Developer Plans Apartment Complex for Downtown Vacant Lot

On Tuesday, April 23, the North Platte Planning Commission deliberated on two potential Tax Increment Financing (TIF) projects. The first is an apartment complex slated for construction at Third and Chestnut near downtown, and the second is in the northwest corner of a vacant lot on W. 18th. 
 
The proposed site for the apartment complex lies within a rare, undeveloped block of land nestled amidst houses and businesses to the east of the Federal Building. The developer, Charles Burwick, intends to transform this area into a grand two-building apartment complex with 28 units. This will include twelve two-bedroom, one-bath units each spanning about 1,050 sq. ft., along with two three-bedroom apartments featuring double bathrooms across an expansive floor space of approximately 1,600 sq. ft. 
 
Burwick seeks approval from city officials for declaring it blighted and substandard, which would pave the way for tax increment financing that could be utilized towards infrastructure development. He also reassured Commissioner Kert McKeone regarding rent affordability, stating that $1100 per month for a two-bedroom unit and $1500-$1600 per month for three bedrooms were well within acceptable market rates. 
 
The project has received support from Gary Person, President and CEO of North Platte Area Chamber & DevCo, while Chairman David Fudge and Commissioner Kathleen Matthews abstained from voting on this matter. However, seven other commission members unanimously voted to recommend it as a blighted or substandard designation to City Council, which is set to review it on May 7th. 
 
At another location near West 18th St., Horizon Builders has requested an extremely blighted designation in order to prepare their property, consisting of six buildings each housing seven units, without TIF assistance initially planned by them. 
 
However, due to the recent discovery necessitating deeper placement of sewer mains, thereby escalating costs by $1.1 million, Josh Rhoads, owner, expressed his concerns over freezing if not placed deep enough. This prompted Commissioner McKeone to inquire about soil compactness and whether it would require excavation, refilling, and compaction. 
 
During the public hearing, Kristi Smith, a resident of 18th St., voiced her concerns over inaccuracies in the study with regards to the portrayal of area and landowner numbers (13 as per the study but only 11 after cross-verification via the GIS website). She also highlighted that nine new houses built by Habitat for Humanity were excluded from the study due to a boundary cutting through an alleyway. 
 
Following discussions on both sides, Bain agreed upon the valid points raised, while Matthews questioned Marvin Planning's method of determining blight study areas. Judy Clark, City Planning Administrator, responded, stating its obscure nature, with all such studies leveraging boundaries for their own benefit. However, Fudge mentioned arbitrariness in setting boundaries, while Van Velson proposed leaving some lots as green spaces, thereby eliminating sewer-related issues. 
 
The commission voted in favor (6-2), recommending the resolution to the city council, who will review it alongside the Third & Chestnut project on May 7th. 
 
The final agenda item was approval of Blue Sky Development LLC’s Village Park Flats' first subdivision application at West A between Dixie Ave. and Pioneer Dr., which comprises one parcel divided into fifty-six lots, following reconsideration owing to changes made by developers regarding subdivision planning.