Kearney Regional Airport Terminal, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The Kearney city council approved recommending SkyWest Airlines to provide Essential Air Service for the community during their meeting on Tuesday, July 9.
Brenda Jensen, Kearney City Manager, said that the existing Essential Air Service (EAS) contract with Denver Air Connection was nearing its completion on Oct. 31, 2024.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has conducted a bid process for an air carrier to provide EAS for Kearney during the next contract period.
The sole bidder was SkyWest Airlines, which provided a three year bid starting on Nov. 1, 2024.
SkyWest had been the previous carrier for the City of Kearney and saw increasing numbers of fliers until the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in March 2020.
In 2022, SkyWest announced it intended to drop federally subsidized air service in Kearney and 28 other airports in the United States.
Denver Air Connection has had a two-year contract from November 2022 to October 2024 to provide EAS service to Kearney, Jensen said.
In the bid, SkyWest agreed to provide 12 regional jet flights per week from Kearney Regional Airport to Denver International Airport. Jensen said specific flight times have not been authorized yet.
Jensen said the council was asked to consider authorizing Mayor Stan Clouse to submit a letter to the DOT, recommending SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, to provide the service.
Jensen said the city has appreciated the service that Denver Air Connection has provided. Council member Jonathan Nikkila echoed the sentiment and said he would recommend the provider to another community.
Vice-President Randy Buschkoetter said the situation now is such that SkyWest could pick up better now than when they end service to Kearney in 2022.
There has been interest in a flight to Chicago from Kearney, but Jensen said that is still a topic for discussion with no commitment yet.
jhansen2 / Depositphotos.com
During the public hearing section, Craig Bennett with Miller & Associates appeared representing the City of Kearney for a subdivision vacation, preliminary plats and final plats for the property located at 1415 Younes Drive.
Bennett said the tract was around 29 acres and includes the area where the Kearney SportsPlex is under construction. The action would divide the area into three lots, one on the north of Younes Dr. and two on the south.
According to the information presented to the council, the requests are for future commercial development in the area.
Bennett said the area to the south, abutting the Interstate 80 right-of-way, is and will remain a storm water detention area. He said any future developments in the areas must meet all the requirements for development within a floodplain.
It was noted the city’s planning commission had granted their approval, and the council voted the same.
The view of the Kearney SportsPlex from the intersection of 11th Ave. and Younes Dr., (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
Bennett also appeared representing the City of Kearney regarding a rezone, subdivision vacation, preliminary plat and final plat for the Village Plaza Second Addition, located east of 30th Ave and north of Railroad St.
The requests are for future residential development. It was noted that the City of Kearney owns the property.
Bennett said the area was last platted back in 1999 and retains an M-1 industrial district zone, even though it is surrounded by residential and commercial zoned areas.
The rezone of the area would be for R-3 residential, which allows for singe family unites, duplexes, townhomes up to six units, multi-family units and several civic uses.
Bennett noted that an Outlot A on the west side of the property abutting the 30th Ave. overpass and contains a 75-foot overpass maintenance setback and building setback. He said this is being maintained to allow for possible future expansion of the overpass, if it were required.
“Access for the subdivision is from North Railroad Street along the south side of the subdivision and West LaPlatte Road on the west side,” the materials presented to the planning commission stated, “The proposed western extension of West La Platte Road will extend into the subdivision and dogleg south and be known as 29th Avenue.”
Bennett said that access into and out of the neighborhood to the east of the property is limited and the extension of La Platte Road will help with traffic circulation in the area.
The area would be split into three different lots, two to the north of the extension of La Platte Road and one to the south which will accommodate the future residential development.
The council approved the actions for the lot.
A view of the land around the 30th Ave. overpass, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
Next was an application submitted by Jack Besse for A&D Rentals, LLC, and they were requesting a Future Land Use map amendment and rezoning for a property located at 715 D Ave.
The owners wish to construct an office building for their business at the site and the rezone from MDR, medium density residential to MU2, office/commercial retail mixed use would help to facilitate that.
“The surrounding land uses are residential to the north, vacant agricultural land and residential to the east, and commercial to the south and west,” per the city staff, “The subject property is currently undeveloped. The subject property has remained undeveloped since last rezoned in 2018 for residential development.”
The building would be constructed on Lot 2 in the area as Lot 1 contains the storm drain. He said if approved, construction would likely begin next spring.
The council approved the actions.
There was one final public hearing on the agenda regarding an application submitted by SMJ International, doing business as American Tower and T-Mobile American Tower for a conditional use permit to co-locate telecommunications equipment at 6204 2nd Ave.
However, Mayor Clouse noted that the city had not received a complete application by July 5 and the hearing was withdrawn.
