January 01, 2009
The details that will comprise Environment Omaha are beginning to come together.
The initiative, which calls for the development of an Environmental Element for Omaha’s master plan, is addressing the sustainability of the city in a comprehensive manner by focusing on five major goal areas: the natural environment, urban form and transportation, building construction, resource conservation and community health. Each goal area will be dealt with consecutively over an 18- to 24-month period.
Work on the natural environment goal area is well under way, said Dave Ciaccio, chair of the initiative’s Natural Environment Advisory Committee. The first meeting of the Natural Environment Advisory Committee was held Dec. 11, followed by a public meeting later that evening to gather community input on the issues this goal area should address. A summary of these findings can be found on the EO web site under the Natural Environment link.
The city’s planning staff is using this input to develop an initial draft of goals and objectives for discussion and review by the Natural Environment Advisory Committee. Once the goals and objectives are agreed upon, this committee will begin discussing the development of policies and implementation strategies that bring the goals and objectives to life. Meetings of the Natural Environment Advisory Committee are scheduled for January, February and March. The documents will be posted on the EO web site following each meeting.
Omaha by Design serves as the project manager for Environment Omaha. The initiative is funded by the City of Omaha’s Stormwater Management Plan Program Grant, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. Communications support is provided by HDR.
For more information, contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org.