Kearney council approves Marlatt 4th subdivision for Habitat for Humanity; vacates alleyways, rezones to R-1D

The Kearney City Council on motions passed ordinances vacating right-of-way and approved the Marlatt 4th subdivision final plat, clearing the way for a Habitat for Humanity-led subdivision east of Avenue M north of East 17th Street.

Craig Bennett of Miller & Associates told the council the project boundary covers multiple tax lots and will ultimately create 48 lots, of which 45 are planned for Habitat homes; the Habitat-owned portion totals about 9.77 acres. Bennett said the preliminary plat includes two stormwater-detention lots and one retained lot with an existing house that current owners will keep. “It’s primarily to be known as the Habitat for Humanity subdivision,” Bennett said.

The council voted to adopt ordinances 8703 through 8713 to vacate several portions of alleyways, streets and lots in Whitaker’s Grove addition, then passed ordinance 8714 rezoning the area to R-1D, and approved resolution 2025-1 amending the comprehensive plan land-use map to low-density residential. The council also adopted resolution 2025-2 approving the final plat and subdivision agreement for Marlatt 4th.

Nut graf: The package of land‑use approvals and vacating ordinances will allow the City and Habitat to consolidate several fragmented holdings and extend public infrastructure (water, sanitary sewer and storm conveyance) to support a phased build-out intended to produce roughly three Habitat houses per year. The actions included ordinance readings suspended per statutory allowance and standard roll-call votes.

City staff and the applicant outlined infrastructure plans: a 24-inch water main on the west side with water extensions through the subdivision; an existing 12-inch sanitary main in a dedicated easement serving the area; and a proposed stormwater design that will detain runoff in two detention cells and convey outfall to the former railroad corridor that the City owns and intends to use as a drainage channel. Bennett described a temporary hammerhead vehicle turnaround to provide fire-truck access for the first phase and explained Avenue P will be extended in a later phase to provide secondary circulation.

Council members asked about the drainage outfall along the vacated railroad corridor; Bennett and staff said the tracks have been removed and the former rail bed is depressed and will be excavated and improved to create a robust drainage channel similar to other NRD outfall channels used locally. Bennett said the first phase of the Marlatt 4th final plat includes 18 lots and one outlot; the full plat totals 48 lots (45 for Habitat, two stormwater lots, and one retained lot with an existing house).

Votes at a glance: Ordinances 8703–8713 (vacations): passed, roll call — Mayor Nicola: Aye; Moore: Aye; Schmidt: Aye; Strautman: Aye; Bushcutter: Aye. Resolution 2025-1 (land-use map amendment to LDR): passed, same roll call. Ordinance 8714 (rezoning to R-1D): passed, same roll call. Resolution 2025-2 (final plat and subdivision agreement for Marlatt 4th): passed, same roll call.

The council praised Habitat for Humanity’s local output; one council member noted Habitat has completed more than 100 houses locally and described the Marlatt 4th build-out as a community asset that could house roughly 90 residents at two people per home if fully occupied. The subdivision will be built in phases to match Habitat’s typical production cadence.

The council’s approvals include standard subdivision conditions and a subdivision agreement; any assessments for sewer/water connections will be applied when lots connect to the mains. The ordinance readings were suspended and placed on final passage per the motions recorded on the transcript.

Ending: With the final plat approved, the City and Habitat will proceed to engineering, permitting and phased construction; council members and the applicant said they expect the subdivision to proceed in multiple phases with the first phase establishing paving and utility extents for later extension.