Sarpy County approves Buffalo Springs replat, rezoning 237.14 acres for 16 lots

The Sarpy County Board of Commissioners on March 3 approved a rezoning and preliminary plat for Buffalo Springs Replat 1, a roughly 237.14-acre property northeast of 168th Street and Buffalo Road, that will create 16 single-family residential lots and five outlots intended to preserve environmentally sensitive areas and open-space drainage.

Robert LaRocco, planning staff, told the board the proposal is consistent with the county comprehensive plan and that staff "recommends approval of the rezoning from AG Farming District to RE-1 residential" and the preliminary plat, subject to 13 conditions included in the staff report. He said the applicant had submitted revised stormwater and water-well information and has proposed three wells to serve the site with shared ownership arrangements among the lots.

Why it matters: The application includes a requested waiver of a 200-foot minimum lot frontage at a proposed internal gravel road for two pie-shaped lots. Staff recommended allowing the waiver if the applicant dedicates a common access easement between the two lots so both properties can share a single driveway off the dedicated road. Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant to put clear triggers and responsibilities for paving and road maintenance into the subdivision agreement so future costs and timing are defined.

The applicant’s representative, Brian Bell of Shimmer Associates, said the applicant will "specify that in the subdivision agreement" and work with staff on the timing of any paving trigger. Planning staff said retaining gravel for internal circulation was intended to preserve the low-density character of the area but acknowledged an agreement should state when paving would be required.

Key details disclosed at the hearing: the site totals about 237.14 acres; the proposal creates 16 single-family lots and five outlots (A–E); staff identified one requested waiver (lot frontage less than 200 feet for Lots 5 and 6) and recommended approval conditioned on a recorded access easement; the applicant submitted a revised stormwater drainage report and preliminary well-capacity information; the planning report referenced 13 conditions of approval to be satisfied before final plat.

Sewer and fees: A county representative explained that, if an exception is approved by the sewer agency, the 16 lots would pay a current connection fee of $6,000 per lot (about $96,000 total under the current fee structure). Staff said future development of outlot A would be subject to per-acre fees at the time it develops and to availability of water and sewer service.

Action and next steps: Commissioner Klug moved and Commissioner Burmester seconded both motions; the board voted to approve Resolution 57 (rezoning) and Resolution 58 (preliminary plat) as presented. Planning staff said final plat documents, a subdivision agreement with clarified paving triggers and an ownership/maintenance agreement for the wells will be prepared and must be completed before final plat approval.

The board’s approvals set the project up to return with a final plat and finalized agreements that will spell out pavement triggers, access easements and well maintenance responsibilities.