Sarpy County planning commission recommends approval of Cornish Ridge final plat

SARPY COUNTY, Neb. — The Sarpy County Planning Commission on March 18, 2025, recommended approval of the final plat for Cornish Ridge, a subdivision proposed by 18606 Cornish Road LLC that would create eight lots and Outlots A through G on 55.32 acres northeast of 190 Second Street and Cornish Road.

The recommendation, made after a presentation by consultant Julie Ogden of JEO Consulting Group and a public hearing with no speakers, was unanimous among commissioners present. The commission voted to forward the plat to the County Board with conditions that must be completed in a subdivision agreement before the item is scheduled for County Board consideration.

The commission’s recommendation matters because the proposal clears the way for residential development on a site that includes environmentally sensitive areas. The developer has set aside roughly 40 percent of the site as outlots that the staff report says will cover wetlands and other sensitive corridors.

Julie Ogden, JEO Consulting Group, told the commission the property is 55.32 acres and the final plat lays out eight lots and a series of outlots to preserve the environmentally sensitive areas. "This property is 55.32 acres that is being platted," Ogden said. She described a road network that will be built in phases, with an initial temporary cul-de-sac that will allow emergency vehicles to turn around until neighboring parcels are developed and permanent connections are made.

Ogden said the developer proposes a community water system served by two wells sited on Outlot A and individual septic systems for each lot. The consultant said the proposed water system would likely be considered a non-public community system under current rules. The planning staff is recommending the system be designed to public-system standards so it can be transitioned if the development expands. "We are recommending approval of this final plat ... subject to the comments and attachments in the planning department report," Ogden said.

Other technical details in the staff presentation included: electricity service from OPPD (Omaha Public Power District); gas service by propane; a drainage study provided by the applicant; no formal detention basin, with stormwater and water-quality treatment largely routed through the preserved creek and tall-grass areas; and a homeowners association to maintain roads, wells and certain outlots. The road from Cornish Road to the internal intersection will be constructed with a temporary cul-de-sac; connections to the northeast and west will be deferred until adjacent properties develop or formal access is required.

The commission attached five specific categories of information required in the subdivision agreement before the County Board considers the plat: documentation of any covenants, documents forming the homeowners association and outlining maintenance responsibilities, design details and any required reviews/approvals for the community water system, updated drainage study and any water-quality improvements required by county standards, and responses to outstanding comments from county departments and outside agencies.

The motion to recommend approval passed in a recorded tally of seven yeas; three commissioners were absent (Whitfield, Weiss, Metea). There were no public comments during the hearing on the item.

Next steps: the applicant must execute the subdivision agreement and submit the outstanding technical materials identified by staff. The County Board will receive the commission’s recommendation after those items are completed and the item is scheduled for a County Board hearing.