Regional Planning Commission Director Chad Nabity discusses with Hall County Commissioners reviewing regulations about housing development on rural ag land, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – The Hall County Board of Commissioners approved Sept. 23 having a committee that included several Commissioners to work with the Regional Planning Commission to review regulations concerning housing development on ag land.
Commissioner Karen Bredthauer had the item placed on the agenda. The motion was approved by a 6-0 vote with the addition of Commissioner Butch Hurst abstaining from voting.
The issue surfaced after Commissioners discussed at a number of meetings the approval of the proposed Sycamores at Prairie Creek project north of Grand Island.
Hall County Commissioners discussed Sept. 9 the proposed Sycamores at Prairie Creek project north of Grand Island.
Hall County Commissioners voted 4-3 Aug. 26 to approve rezoning from A2 to planned unit development for the Sycamores at Prairie Creek subdivision east of Highway 281 and north of One R Road.
Hall County Clerk Marla Conley said after the meeting that the issue will be on the Commissioners’ Oct. 21 agenda for final approval.
The agenda item for the Sept. 23 Commissioners’ meeting stated “discussion and possible action to direct Chad Nabity/County Board to look into another zoning ability for A2 or PUDs (planned unit development) comprehensive plan.”
Bredthauer said that housing developments on ag land affect items such as schools, roads and fire department services.
“I think your point on roads is absolutely essential,” said Nabity, the Regional Planning Commission director.
He gave an example of a house that was built in a rural area, with the house accessible by a minimum maintenance road. The quality of the road had to be improved so that the home was accessible, for instance, to a fire department. The county is responsible for the cost of improving the road.
Bredthauer said she wants to have regulations improved so that housing developers have a better idea concerning developing a subdivision on rural land. Bredthauer pointed out the importance of agriculture in Hall County. She is concerned about having housing developments located on prime ag land. She pointed out that soil types vary on ag land, and some of those soil types are not ideal for ag production. Those sites would be better locations for housing developments than sites that have prime ag soil types.
Nabity said he would like to see people with diverse opinions on the county committee that would work with the Regional Planning Commission. The Regional Planning Commission would then make a recommendation for the County Board to consider.
The Commissioners will have a public hearing on the county’s 2025-2026 budget at 9 a.m. Sept. 24 at the Hall County Administration Building. The Commissioners will take action on setting a property tax request for Hall County at the meeting.
According to documents with the agenda for the Sept. 24 meeting, the 2025-2026 property tax asking per $100,000 of valuation will be $400.03, compared to $407.34 in 2024-2025. The total 2025-2026 property tax request proposed is $29,078,344, which includes $24,409,611 (general fund), $980,933 (museum fund), and $3,687,800 (courthouse bond fund).
The tax rate would levy the same amount of property taxes as last year. Based on the proposed property tax request and changes in other revenue, the total operating budget of Hall County will exceed last year’s budget by 2.57 percent.
