Mitchell planning panel approves 10-unit townhomes, variance and multiple plats; recommends vacating street for school practice fields

The Mitchell Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for Jensen Capital and Development LLC to build 10 townhome units at the southeast corner of Urbana Drive and East Spruce Street, granted a variance for a 4,600-square-foot attached accessory building at 304 North Matty Street, recommended that the city council vacate a portion of North Windsor Street at the request of Mitchell School District 17-2 for school practice fields, and approved several plats at its April meeting.

The conditional use permit for the Urbana Drive/Spruce Street site was approved by roll call. Commissioner Pavlov, Commissioner Jurza, Commissioner Oskarloute, Commissioner Scherz and Commissioner Denzlinger voted yes; Commissioner Sunny abstained. Jeremy Jensen, owner of the property, told the commission the proposal would replicate a floor plan used previously for 10 townhome units, each two bedrooms and two baths with attached garages, and that access would be from a private driveway off Spruce.

The commission also voted to grant a variance to Doug and Heidi Gerke, allowing an attached accessory building of 4,600 square feet where the code limit was 2,000 square feet. The transcript shows the applicant had already received a building permit for a 3,000-square-foot garage and sought approval to add roughly 1,600 square feet to reach the 4,600 total; the commission motion passed by voice vote.

On the road vacation petition from Mitchell School District 17-2, staff presented a GIS view showing the portion of North Windsor Street proposed for vacation and explained the district intends to replat the vacated area for three practice fields. The staff presentation noted utilities in the right-of-way would be protected by a 50-foot utility easement and that a detention pond is planned to address additional drainage. Joe Schroeder, Public Works Director, said the city was reviewing the layout and that public works had no issues with the vacation. The commission moved and seconded a recommendation in favor of the vacation to the city council; the motion carried by voice vote.

The commission approved plats for Ethan Co-op Lumber (Plat of Lot 7, Block 6), a plat for Lot 10, Block 5, and a plat consolidating two parcels into Lot 1 of the Ohlinger addition (Timothy and Whitney Ohlinger) in the extraterritorial jurisdiction so the applicants could seek an exemption from the Department of Equalization. Each plat was described by staff as meeting required lot-size, zoning and setback standards and motions to approve passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: conditional use permit for Jensen Capital and Development LLC (10 townhome units) — approved by roll call (Sunny abstained); variance for Doug and Heidi Gerke (allow attached accessory building of 4,600 sq ft vs. 2,000) — approved by voice vote; recommendation to vacate portion of North Windsor Street for Mitchell School District 17-2 (to be replat for practice fields; 50-foot utility easement shown) — recommended to city council by voice vote; plats for Ethan Co-op Lumber (Lot 7, Block 6), Lot 10 Block 5, and Lot 1 Ohlinger addition (Timothy and Whitney Ohlinger) — each approved by voice vote.

The commission completed routine agenda business, including approving minutes and setting the next meeting date, and adjourned after a public-comment reminder and no additional speakers.

The meeting record does not list mover/second for several motions and, where only voice votes were taken, individual tallies beyond the roll call on the conditional use item were not recorded in the transcript.