Dodge County BOS Approves Zoning Change for Platte Valley Equipment

FREMONT – The Dodge County Board of Supervisors has approved a zoning change request from transitional ag to commercial for a portion of Platte Valley Equipment’s (PVE) land. The board also approved PVE for a conditional use permit.
The board voted 6-1 to approve this request and the conditional use permit, with Supervisor Greg Beam voting no.
Platte Valley Equipment has been located on Business Park drive since 1985, but according to the general manager, Matt Lamb, they have since outgrown the facility due to the increase in equipment size and business growth.
In January, PVE began the construction of a new facility to the north of Fremont to help accommodate the growth of the business and provide the best customer service possible. The new building is expected to open before the end of 2020.
At the Planning Commission’s last meeting, Zoning Administrator, Jean Andrews, told the board of supervisors that after some discussion of both pros and cons of the change in zoning, the board unanimously approved to make a recommendation to the board to change the parcel from A3 to commercial.
“Jean Andrews reported to us that the Planning Commission Board had some good discussions regarding the change in zoning, but that in the end, they all unanimously agreed to make a recommendation to our board to change the zoning,” said Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Bob Missel.
Missel said Jeff Ray of the JEO Consulting Group gave his report on how the rezoning would make this land area more compatible to the northern land section and stated that he believed the zoning change was in the best interest of the county and PVE.
Kirk Brand, a landowner adjacent to PVE’s new property, raised his concerns during the public hearing at the county meeting and said he was opposed to the zoning change unless some things were addressed.
Missel said Brand’s main concerns were traffic coming and going in that area, and dust and other residues that would blow over to his residence from PVE’s new property.
Brand asked that Platte Valley Equipment add a buffer of trees between the properties and for the county to look into having the state conduct a study to see if a longer turning lane should be added or the speed limit changed in that area to accommodate the heavy commercial machinery.
Chairman Missel addressed Brand’s concerns and asked the property owners of Platte Valley Equipment to consider Brand’s request for the tree barrier. Missel also reassured Brand that he will be in discussion with the NE Department of Roads to discuss monitoring the area for safety issues and see if any changes should be made in the future.