Planning commission approves North 26th townhouse plan with reduced front setback

The Lancaster County Planning Commission on Jan. 7 approved an amendment to use permit 22004A that would replace a previously approved 25-unit multifamily layout with 21 townhouse units at a site along North 26th Street.

Emma Martin, a planner with Planning and Development Services, told the commission the property is zoned O-3 Office Park and that the proposal seeks three waivers: to reduce the front yard setback from 30 feet to 15 feet, to set internal lot lines to 0 feet, and to reduce the minimum required distance between water and sanitary mains and buildings from 15 feet to 10 feet. Martin said the applicant must satisfy Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) Watershed before final approval and that Lincoln Water Systems recommended denial of the utilities separation waiver.

Nate Burnett of RIG Engineering, the applicant’s representative, told commissioners the team has been coordinating with staff through the pre-application process and said they have an alternative design to address the utilities separation and stormwater issues. “We no longer need that waiver,” Burnett said, reporting a plan that would relocate utilities to meet the 15-foot separation when required.

A representative of the adjacent Northgate Garden Estates homeowners association, Gene Clement, asked that a retaining wall be added at a sharp drop on the property line; the applicant confirmed a proposed retaining wall on the site plan.

Commissioners debated conditions briefly and then voted to approve the amended use permit with the applicant’s agreed changes and conditions tying final approval to LTU Watershed satisfaction. The motion passed 7–0.

Next steps: staff will confirm that stormwater (LTU Watershed) requirements are met and that the utilities separation waiver has been withdrawn or otherwise addressed before the applicant proceeds to final permitting.