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Public hearing held on Preserve at Branch Oak Addition as applicant seeks plat vacation to pursue a CUP
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Summary
The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners opened and closed a public hearing April 7 on a proposal to vacate the Preserve at Branch Oak Addition final plat so the property owner can pursue a community unit plan that would add one additional lot through a density bonus; staff and the applicant described protections including a 600-foot non‑buildable buffer to address hunting-season safety concerns.
The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing April 7 on a request to vacate the Preserve at Branch Oak Addition final plat so the property owner can pursue a community unit plan (CUP) that would permit one additional lot through a density bonus.
George Weselhaw of the county planning and development staff described the site as “on the North Side of West Branch Oak Road” and said it borders Nebraska Game and Parks property. He told the board the existing ag-preservation plat covered 80 acres and was originally approved for four lots; the applicant is seeking to vacate that plat to use a CUP that preserves more than 70% of the parcel in an outlot to secure a 25% density bonus.
Noah Chestnut of Rig Engineering, representing the applicant, said the new owner prefers the CUP option and that the project team was “doing everything by the book.” Chestnut acknowledged limited direct outreach to adjacent property owners but said planning‑commission review had included at least one neighbor raising concerns about potential additional lots. He also said the proposal includes a 600-foot non‑buildable buffer on the north side and that staff would coordinate with Nebraska Game and Parks to address hunting‑season safety concerns.
The board asked whether there were additional proponents or opponents; after no further testimony the chair closed the hearing. The matter was presented as informational at the meeting and will return to the board through the normal review and decision process under county procedures.
What happened next: the board closed the public hearing and moved on to the remainder of the agenda; no final plat vacation or formal approval of the CUP was recorded at this meeting.
