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Replat approved, with stipulations
McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council approved a plan to replat property for a housing development, but only after attaching stipulations connected to concerns raised by neighbors.
The stipulations attached to the North Pointe Properties housing development, north of R Street in McCook, require addressing concerns about storm water drainage, maintenance of trees bordering the northern property line and confirmation that the city would be given a piece of property to extend R Street east to intersect West Seventh Street.
John and Betty Nothnagel presented the City Council with a letter detailing their concerns with the housing project, and they initially asked the preliminary replat be rejected until the issues could be resolved.
Council members discussed options with economic development representatives and the engineering firm representing the developers, before deciding to attach stipulations to their approval of the preliminary replat, a solution which also received the approval of John Nothnagel.
The Nothnagels were primarily concerned about water drainage from the development that is proposed to be partially diverted onto their property to the north of the development.
John Nothnagel repeatedly said he was not against the project and wanted to see it proceed, adding that McCook really needs the housing, but the issues were serious to him and needed to be resolved before the project proceeded.
Craig Christner owns property to the northwest of the housing development and asked councilors to take a look at the big picture when considering storm water drainage relating to the project. Christner said storm water drainage had already created a canyon running through his property that wasn't there when he purchased it. Christner warned that increasing the flow of storm water drainage in the area could destroy as many as 10 buildable lots.
Gary Dicenta of the engineering firm Miller & Associates speaking on behalf of the developers, said they would look at the drainage issues and do everything they could to find a solution.
The issues raised about the trees on the northern edge of the property, and the extension of R Street primarily concern working out details of verbal agreements between the developers, the Nothnagels and the city. Approximately 50 to 60 trees on the northern edge of the housing development could serve as a buffer between the development and property to the north. The preliminary replat indicates they would be located within city right-of-way, raising issues about maintenance responsibilities for the city.
Nothnagel also said the developer had initially committed to give him 10 feet of land south of the tree line in exchange for the property required to extend R Street and the preliminary replat indicated it would become city property instead.
Councilors subsequently approved the preliminary replat with stipulations that the three issues would be resolved. The redevelopment plan for the project was also unanimously approved, following a public hearing.
Other items on the consent and regular agenda:
* City Manager Jeff Hancock announced passenger numbers continued to increase at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. Hancock said the airport was up 71 percent for the month of June, 87 more passengers for the month than boarded the year prior.
* A resolution approving a supplemental agreement with W. Design Associates pertaining to the East Seventh Street/Seminole, East H Street to Park Avenue road project was approved. The agreement incorporated additional tasks required by the Nebraska Department of Roads and increased the cost of the project from $67,561 to $70,969, an increase of $3,407. According to the meeting agenda, the City of McCook will be responsible for $681 of the increase and utilize sales tax dollars to fund it.
* Loop Brewing Co. was granted special liquor licenses for wedding receptions at Memorial Auditorium on July 26 and at the Red Willow County Community Building on July 13, 2013.