Tourism site put on hold until concerns are addressed

Plans for a bed and breakfast and recreational vehicle park near Homestead National Monument of America were put on hold Thursday by the Gage County Planning Commission until the developer can provide more information about a sewage system and other concerns.

At its regular meeting Thursday afternoon, the commission voted to table action on two special use permit applications filed by Troy Stevens, 23436 SW 75 Road, to establish a bed and breakfast and an RV park on his property just north of the new Homestead National Monument heritage center site.

He has named his proposed bed and breakfast and RV park “Oak Aven Acres” to reflect the native timber behind the site.

“Agritourism is becoming a very big thing in Nebraska and we're just trying to get on board,” Stevens said during two public hearings for his applications.

Stevens hopes to establish a bed and breakfast in an early 1900s Cape Cod-style cottage on property he owns. The recently refurbished house contains enough room for up to five or six people at one time, he said.

With the location four miles west of Beatrice and just north of Homestead National Monument, he said he thought the bed and breakfast could attract families, participants in local events such as Homestead Days and hunters in season.

In addition, Stevens hopes to establish an RV park adjacent to the bed and breakfast. Plans call for each of the 12 to 14 spaces at the park to have its own electrical and sewage hookup and water supply.

Stevens said the RV park property had been leveled about 10 years ago when his family was planning to establish hog facilities. The site, including a sewage pit, was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, but the hog project was never developed, he said.

In addition to tourists and other visitors to Beatrice, he said the RV park could also be used by construction crews who are working in the area long term.

“This proposal will bring additional income to Beatrice and Gage County and provide more needed accommodations as our community grows and develops,” he said.

Two residents who live near the proposed bed and breakfast and RV park opposed the plan.

Rodney and Christena Bates, 22895 SW 75 Road, attended the public hearings in opposition to the plan and were represented by their attorney, Ryan Reis of Beatrice.

Reis said he did not think the county's zoning regulations would allow the property to be used as an RV park, while he also said there were questions about water and sewer service as well as traffic and parking.

“The board has no choice but to deny this request,” he said.

Board members advised Stevens to contact the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate his planned sewage system for the RV park and get more information on bed and breakfast regulations.

“This should not be taken as a denial, but we need more information for a good, solid decision,” Planning Commission Chairman Wayne Brinkmeyer said.

Under county regulations, the Planning Commission can either recommend approval or disapproval to the request before it is sent on to the Gage County Board of Supervisors for final approval or disapproval.