Omaha City Council Meeting

First are planning items. Final plat for MH Landing Replat 2 at 70th and Grover St approved

Final plat for Lake Cunningham Village at 96th and State approved

An ordinance to include 2905 and 2907 Q St into an MCC overlay district approved

Next are items to include property at 168th and Shirley St into an MCC overlay district, along with rezoning the lot to a multi-family district.

Lawyer Larry Jobeun said the development will have 194 units of market rate housing.

Jobeun said most nearby lots are zoned as R3 (single-family residential). Todays items rezone the property to R6 (low density multifamily) and R7 (medium density multifamily)

Jobeun said the development is compliant with the city’s master plan

There was a neighborhood meeting and a lengthy discussion on this item during the Planning Board hearing, Jobeun said. There are 80 pages of opposition submitted on the city council agenda

Opponent Michael Matukewicz, a lawyer representing the Rose Garden Estates HOA, said the project is not compliant with the master plan

Matukewicz said the master plan shows the area is meant to for low density housing. He said the rezone could exacerbate traffic congestion, in conflict with the master plan’s goals

The primary access to the development will be at 168th and Shirley, which Matukewicz said is already congested

He also pointed to a different ongoing development in the area that will add another 100 units.

Matukewicz said developments like these will make Omaha “look like Denver,” which he said is more difficult to drive through

Opponent David French said he’s here on behalf of 3 elderly neighbors. He said the rezone would set a precedent for drastically increasing density in suburban areas

He said the development would be “aesthetically offensive”

Carol Goulding said she’s lived in the Rose Garden Estates since 1988, and that her and her husband have maintained the green area with no help from the owners

Opponents have also expressed concern that the neighborhood’s schools would become overcrowded

Another opponent, who said he has experience with developments, said the developers havent worked with neighbors. He sent multiple letters in opposition to the city councol

An opponent said he has concerns with flooding issues

(I believe our last) opponent said “home values are always on the front of my mind,” saying that values might not decline, but they wont grow as quickly due to this development.

Larry’s jumping in at the end here and getting called out of order

Jobeun gave a rebuttal, reiterating that the project is in compliance with the master plan. He said the apartment residents will be vetted, and not “bad people”

He said the development isnt “high density” by Omaha’s standards at 22 units per acre

Jobeun said the main feedback they got back from neighbors was asking them to reduce the number of units, which he said isn’t feasible

In response to traffic concerns, Jobeun said he doesn’t believe a signal would be warranted, which is what previous traffic studies showed

Ryan Haas from public works said another traffic study is planned for this fall, and it’s possible there could be signalization at some point

Jobeun said there will be no net increase in storm water runoff

Jobeun said theyd be open to a few changes, like no-parking signs along Shirley St

City planning director Dave Fanslau said schools were notified about the development and they didn’t express any concerns

CM Brinker Harding said he hopes everyone involved will be willing to communicate going forward

CM Don Rowe said that Omaha will continue to increase density bc the city needs to grow. Approved 5-1, CM Johnson voting no

Next is a special use permit for a youth home at 3013 and 3015 N 95th St. This item was postponed from two weeks ago to answer some questions

The property is currently a group home for adults with substance abuse issues. Nebraska Neurobehavioral Services will takeover to provide a home for at risk youth

An opponent said that although he still prefers that the lot become residential, most of the neighbors’ concerns have been addressed.

Council President Pete Festersen said they had a productive neighborhood meeting

Festersen is adding an amendment that includes an updated operating statement for the facility

The special use permit will go only to the applicant rather than the property, so any new ownership would have to reapply, Festersen said

The amendment will also limit the home’s capacity to 10, instead of the original 12

Special use permit approved 6-0

Moving on to liquor, license approved for a new owner of Harold’s Bar at 8558 Blondo St

A license for La K-Tryna at 6550 Railroad Ave has some opposition. CM Vinny Palermo said he has concerns with parking

The owner (speaking through an interpreter bc she speaks Spanish) said the location would be for events. She applied for a Class C license, which would allow for sale of cocktails to-go, but she says she doesn’t intend to do that

She said she’d agree to an amendment to a Class I license, which Palermo said would allow only sale for onsite consumption

Palermo recommended that she hire off duty law enforcement as security for this location

Class I license approved 6-0

Ordinance consent agenda approved

Resolution consent agenda approved, including a $300,000 agreement with AOI for furniture for the new library at 1401 Jones St and purchases of materials for the library system.
CM Don Rowe said the libraries have made good progress on the ongoing changes

$50 million Choice Neighborhoods grant for Southside Terrace-Indian Hill approved 6-0

Meeting adjourned at 4:38 pm. Our next meeting isn’t until Dec 6