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Lancaster County holds public hearing on proposed plat vacation near Branched Oak Lake
Summary
The county heard staff and applicant testimony on a request to vacate a preservation plat to allow a Community Unit Plan that would add one lot through a density bonus while preserving most of the 80-acre tract; neighbors raised hunting/safety concerns and staff noted a 600-foot non-buildable buffer.
The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing April 7 on a request to vacate the Preserve at Branched Oak Addition final plat so a new owner can pursue a Community Unit Plan (CUP) that would add one additional buildable lot.
Planning and Development staff member George Wesselhoff told commissioners the parcel sits north of West Branched Oak Road, adjacent to Branched Oak Lake and Nebraska Game and Parks lands. The existing preservation plat allowed four buildable lots on roughly 80 acres; under the proposed CUP the owner would preserve 70% of the total acreage in an outlot and receive a density bonus that yields one extra lot, Wesselhoff said. He added that the related CUP received Planning Commission approval on March 18.
Noah Chestnut of RIA Engineering, representing the applicant, said the purchaser prefers the CUP approach rather than proceeding under the current plat because it better fits their development objectives while remaining within zoning and regulatory limits. Chestnut said the design preserves the required open area and that the extra lot is obtained by meeting the CUP preservation threshold.
Commissioners asked whether neighbors had raised objections. Chestnut said one resident had expressed concerns about potential additional lots directly west of his parcel and another had submitted a letter noting worries about hunting season safety. Chestnut said county staff had coordinated with Nebraska Game and Parks and that the project includes a 600-foot non-buildable buffer on the north side to address safety and preserve separation from Game and Parks property.
No members of the public spoke in opposition at the hearing and staff did not record any additional proponent testimony beyond the applicant. After the presentations and questions, Chair Christy Yokum closed the public hearing. The board did not take a final vote on the plat vacation during the April 7 meeting; the hearing record was closed for this agenda item.
The county record shows the applicant presented the CUP as an alternative to the recorded preservation plat; the Planning Commission previously approved the special permit for the CUP on March 18, 2026. Any formal county board action to vacate the plat would be recorded on a later agenda.
