Left to right: Randy Buschkoetter, Kurt Schmidt, Stand Dart, Tami James Moore, Mayor Jonathan Nikkila and Alex Straatmann, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The Kearney city council honored Stan Dart, the Planning Commission chairperson who has served for 34 years and will be retiring.
In his time as a Planning Commissioner, Dart has been part of two comprehensive planning efforts, housing studies, code changes, and various projects that have led to tremendous development throughout the community.
His experience has provided him with the ability to see topics from many facets to make decisions based on facts to meet the needs of the community.
He was key in assisting the Planning Commission through one of its more controversial code changes it had seen to date: updating the sign code.
“(Dart) is always willing to help assist and provide his words of wisdom when asked, and he takes the time to help train new Commissioners. He puts in the extra time to review and work with Staff to understand all perspectives of projects coming through the Planning Commission to ensure meetings run smoothly,” per the Nebraska Planning Commission.
In 2025, Dart was presented with the Appointed Official Award by the Nebraska Planning Commission.
“When I first engaged as a member of the Board of Adjustment, which is related to the planning commission and Stan also serves on it, he patiently spent a lot of time explaining and educating me. It was my first role with the city and I will always be grateful,” said Mayor Jonathan Nikkila.
Dart shared several anecdotes from his time and noted that typically a property owner has to notify those in a 200 yard radius around their property if they are going to make various changes.
However, Dart said that when the Kearney Archway was built, that seemed to draw people from a 300-mile radius wishing to give their input.
Dart also shared that a restaurant developer from Grand Island was seeking to build in Kearney and only had parking spaces that were 8.5 feet across. The Planning Commission noted that there was concern about vehicle being able to fit in space, as Kearney code called for nine-foot spaces.
The developer noted that they had used that same space for their Grand Island developments. Dart said he looked at them and said that maybe, “but you are in Kearney now.”
Stan Dart recalls his 34 years on the Planning Commission during the city council meeting, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
