Planning commission recommends rezoning at 705 West Franklin to allow Habitat for Humanity lot

The Hastings Planning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend rezoning 705 West Franklin Street from R1 (urban single‑family residential) to R2 (mixed‑density neighborhood) so Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity can create a smaller lot for a new single‑family home.

City planner Chad Binger told the commission the request covers roughly 0.16 acre comprised of two platted lots and that the rezoning would allow a smaller lot configuration to avoid building setbacks creating a nonconformity. “Staff’s recommending approval of this proposed rezoning,” Binger said.

The rezoning would permit a narrower lot than the older comprehensive plan’s typical sizes; Binger said the new lot would have roughly a 55‑foot frontage and be deeper than the frontage, and that staff intends to process an administrative plat if the rezoning moves forward. Habitat for Humanity already owns adjacent property to the west where it has completed and nearly completed homes, Binger said, and staff concluded the proposal matches both the adopted comprehensive plan and the update under adoption.

Applicant representative Dave Hoglund, who identified himself as associated with the project, told commissioners he had nothing to add beyond staff’s summary and offered to answer questions.

Commissioner Jody moved to recommend approval of an ordinance and an amendment to the official zoning map to rezone the property from R1 to R2; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Sean. The commission recorded a 6‑0 vote recommending approval.

The commission’s recommendation now goes to the City Council; if the council approves the rezoning, staff said it will prepare an administrative plat to create the new lot and proceed with the building process described in the application.