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Commission approves rezoning for 18-acre parcel east of E 900/N 1800 Road to Limited Industrial
Summary
The Douglas County Commission voted 5-0 to rezone the east 18 acres of a 40-acre parcel from AG-1 (Agricultural) to LI (Limited Industrial) for use by a landscaping business; the Planning Commission had recommended approval 7-3.
The Board of Douglas County Commissioners approved a rezoning request (Z-24-1019) on April 2, changing 18 acres of a 40-acre parcel east of East 900 Road and North 1800 Road from AG-1 (Agricultural District) to LI (Limited Industrial District). The motion to approve the rezoning and adopt resolution 25-15 passed 5-0.
County planner Catherine Week summarized the application and analysis. The parcel is in Tier 3 of the urban growth area and sits within the Farmers Turnpike/K-10 area plan. Week said the request covers only the east 18 acres and that the remaining acreage would stay AG-1. The applicant submitted a concept layout showing an office, vehicle garage and outdoor storage related to a lawn and landscape business.
The nut graf: the applicant, Holtkamp Holdings, and operator Turformance Lawn Services sought LI zoning so the business could operate by right rather than under a conditional use permit (CUP) at its current location. Planner Week noted that the LI district permits uses that AG-1 does not, but the county's area plan designates the site for industrial and office/research park uses in the long term. "Rezoning does make sense with the area plan," Week said, while reminding the commission that Tier 3 indicates infrastructure and development timing are indeterminate.
Applicant representatives said the site has limits that reduce the scale of development: an electrical transmission main runs through the property, and the site was previously used as construction fill and regraded. David Hamby of BG Consultants said the project will connect to a rural water district line and coordinate septic with county environmental health; he added, "I don't expect that this will bring in a whole bunch of industrial use in the area, partially because there are no utilities really other than a rural water district line." Owner Dalian Holtkamp said he had met with adjacent landowners and described their reactions as "tentatively on board." He emphasized the business is local and that the proposed building would be similar in appearance to nearby metal shop buildings.
The Planning Commission recommended approval by a 7-3 vote on Feb. 25, 2025. Commissioners discussed concerns raised at the Planning Commission meeting, including the difference in permitted uses between AG-1 and LI, the timing of future infrastructure for the Tier 3 area and the potential for retail as part of a landscaping business in the future. Commissioner Finkeldei said approving the 18-acre rezoning while leaving the remainder of the parcel AG-1 mitigates a broad change of land use.
The commission approved the rezoning on a motion that cited findings in the staff report and the conditions listed in the resolution. The motion language recorded was: "I move to approve the request to rezone Z-24-1019, approximately 18 acres located east of the intersection of East 900 Road and North 1800 Road, from AG-1 Agricultural District to LI Limited Industrial District, based on the findings in the staff report and subject to conditions in the resolution, and adopt Resolution 25-15." The vote was recorded as 5-0 in favor.
Ending: staff said site-specific details including site plan, parking and septic will be addressed in subsequent permitting and site-plan review; utilities and road access issues remain contingent on rural utility connections and future infrastructure planning.
