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Commission conditionally approves soil-excavation permit for Yankee Hill Brick pending updated hydrology report
Summary
The Planning Commission conditionally approved Special Permit 25042 for soil excavation on a 12-acre site near SW 126th and West A Street, requiring the applicant to submit an updated hydrology report addressing a private well within 1,000 feet; motion carried 5-0 and the item is final action by the commission.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission on a recorded vote conditionally approved Special Permit 25042, allowing soil excavation and off-site hauling of clay by Yankee Hill Brick from a 12‑acre property at the northwest corner of Southwest 126th and West A Street, with final approval contingent on an updated hydrological report addressing nearby private wells.
George Wesselhoff, Planning and Development Services, told the commission the proposal would disturb about 8 acres of the 12‑acre site and that staff’s current recommendation was denial because one registered private well lies within 1,000 feet of the excavation area and the hydrology report submitted had not incorporated recently gathered owner information. The staff presentation noted the application otherwise met county zoning criteria but that the additional well data needed review by health staff.
Applicant representatives said they agree to many permit conditions and explained that some nearby parcels appear vacant and lack phone contact information. Tim Gergen said the company provided the available well data and asked the commission to consider conditional approval pending an updated report. Greg Parrot, plant superintendent at Yankee Hill Brick, described intermittent operation plans and estimated roughly 4–5 trucks making up to 3 trips per day at peak.
Chris Schroeder of the Lancaster County Health Department said the department could review new hydrology information and that a ground‑water hydrologist would evaluate whether an unregistered or much shallower well could be affected. Schroeder signaled the health department was amenable to reviewing supplemental well information on short notice.
After hearing testimony and discussing applicant outreach to property owners, the commission closed the hearing and approved the special permit conditionally, requiring submission and review of the updated hydrological/hydraulic report for final approval. Because staff had designated Special Permit 25042 as a final action for the commission, the conditional approval is effective at the commission level; the transcript records the motion passed by a roll call vote with support recorded on the public record.
Recorded votes and the staff report provide the conditions the applicant must satisfy before final issuance of the permit.
