May 01, 2009
Improving the city’s “bikeability” is one of the issues under study in conjunction with Environment Omaha. Pictured above, a group of cyclists gathered at 10th and Bancroft May 11 prior to the 2009 Mayor’s Bicycle Ride. The event, organized by Activate Omaha, kicked off National Bike to Work Week.
How do you encourage the creation of affordable housing across Omaha? Is there enough political will to improve the city’s mass transit offerings? Why aren’t there more local examples of new uses for existing buildings?
These issues and dozens of others were raised April 30 at Environment Omaha’s information open house on the Urban Form & Transportation content area. On Nov. 6, 2008, city officials and Omaha by Design launched Environment Omaha, a multi-year initiative that will result in the creation of an Environmental Element for the city’s master plan. Environment Omaha is addressing five major content areas – the natural environment, urban form & transportation, building construction, resource conservation and community health.
The Urban Form & Transportation content area is being developed around two main components – modes of transportation and density. Density refers to the permitted ratio of residential units to land area or the permitted ratio of building size to land area. A few statistics to consider:
- In 1950, Omaha’s population density was more than 6,000 people per square mile. In 2009, density is about 3,300 people per square mile.
- In 1950, about 40 percent of Omahans traveled to work by transit. Today, this number is believed to be about 3 percent.
As part of the content development process, performance outcomes for the city will be identified.
The effort is being guided by a 23-member volunteer advisory committee chaired by Marty Shukert, RDG Planning and Design, and facilitated by Linda Beacham, Schemmer Associates. Its members are: Willie Barney, Empowerment Network; John Bartle, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Doug Bisson, HDR; Douglas County Commissioner Mike Boyle; Bob Braun, Lozier Corp.; Christian Christensen, Bluestone Development; Herb Freeman, NP Dodge; Gary Gebhard, Leo A Daly Co.; Jim Grotrian, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce; Rick Jeffries, Cline Williams; Larry Jobeun, Fullenkamp, Doyle & Jobeun; Arturo Miranda, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Bill Moore, EV World; Paul Mullen, Metropolitan Area Planning Agency; Norm Nelson, Lyman Richey; Kerri Peterson, Live Well Omaha; Curt Simon, Metro Area Transit; Tim Stuart, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce; Matt Tondl, HDR; Jerry Torczon, BHI Development; and Katie Torpy, Joslyn Castle Institute.
The Urban Form & Transportation Advisory Committee will meet several times during the next few months to develop draft content. Listening sessions are being planned in north Omaha and south Omaha. If you’d like to participate, call 402.554.4010. Those interested can keep tabs on this content area’s progress via www.environmentomaha.com.
Funding for Environment Omaha, which is receiving significant city staff and resource support, is provided by grants from the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency and the City of Omaha’s Stormwater Management Plan Program Grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. For more information, contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org.