PC Mins 04-03-2007
PLANNING COMMISSION
Meeting of April 3, 2007.
Assistant Administrator Green opened the Blair Planning Commission meeting stating both the
Chairman and the Vice Chairman are not able to attend. Therefore an acting Chairman will need to be
elected. Motion by Boettcher, second by Krogh to nominate Andersen as Acting Chairman. All
members present voting Aye. Acting Chairman Andersen call the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M.
Members present were Hansen, Andersen, Young, Boettcher and Krogh. Members absent: Rhoades,
Tichota, Nicholson and Cook. Others present were Assistant City Administrator Green, City Attorney
Hall and City Administrator Storm.
Motion by Young, second by Boettcher to approve the minutes of the March 6, 2007 meeting
as presented. All members present voted Aye. Chairman Rhoades declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #3 – Assistant Administrator Green stated Cargill, Inc. would like to construct an
off-premise sign on Tax Lot 263 (southeast corner of Highway 30 and Industrial Park Drive). The
land is currently zoned A/MH – Agricultural/Heavy Industrial and Manufacturing District. This is the
only zoning district that allows for an off premise sign which does require more than one business to be
located on the sign. Cargill would like to sponsor one general sign which would include some of the
various other businesses located on the Cargill property. They also plan to contact some of the other
businesses along Industrial Road for any interest they may have in co-locating on this sign. Green
reviewed the site plan for placement of the sign. He stated zoning allowed for a 15’ x 8’ pole sign with
a maximum height of 15’ above highway grade. Mike Lawhan, Cargill, was present and distributed an
amended picture of the proposed sign. Motion by Hansen, second by Young to receive and place on
file the revised proposed signage as presented by Mr. Lawhan, Representative for Cargill, Inc. All
members present voted Aye. Acting Chairman Andersen declared the motion carried. There were no
comments from the floor or in writing. Motion by Young, second by Krogh to recommend approval
of a Conditional Use Permit application submitted by Cargill, Inc., 650 Industrial Road, Blair for
placement of an off premise sign in A/MH – Agricultural/Heavy Industrial and Manufacturing District
on Tax Lot 263 in Section 7, Township 18, Range 12, Blair, Washington County, Nebraska for (20)
years for the revised proposed signage. All members present voted Aye. Acting Chairman Andersen
declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #4 – Assistant Administrator Green stated the proposed areas being considered
for rezoning were recently brought into Blair’s 2-mile zoning jurisdiction through the amendment made
by the city to the expand its 2-mile jurisdiction based on recent annexation. These properties must be
rezoned because the county’s zoning designations are different. All properties would be rezoned to
either AGG – General Agricultural District or RRE – Rural Residential Estates District. The proposed
zoning changes would rezone the properties to the least restrictive zoning available for these types of
rural subdivisions. The proposed zoning changes are as follows: Spring Ridge Subdivision in Section
34, Township 18N, Range 11E from County Zoning RS1 – Rural Subdivision-1 (Lots 1-24, Outlots
A,B,C&E) and County Zoning RS-2 – Rural Subdivision-2 (Lots 25-33, Outlot D) to RRE (Rural
Residential Estates); Golden Pond Subdivision in Section 29, Township18N and Range 12E and in
Section 20, Township 18N, Range 12E from County Zoning A-1 – Agricultural Primary to AGG
(General Agricultural District); High Point Estates in Section 29, Township 18N, Range 12E from
County Zoning R1 – Agricultural Residence to AGG (General Agricultural District); Deer Run Estates
in Section 20, Township 18N, Range 12E from City Zoning AGG – General Agricultural District to
RRE (Rural Residential Estates); Du Du Dunes in Section 20, Township 18N, Range 12E from
County Zoning RS-2 – Rural Subdivision-2 (Lot 1) and County Zoning RA – Rural Agricultural to
AGG (General Agricultural District). There were no comments from the floor or in writing. Motion by
Hansen, second by Boettcher to recommend approval of the proposed Ordinance for rezoning property
as outlined in the ordinance and stated previously by Assistant Administrator Green. All members
present voted Aye. Acting Chairman Andersen declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #5 – Assistant Administrator Green stated the Planning Commission has
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previously approved the Redevelopment Plan for Area #1, Project #1 (19 & South Streets). The
Commission is now being asked to consider an amendment to the plan which includes an actual plan
from a developer along with a cost benefit analysis. Green reviewed the boundaries of the
Redevelopment Plan, reviewed the Cost Benefit Analysis and noted the area in which the Developer
(Two Rivers State Bank) will be constructing a new bank location. This project will bring
approximately four million in new valuation to the area. The city will use TIF funds for site acquisition,
demolition and related public infrastructure. The Developer will then reimburse the city for its costs
incurred in connection with the proposed Redevelopment Contract. The TIF indebtedness will not
exceed $660,000 at an interest rate of 9.5% with semiannual payments over a (15) year period. Green
also noted a small change in the legal description changing the Tax Lot number of one of the outer
boundary Tax Lots from 656 to 655. The error was made based on the legal description inadvertently
changed by the County Assessor’s records. David Drew, Attorney for Jeff & Katie Lode, stated the
city has contacted his clients to purchase their property at 1945 South Street as part of this project. He
stated his clients have no objections to the sale of their property but they would like to be fairly
compensated for the property. He requested the Planning Commission not approve the use of eminent
domain in the taking of his client’s property. City Attorney Hall stated Attorney Drew represents a
client in the Redevelopment Plan, but the Planning Commission needs to focus on the issue which is
before them on the agenda. City Administrator Storm clarified the issue before the Planning
Commission is for the approval of an amendment to the Redevelopment Plan. The issue with Attorney
Drew’s client is being handled legally in the way the city is required to proceed. Also, the city is
negotiating in good faith with Drew’s clients. Acting Chairman Andersen stated the Planning
Commission does not have the power to request the City Council not use their power of eminent
domain. Attorney Drew then requested the Planning Commission vote “no” against the plan until this
issue with his client can be resolved. Motion by Boettcher, second by Hansen to recommend approve
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of an amended Redevelopment Plan for Area #1, Project #1 (19 & South Street area) in the City of
Blair, Nebraska and consider approval of a Cost Benefit Analysis for such project. All members
present voted Aye. Acting Chairman Andersen declared the motion carried.
There were no communications from the floor. Assistant Administrator Green reviewed the
action of the City Council taken on items recommended by the Planning Commission at their regular
meeting in March, 2007.
Motion by Boettcher, second by Hansen to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 P.M. All members
present voted Aye. Acting Chairman Andersen declared the meeting adjourned.
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Brenda Wheeler, City Clerk