Planning commission recommends rezoning for Mulligan Meadows development in North Platte

The North Platte City Planning Commission on March 25 recommended approval of file Z25-003, a zoning change that would reclassify parcels in Mulligan Meadows from R-2 dwelling district to PR-3 planned dwelling district to allow three fourplexes and modest setback variances on certain lots.

Planning staff opened the public hearing and described the request as a mixed single-family and multifamily residential development on Lots 1–5, Mulligan Meadows Second Subdivision, and Lots 1–17, Mulligan Meadows Third Subdivision, located near West Fifth, West Fifteenth and West Seventh streets. Planning staff said the project would add single-family homes and multifamily units intended to expand homeownership and workforce housing options in the community.

“The overall development of the area will provide the community with a number of newly constructed single family and multifamily residential units, which promotes homeownership and opportunities for the community's workforce,” said Judy, a planning staff member. Planning staff said it had no objections to the rezoning and noted the site is across the street from Madison Middle School and is surrounded mostly by single-family and duplex rental units.

Joe Chitwood, a nearby homeowner, raised concerns about drainage where recent grading has occurred. Chitwood said standing water has been present on neighboring lots after watering and that he previously had 2 or 3 inches of water standing and more recently “6, 7 inches deep” against his fence. Planning staff and the city engineer said they would ask the developer and the on-site contractor to adjust slopes to prevent water retention against existing yards.

Gary Pearson, President of the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation, outlined the financing behind the project. He said the applicant secured a $1,190,000 award from the Nebraska Rural Workforce Housing Fund, plus $610,000 in local contributions, creating about a $1,800,000 revolving loan fund. “Our goal is to provide workforce housing for the community,” Pearson said. Pearson said the fund will be used for new construction and rehabilitation in blighted or extremely blighted areas and that the developer, Bonneville, will take a low-interest loan to build the fourplexes and repay it over seven years.

Under the proposed PR-3 planned development designation, the commission said the project could vary up to 20% of the property’s total area from standard dimensional requirements to avoid individual variances for oddly shaped lots. Planning staff gave the example of a proposed lot with a 22-foot rear-yard setback where a 25-foot setback otherwise applies.

Motion by Davies, seconded by Matthews, recommended approval of file Z25-003; the commission recorded the recommendation and will forward the item to the City Council for a public hearing on April 1.

The commission and planning staff also noted the developer will work with the city engineer to address the drainage concerns raised by Chitwood before the project proceeds.