Omaha by Design has taken a position on the proposed Wal-Mart on 72nd and Hickory based on our mandate as an organization—to implement the Urban Design Element of the City of Omaha Master Plan.  As part of the implementation process, Omaha by Design is currently working toward the passage of urban design regulations that will legally hold development in Omaha to a higher standard.  Those regulations, however, are still being drafted.  Under current design regulations, the conditions Planning Director Steve Jensen and the Planning Board placed on the proposed Wal-Mart are the most rigorous that can be required at this time.

The Cornish Heights Neighborhood and Sisters of Mercy concerns about traffic, safety, lighting, storm water and hours of operation make a compelling argument for additional modifications to be made to the project.  As good neighbors and business owners Wal-Mart should strive to creatively resolve these issues to meet the needs of the community as well as the needs of the business.

Omaha by Design will continue to be involved in the process to make certain Wal-Mart meets each of the conditions outlined in the Planning Board’s decision before the application is forwarded on to the City Council.  Regardless of the Council’s ultimate decision on the proposed Wal-Mart, Omaha by Design will continue to move forward with the implementation of the Urban Design Element so that future development in Omaha will reflect our community’s values of high quality development and high quality of life for our residents.

Dr. Weber's Prepared Remarks

Members of the Planning Board:

Good afternoon, I am Del Weber, chancellor emeritus from the University of Nebraska at Omaha former president of the Omaha Community Foundation and co-chair of the Omaha by Design comprehensive urban design planning process.  I am here to testify today on behalf of the Omaha by Design, its Advisory Committee, donors, volunteers and hundreds of citizens who helped create the new Urban Design Element of Omaha's Master Plan.

Those of you who were members of this Board  and those of you  interested in Planning Board matters will recall the comments of the attorney representing Wal Mart  when it was seeking approval for its super center  at 132nd and Maple a couple of years ago.   The question to him was this:  Why is it that you can build an attractive store in Ft. Collins, Colorado, but you can’t do it here?    The attorney’s response was telling:  “Because Ft. Collins has strict design standards.  We build to design standards and the politics”.

It was those remarks that led to the formation of “Omaha by Design”.  Omaha by Design was and continues to be a partnership between the city and private supporters.  We formed a task force, hired a very capable consultant, with the result, that after one year, a new Urban Design Element was passed unanimously by both this planning board and the city council. That plan not only had the benefit of 30 persons who served as the project’s steering committee, but hundreds of citizens who participated, provided input and eventually gave their approval to it.  In short, the new element was a remarkable grassroots effort whose comprehensiveness, we are told, is unparalleled among American cities.

It is our hope to return to you, yet this year, with the changes in the city code that will provide the legal basis for implementing the recommendations of the Urban Design Element.

Ironically, we are here today because Wal-Mart, the same company, that was the catalyst for “Omaha by Design”, has not met the spirit and intent of the new element at their proposed 72nd street location.   Little has changed in the past two years.   It appears  that Wal-Mart intends to do only what is minimally necessary to build the new store at 72nd , in spite of the fact that 72nd street has been designated  as an” area of civic importance” and as such calls for special treatment.   

It is disappointing for those of us in Omaha, who worked very hard on our new Urban Design Element, to read an Omaha World Herald story about the new Wal-Mart store, in Pella, Iowa, in which Mr. Ryan Horn, who is also Wal-Mart’s spokesman in Omaha, was quoted as follows: 
  
“The city cared very, very much about this one particular aspect of the store development and that was the Dutch architecture, and we knew that would be the case.  We anticipated that, and that’s why we came forward with this kind of unique design.”

Now, we are not suggesting that we want the same design as Pella, Iowa or even of Fort Collins, Colorado which has been noted so much in the media.  But what we are suggesting is that Omahans also care about their architectural design. Architectural design is something that affects everyone in the city, all who drive by the site, not just those who shop there. W hat we want is for Wal-Mart to step up as a community minded citizen and build to the values that our citizens hold for their city.  In the final analysis our concerns are more about the Omaha of the future and the Omaha its citizens want than they are about Wal-Mart.

Members of the Board, Wal-Mart has shown they can meet the values expressed in other cities.  They can do it, also, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Omaha by Design is focusing on one issue regarding Wal-Mart’s proposed super center.  It is the urban design issue which is our mission! That is not to suggest that issues being made by other groups regarding the 24 hour store, traffic congestion, zoning changes, and drainage issues should be left unaddressed by the Planning Board.

We have not endorsed the Wal-Mart plan and will not endorse the design until significant changes are made.  We support the City planning department efforts to date and their request for the latest suggested changes which we think are minimal in meeting Omaha’s comprehensive plan.    In that support, we reserve the right to withhold final judgment until we have the opportunity to review the proposed changes as outlined in the Planning Director's recommendation report, especially those related to the areas along 72nd Street – the retaining walls and landscape, the enhancements of the Pine Street entrance for the building and for pedestrians, quality materials, appropriate monument signs, and parking lot landscape that will actually survive in the sea of asphalt. 

We believe that Wal-Mart’s opportunities can be enhanced by consideration of the changes being proposed. This site with a well designed, pedestrian oriented building could help set the standard for large retail commercial developments rather than simply modify an existing suburban model.  In so doing it would demonstrate Wal-Mart’s civic concern and support of the new vision of Omaha.

Accordingly, we ask that the Planning Board lay this matter over until the proposed changes are made and can be reviewed appropriately.