Planning commission approves Meridian Marketplace mixed‑use plan, zoning and plats

The Sarpy County Planning Commission on Jan. 21 approved a comprehensive‑plan amendment to change the future land‑use designation for 11 lots in Meridian Marketplace from low‑to‑medium density residential to mixed use and approved accompanying rezoning and subdivision plats for portions of the development at the southeast corner of 168th Street and Giles Road.

The commission’s action clears the way for a mixed‑use redevelopment that the applicant says will add multifamily buildings and commercial lots fronting 168th and Giles, subject to conditions spelled out in the planning staff recommendation and the subdivision agreement.

Julie Ogden, a consultant with JEO Consulting Group presenting the staff report, told the commission the amendment “allows for multiple use types within the zoning” and gives both the county and developer more control over layout and allowable uses. Ogden said two of the 11 originally platted lots are already developed and that the site’s private interior roads remain on easements rather than dedicated public right‑of‑way.

Brent Beller, representing the applicant Meridian Marketplace, summarized the redevelopment concept and the rationale for mixed use. “This property has basically sat vacant since 2006,” Beller said, and described the proposal as a town‑center style plan with commercial lots along 168th and Giles and apartment buildings behind them. He said the development plan includes 11 apartment buildings, garages and a clubhouse; in his presentation he noted, “You have 11 buildings, 26 units in the building. We'll have 582 parking spaces. You're only required to have 572.”

Staff and the applicant told commissioners the mixed‑use plan is intended to generate the residential density that might support neighborhood‑serving retail the community has sought. Beller said a grocery format previously considered for the site would have generated far more traffic — he cited a previous estimate of about 12,500 vehicle trips for a grocer — and that the proposed multifamily use would generate substantially fewer daily trips.

Planning staff recommended approval of the rezoning from BG (General Business) to MU (Mixed Use) on the identified lots, approval of the preliminary plat and approval of the final plat subject to conditions. Conditions listed in the staff report and incorporated into the subdivision agreement include an updated wastewater service agreement with the City of Gretna, construction of right‑turn lanes identified in the traffic study (at 168th & Cary and at Giles & 165th) at the applicant’s expense, reimbursement accounting for prior Giles Road improvements, and a contribution toward a future traffic signal at 168th and Meridian when installed. The subdivision agreement was stated to require that specific right‑turn lane improvements be completed within 18 months of filing the final plat and prior to permitting 50% of the apartment buildings in the first phase.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicant questions about traffic and setbacks. Ogden said staff requested an updated traffic study comparing the multifamily proposal to earlier traffic assumptions for commercial use; she reported the updated analysis showed fewer peak‑hour trips from the apartment proposal than would have been expected for a grocery. Beller said the developer supports a traffic signal at 168th and Meridian when the county determines it is feasible and that the developer will contribute toward signal installation.

The commission voted to approve the comprehensive‑plan amendment, the rezoning to MU, the preliminary plat and the final plat subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. The record shows the motions passed by voice vote with six affirmative votes and no negative votes; absent commissioners were noted in the record.

The approvals allow the applicant to proceed to engineering and final plat steps defined in the subdivision agreement and to pursue building permits once the conditions — including the wastewater agreement with Gretna, required turn lane construction and reimbursement payments — are met.