The City of Kearney Planning Commission approved a subdivision vacation, preliminary plat and final plat to formalize a parking strip used by the Whiskey Creek restaurant at the corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street.

Attorney Trenton Snow presented the application on behalf of the property owner. Snow said Whiskey Creek has used the adjoining asphalt strip for customer parking for years under an informal rental agreement with the gas station owner. The new owner of the gas station is selling that strip to the restaurant owner, which requires a formal lot reconfiguration through a vacation of the existing lot line and a subsequent plat to include the parking area in the restaurant’s property.

Snow told commissioners that no buildings, utilities or pavements will change as part of the replat; the site will remain in the C‑2 commercial zoning district. Staff recommended approval, finding the proposed lots meet the C‑2 site development regulations and are consistent with the 2016 comprehensive plan.

Planning staff noted the gas station’s underground storage tanks do not extend under the parking area. Staff also confirmed streets and utilities were built previously and that no additional infrastructure is proposed with the replat.

The commission closed the public hearings on the vacation, preliminary plat and final plat and voted to approve all three items. Votes on the motions were recorded as unanimous in favor.

The approvals allow the restaurant owner to own the parking area formally; the final plat will be recorded per city procedures and no additional city infrastructure work is required.