate light and open space in accordance with the R-4 zoning district.
The city staff recommended approval of the development plan, with a revision to the landscape plan to include another street tree and that the forthcoming parking agreement with the Hilltop Mall be submitted to the city.
Planning Commission members asked about parking enforcement, noting that people tend to want to park as close to their apartment door as possible.
Dougherty-O’Hara noted the City Engineer can determine if there is hazard from too many vehicles parking along Parklane Dr.
It was noted that a comment regarding the plan had been shared via email with the city staff.
Scott and Cindy Guthrie, who reside on Parklane Dr. stated, “A multi-family development does not fit in with the current surrounding uses of single-family homes and condo residences, which are mainly occupied by retired persons.”
The Guthries also stated that they enjoy their quiet neighborhood and feel the addition of a mutli-family apartment complex will add more traffic noise to the area. They also expressed concern about additional traffic on Parklane Dr.
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the development plan. The Kearney city council will discuss the matter during their Tuesday, April 28 meeting.
