Council approves rezoning and preliminary subdivision plan for large Apple/Tessa development; county coordination required for later phases

The Harrisburg City Council approved a second-reading rezoning ordinance and a preliminary subdivision plan for a multi-phase development that encompasses roughly 87 acres (rezoned) within a larger 300-acre annexation known in the materials as the Apple/Tessa addition.

Chad Evey, planning and zoning staff, presented the second reading of Ordinance 2025-02 to rezone portions of the southwest quarter of the Apple addition from agriculture to natural resource and R-2 and said the area has been annexed into the city. Evey said planning commission recommended approval and no public comments were received since the first reading. The ordinance passed on second reading with a roll call vote recorded as Larson — aye; Maxwell — aye; Kuzinski — aye; Kent — aye.

Evey then presented the preliminary subdivision plan for the larger annexed tract (applicant: Kelly Construction). He described the four-step subdivision process (concept plan, preliminary plan, engineering, plats) and walked the council through the required plan elements: title page, general notes, land use and phasing maps, lot layouts, and engineering plans for stormwater, sanitary sewer, water, street lights and access. Evey said portions of the site are designated for future R-2 residential lots, dedicated green space (parks or detention ponds), and general business along the north edge adjacent to Louise Avenue.

On utilities, Evey said water in the area is supplied by Lincoln County Rural Water (not the city) at some mains and the development will tie onto county water mains at 270 Second, Louise/470 Second and 106. Sewer is in the city’s sewer boundaries; the developer will extend a 15-inch trunk sewer north from an existing 15-inch line near Adventure Elementary School. Evey said the 15-inch trunk is upsized from the city’s typical 8-inch main to serve future developments and is an example where the city’s oversized utility reimbursement policy would apply for the material cost difference.

Access points to the subdivision were discussed with county and township jurisdiction in mind. Evey said four access points were shown; township-jurisdictional accesses on 270 Second were acceptable to the township, and county-controlled access points on Louise Avenue and 470 Second will require county review. City staff and the county highway superintendent said phase 1 access from streets already under city jurisdiction (270 Second) should move forward without county-concern, while permanent connections to Louise Avenue in later phases will trigger more detailed county review and potential jurisdictional transfer discussions.

Councilmember [unnamed mover] moved to approve the preliminary subdivision plan; the motion passed on a roll call vote with Larson — aye; Maxwell — aye; Wazinski — aye; Kent — aye.

The approvals permit the project to proceed to engineering plans and eventual plats. City staff noted reimbursement agreements for any oversizing (for example, from an 8-inch to a 15-inch sanitary trunk) will be handled under the city’s reimbursement policy and that sewer, water and stormwater designs will continue to be coordinated with county agencies for any cross-jurisdictional infrastructure.