City Council Adopts Omaha Streetscape Handbook
July 01, 2008
A plan for ramping up the appearance and functionality of Omaha’s streets has received a boost from the Omaha City Council.
At its July 1 meeting, the council voted 6-0 to approve an amendment to the Urban Design Element of the city’s master plan that calls for implementing the recommendations outlined in the Omaha Streetscape Handbook, a new publication that seeks to improve the appearance of Omaha’s streets and create an environment that’s welcoming to pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and users of mass transit.
The handbook is the work of a diverse task force of representatives from Omaha by Design, the city’s parks, planning and public works departments, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Planning Association, the Omaha Public Power District and the Nebraska Department of Roads.
“We want to create an attractive and functional street environment in Omaha, and we also want to encourage cohesive design in highly visible public rights of way,” said Larry Jacobsen, chair of the Omaha Streetscape Handbook Task Force and a vice president with Schemmer Associates. “The handbook will serve as a guide for city project managers, developers and design professionals in working toward the achievement of these outcomes.”
The handbook evolved from a series of recommendations outlined in the city’s Urban Design Element. It can be thought of as the public counterpart to the city’s zoning code revisions and additions package passed in 2007, which focuses on private sector development and redevelopment, said Connie Spellman, director of Omaha by Design.
The publication is based on the execution of six principles – implementing sustainable practices, developing complete streets, using cohesive design elements, promoting safety and security, coordinating maintenance with design and implementation, and protecting and enhancing historic character.
Omaha by Design will sponsor quarterly reviews of the handbook to evaluate its progress and implementation, Spellman said. It is designed to be used in conjunction with a number of existing tools, including the city’s green streets master plan and the guidelines established by the Omaha Public Art Commission.
The Omaha Streetscape Handbook was made possible by grants from the Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation and the Fund for Omaha. RDG Planning and Design served as the project consultant.
To request a CD of the handbook, contact Chris Hall at 402.342.3458 or chris@omahabydesign.org.