On September 16, 2005, Omaha by Design and Mayor Mike Fahey announced the next step in the City’s efforts to strengthen its comprehensive urban design plan.   In the first major revision to the City’s Zoning Code since 1987, the policies of the newly adopted Urban Design Element will become provisions of the Zoning Code and other related City Codes.

After a year of research, meetings and consensus building in December 2004, led by Jonathan Barnett, nationally recognized urban planner, both the Omaha Planning Board and the Omaha City Council unanimously approved the new Urban Design Element and Land Use Amendment. This effort was made possible by the generous support of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben and other corporate and foundation donors. 

Mayor Fahey, Steve Jensen, City Planning director and Paul Kratz, City Attorney have all pledged their full support to the project. The City has allocated $40,000 in addition to the staff support necessary to complete the regulations. Most of the funding necessary to complete the project will come from private donors. 

Del Weber, co-chairman of the comprehensive design plan for Omaha by Design and Steve Jensen, will lead the process and co-chair a Technical Advisory Group made up of design professionals, real estate developers and agents, property managers, business representatives, lawyers, advertising executives and community leaders.  Public meetings, like those held during the Urban Design Element phase, will again be used to gather citizen input.

Brian Blaesser, attorney with Robinson & Cole LLP and Jonathan Barnett, urban planner with WRT Planning and Design, will serve as the consultant team.  Their expertise, and knowledge of the Omaha by Design Urban Design process that produced the Urban Design Element, will be invaluable in this final step in the process.  

The revisions to the Code will include modifying existing zoning classifications and provisions, creating new zoning classifications and developing new urban design guidelines. Provisions will address major commercial corridors and intersections, public buildings, infill development, and pedestrian orientation.

The City’s image will be addressed through provisions for signage, lighting, public art, public utilities, public buildings, and streetscapes. Areas of civic importance will be identified and given higher design emphasis.

New design criteria in the Zoning Code will seek to foster an aesthetically attractive urban environment in the City and improve the functional relationships of buildings, streets, parking, open space, landscaping, and existing site development features. Improving building design in areas of civic importance, providing for new pedestrian-oriented places, improving existing commercial corridors and re-energized neighborhood business districts will also be addressed.

Omaha by Design will serve as the project manager for the process.  We welcome your questions or comments.  Please tell us what you think at www.omahabydesign.org or clicking here to send us an email .

Translating the policies of the newly adopted Urban Design Element into provisions of the Zoning Code and other related City Code provisions is Omaha by Design’s highest priority as we continue to improve our great city.