Commission recommends rezoning and preliminary plat for Reha Lake Homestead; condition requires conservation outlot and floodplain compliance

The Sarpy County Planning Commission on Sept. 16 recommended approving rezoning of a 3.721-acre Lot 1 at Reha Lake Homestead from AG (Agricultural Farming District) to RE2 (Residential Estates 2) and approved the preliminary plat, subject to conditions requiring creation of a conservation outlot and compliance with floodplain rules. The rezoning vote carried and the preliminary-plat recommendation passed; one commissioner recorded an abstention on the rezoning vote.

Planning staff said the 77.62-acre site contains Ria (Reha) Lake and a single-family residence with several outbuildings. The applicant proposed creating a single 3.721-acre lot for the primary residence and an outlot to conserve environmentally sensitive areas. Because the property is in an environmentally sensitive area, staff said the subdivision must designate at least 40% of the total site as a protected outlot; staff recommended creating an outlot of at least 1.492 acres over the existing field to meet that minimum.

Staff also noted the property lies in a floodplain and must comply with Sarpy County floodplain development regulations. No waivers were requested for the plat. Planning staff recommended approval of the rezoning and preliminary plat subject to three numbered conditions in the department report, including: creating the required lot/outlot configuration to conserve the sensitive area; addressing comments from other departments and agencies; and responding to any additional planning staff comments.

Randy Kushak of Lampraniersen represented the applicant and said the planning staff report "makes sense" and the applicant will work with staff to provide an acceptable preliminary plat and follow with a final plat. There were no public commenters on this item.

The Commission recorded the following formal actions on the item: - Rezoning: Recommend approval of rezoning from AG to RE2 for Lot 1, Reha Lake Homestead (approved; recorded vote: 6 yeas, 1 abstention; three absent). The abstention was recorded as a commissioner recusal or self-reduction by Van Wheeldon. - Preliminary plat: Recommend approval of the preliminary plat for Lot 1 and required outlot subject to the planning department's comments and three listed conditions (approved; recorded vote: 6 yeas, 1 abstention, 3 absent as recorded in the meeting minutes).

Staff asked the applicant to revise the preliminary plat to create the lot and the outlot for conservation, to address agency comments, and to respond to staff comments prior to forwarding the application to the county board.