Buffalo County approves private daycare permit, splits decisions on agricultural service permits
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Summary
The Buffalo County Board of Commissioners on April 22 approved a special-use permit for a private daycare at 29050 145th Road and approved an agricultural service permit for one site while denying an adjacent site after public testimony raised compatibility and traffic concerns.
The Buffalo County Board of Commissioners approved a special-use permit for a private daycare at 29050 145th Road and issued mixed rulings on two special-use applications for agricultural service operations during its April 22 meeting in Kearney.
Chairperson Sherry L. Morrow opened a public hearing on the daycare application from Kelley R. Mast and Hannah L. Mast. Two area residents spoke in favor; no speakers opposed. The board approved the application and adopted Resolution 2025-23 (motion by Commissioner Bill Maendele; seconded by Commissioner Ronald Loeffelholz). The permit covers tax parcel 380076000 and was filed Jan. 29, 2025.
The board then heard competing special-use applications, filed by Craig Bennett of Miller & Associates on behalf of Mark H. Meyer and C. Jayne Meyer and Loren Bakko (manager, Bakko Land, L.L.C.), for agricultural service establishments on two adjacent parcels in Section 8, Township 9 North, Range 16 West. Dozens of residents and nearby property owners provided comment both supporting and opposing the proposals; opponents raised concerns about compatibility with densely populated nearby areas, sight lines, traffic and potential impacts from tub-grinder equipment.
After deliberation the board denied the application for the site described in the southwest portion of the quarter (adopted as Resolution 2025-24; motion by Maendele, seconded by Higgins). The board cited incompatibility with surrounding residential uses and topography-related sight-distance concerns.
Separately, the board approved a special-use permit for the northwest-quarter site with a set of site-specific conditions intended to reduce community impacts (Resolution 2025-25). Conditions included construction of a 125-foot concrete apron off Cottonmill Avenue, downcast lighting, minimum setbacks (no closer than 350 feet to certain section lines), maximum building dimensions and height (no larger than 200 by 180 feet and no taller than 35 feet), requirements for a compliant 911 address and an engineer-signed water/drainage study within 120 days addressing ten-year flood frequency and potential detention measures. The approval passed by a 6–1 vote: aye — Maendele, Kouba, Higgins, Klein, Loeffelholz and Morrow; nay — Lynch (motion by Maendele; seconded by Kouba).
Commissioners and staff noted the record included the Buffalo County Comprehensive Plan, the county’s zoning and subdivision regulations, Planning Commission recommendations from March 20, 2025, and exhibits filed with the applications including site plans, renderings and a photo of tub-grinder equipment.