Planning commission approves vacation of utility easement at 2105 West Townage Street

The Kearney City Planning Commission voted to approve Easement Vacation 2025-03, removing a mapped utility easement that bisected Lot 1 of the Turkey Creek Third Subdivision at 2105 West Townage Street.

The change was proposed by property owners Sean and Lindsey Petrin and represented at the hearing by Craig Bennett of Miller and Associates. Bennett told the commission the electrical utilities that originally required the easement have been relocated and that “as of today, this could be released.”

City planner Melissa Durdio O'Hara presented staff findings, saying the plotted utility easement restricts building placement because “buildings cannot be built over easements.” She added staff’s recommendation: “Staff recommends approval of the vacation of the electrical utility easement as presented.”

The commission had no members of the public register to speak at the hearing. A motion to approve Easement Vacation 2025-03 was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. The meeting record lists affirmative votes from multiple members, and the chair declared, “The motion passes.”

The action removes the recorded easement that had limited where structures could be built on the lot; Bennett said utilities were relocated to a different easement and the release will “allow them to build across the whole lot.” The approval does not alter other recorded plats for the Turkey Creek subdivision or change any other easements in the area.

The commission closed the public hearing before taking the vote and recorded the approval in the meeting minutes.