The 30 acres property located generally east of Cherry Ave. and south of E. 11th St., (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Neighbors in the area of a proposed sand and gravel operation on the east side of Kearney raised their concerns during the Planning Commission meeting on Friday, June 20.
The applicant, Roger Harders with West Limited, LLC, was requesting approval for a conditional use permit for resource extraction in the form of a sand and gravel pit generally located a quarter mile south of 11th St. and Cherry Ave.
The property is outside of the city limits but within the two mile extra-territorial jurisdiction.
Harders in 2023 has rezoned the property from AG, agricultural district, to C-3, commercial district with the hopes of future commercial development. However, Harders noted the city sewer and water lines have not reached this area yet, which has limited development.
Harders recently requested to rezone the area back to AG, which was approved by the Kearney City Council on June 10. Harders also met with the Development Review Team to discuss the potential development options, along with resource extraction operator, Keith Becker of Southwest Gravel.
Becker presented plans for a 10-year outlook of how the site would be extracted over time, “including where dredging would occur, stockpiling of materials, and how they intended to provide screening of the operation. The proposed operation would be small-scale, with materials being extracted at a rate of 2-acres per year. Any areas not being extracted will be farmed,” per the City of Kearney staff.
Becker anticipates the operation to last 12 to 15 years and, after the operation ceases, be left with an area to develop single-family homes and townhomes surrounding a lake.
During the public comments, Sharon Rose, who lives on 11th St. near the proposed sand and gravel operation said she was opposed to allowing the permit because she feared the operation would raise the water table, which would flood her basement and “render her investment useless.”
Rose noted her basement flooded during the July 2019 flooding event which impacted south Kearney and areas surrounding Turkey Creek.
Rose also expressed concerns about blowing sand from the site and how it would impact neighboring properties.
Wayne Rose, an 11th St. resident, also appeared and questioned the need for another sand and gravel operation in the area.
The Planning Commission members said their responsibility is not to make business decisions for landowners, but to work with them to ensure that their projects are compatible with the city’s future development and regulations.
Connie Love, another 11th St. resident, also spoke and raised concerns about blowing sand and dust from the site, saying it is an issue with other sand and gravel operations in the Kearney area.
When asked by the planning commission members, Melissa Dougherty-O’Hara, Development Services, said in her experience, there has never been a study required to determine the effects of a sand and gravels operation’s effect on the water table and is not a requirement that is included as a part of the process.
There was also discussion over the possibly of adding vegetation on the east side of the operation once it started that will mitigate blowing sand onto neighboring properties.
Harders said he would be willing to plant cotoneaster bushes along the east side which are favored for their wind resistance.
Dougherty-O’Hara said that the city staff recommended approval of the permit with eight different conditions relating to duration, entry, hours of operation, landscaping, etc.
Following the discussion, the planning commission voted unanimously to approve the conditional use permit, with all eight listed conditions.
It was noted that the planning commission’s vote is merely a recommendation to the Kearney city council, which has the final say on the permit.
Another agenda item concerned applications for a rezone, final plat and annexation submitted by Miller & Associates for KPT&G, LLC, doing business as Bryan Health for the Western Nebraska Property Development Fourth Addition.
The surrounding land use includes the Kearney Regional Community Hospital to the north, a senior living facility to the east, and vacant land to the south and west. Kearney Public Schools owns the west property.
The request was to rezone 5.12 acres from AG to C-O, office district and to split the area into two lots, Lot 1 would be 1.61 acres and Lot 2 would be 2.68 acres.
Craig Bennett with Miller & Associates said that medical offices would be constructed within the lots, if the actions were approved.
“The plats indicate the extension of 6th Street further west to the western extent of Lot 2. Lot 1 will have accessibility from 22nd Avenue and 6th Street. Lot 2 will be primarily accessed from 6th Street along the south side of the lot,” city staff noted regarding access to the area.
Dougherty-O’Hara said city staff recommended approval of the rezone, final plat and annexation.
The planning commission voted unanimously to approve all three of the actions.
Another agenda item was an annual planning commission report which was presented by Dougherty-O’Hara.
From June 2024 to May 2025, the planning commission had handled 63 action items, which was down from prior years. Dougherty-O’Hara said there has been a decline in items from 2017-18 to the present, save for a spike in activity through 2021-22.
Dougherty-O’Hara said this doesn’t mean there has been a decrease in development, but a decrease in the projects that require the planning commission to be involved, such as rezones, preliminary plats and final plats.
