The Seward Planning Commission voted 6-2 on Aug. 11 to recommend approval of an additional nine residential lots southeast of 252nd and Bluff roads.
Kayton Development, LLC, and Bash Investments/Thomas Kayton applied for the major subdivision approval, adding nine lots over 49 acres to an area adjacent to a six-lot development created a few years ago.
City Building and Zoning Director Tim Dworak said an access road, named East Lincoln Lane, was created with the original six acreages that could line up with Seward’s East Lincoln Street should the area ever be annexed.
About a half dozen area residents addressed the commission and two others emailed Commission Chairman Ron Wallman to oppose the expansion of the lots in Bluff Road Acres Second Addition, which would add one lot to the row of previously platted lots along Bluff Road and a second row of eight lots south of those.
The neighbors’ concerns included the impact of traffic on county roads which they say are poorly maintained, whether the area could support the number of wells that will be required, whether there would be adequate water access for firefighting and emergency services, septic drainage, potential flooding on the lots near the creek, and access to the additional homes with existing roads.
Commissioners said the area is far enough out it could be many years before the city of Seward would consider annexing the area.
“I see both sides of it,” Wallman said. “People have bought into the rural lifestyle, but say ‘stop here and don’t do any more.’”
Commissioner Clarence Kotera suggested the city consider doing some water testing in the area to see what the viability is for well water. Wallman asked several of the neighbors how deep their wells are, with answers ranging from 365 to 387 feet.
The area is not in the Seward County Water Conservation District.
Commissioner Scott Sievers said the water has been available over the last 25 years.
“I don’t think that this particular nine houses is going to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” Sievers said.
Commissioner Ron Jackson said some questions are not answered.
“You cannot mitigate all risks, but if your due diligence has been done, it’s a matter of ifs,” he said.
Wallman and Kotera voted against recommending the subdivision plan to the Seward City Council, but the other six commissioners voted in favor.
At the end of the meeting, Dworak told the commissioners he is working with someone from the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District to have them present information about water accessibility and quantity in this area, similar to a program presented in Garland by the Lower Platte South NRD earlier this summer.
