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Planning commission approves 63‑lot Folkways preliminary plat with two sewer waivers
Summary
The Lincoln‑Lancaster County Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat to subdivide 15.4 acres at 1701 Folkways Boulevard into 63 single‑family lots, granting two sanitary‑sewer waivers and accepting an applicant amendment to public‑right‑of‑way language; neighbors raised traffic and driveway concerns.
The Lincoln‑Lancaster County Planning Commission voted to approve a preliminary plat for 1701 Folkways Boulevard, allowing a 63‑lot single‑family subdivision with two waivers to sanitary sewer design standards and an applicant amendment to a staff condition.
Emma Martin of Planning and Development Services told commissioners the property is about 15.4 acres, zoned R‑3, and that the two requested waivers would allow sanitary sewer depths greater than 15 feet and allow sewer alignment opposite the street grade; she said LTU wastewater had approved both waivers. Martin also noted the applicant asked for a note to be added to condition 1.103 so public‑right‑of‑way accessibility guidelines would be addressed prior to final plat.
Attorney Danae Kalkowski, representing the developer, said the developer will include covenants so the new lots join the existing North Hills homeowners association, that on‑site detention (a detention cell at the west side of the property) will manage runoff, and that the amendment to condition 1.103 is intended to allow time to align preliminary‑plat requirements with newly adopted accessibility guidelines without delaying approval.
Neighbor Joan Spiker Simpson, who lives at 1634 Folkways Boulevard, said she welcomed single‑family development rather than apartments but asked the commission to ensure the four lots on the north edge do not place driveways directly onto Folkways. "I'm happy that it's being developed as a single family housing instead of apartments," she said, while urging measures to reduce added congestion and preserve the small neighborhood park.
Planning staff and commissioners discussed access and emergency‑service needs. Steve Henriksen of Planning and Development Services said that preliminary plat review focuses on streets, water and utilities and noted block‑length and EMS routing requirements make dead‑end streets impractical in many cases. Martin said the proposed lots will have driveways on the new internal north–south streets and on North 18th Street rather than directly on Folkways.
Commissioners approved the motion to accept the applicant's amendment and the two waivers; the clerk called the roll and the chair announced the plat was "approved with amendment and 2 waivers recommended by staff." The commission took the approval as the final action on the preliminary plat before any necessary final‑plat filings.
Next steps: the developer may proceed to final plat stage subject to the added note addressing right‑of‑way accessibility requirements and the usual engineering and permitting checks.
