Aldermen approve rezoning, redevelopment project and 15-year tax abatement for 24-unit apartment at 102 East Lawrence

The Kearney Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a rezoning and redevelopment agreement that clears the way for a new 24-unit apartment building at 102 East Lawrence.

The project, proposed by Tater Woody LLC, will rezone roughly 2.2 acres to the RP4 high-density residential plan district, amend the site plan to add four units and allow a limited encroachment into the Jefferson Street front-yard setback. The board also approved a redevelopment project under the K 3 53 redevelopment corporation plan and an associated tax abatement agreement that staff estimated would total $801,809 based on the applicant's assumptions.

City Community Development Director David Pavlich told the board the rezoning is intended to bring the property into compliance with the city's zoning framework and to allow modest increases in unit count and updated building architecture. "The footprint of this building…goes up 3 floors, so it's shorter and wider," Pavlich said while noting the building's square footage is smaller than the original footprint. Planning and Zoning recommended approval after asking for additional architectural treatments and a 10-foot shared-use path, conditions that are now reflected in the submitted site plan.

Carolyn Yatsuk, the city's economic development director, summarized the redevelopment review and financial incentive request. She said allowable project costs are about $3.9 million and that the application qualifies for what the staff packet refers to as a "Lehi c incentive," described in the packet as a market-shifting incentive that provides a 100% abatement on the increase in property value for 15 years. Yatsuk said the K 3 53 redevelopment corporation had reviewed the application and voted unanimously to recommend approval.

Alderman Jason Lehman raised a specific concern about stormwater, noting he had received a property owner complaint about drainage. Pavlich said the site relies in part on an older private stormwater improvement installed with earlier phases of the development and that staff had not yet inspected an existing private pipe referenced in the site materials. No amendment to the project was made at the meeting; the board voted on the ordinance as presented.

The rezoning ordinance passed on second reading with a roll call of Alderman King, Alderman Holt, Alderman Lehman and Alderman Spencer voting aye. The redevelopment ordinance and abatement agreement passed unanimously on second reading as well.

The redevelopment package approved by the board includes the conceptual site plan and the abatement agreement. The owner, noted in the record as Zach Lowenstein, was present online during the discussion. The packet and staff presentation show the project's intent to provide one- and two-bedroom units "within walking distance to Washington Street" and to be the first multifamily project in Kearney in nearly 20 years.

With both ordinances adopted, the developer can proceed to the permit and construction stages subject to any outstanding plan-review requirements and conditions in the redevelopment and site-plan approvals.