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Blair Comprehensive Plan 2015BLAIR, NE Comprehensive Plan Project #: 130557.00 Adopted: October 13, 2015 2 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CITY COUNCIL Mayor James Realph Kevin Hall Ward 1 Dr. Ben Hansen Ward 3 Chris Jensen Ward 1 Kevin Willis Ward 3 Brad Andersen Ward 2 Marty Shepard Ward 4 Frank Wolff Ward 2 Jon Stewart Ward 4 PLANNING COMMISSION Robert Boettcher, Chair Doug Cook Henry Neef Nate Dougherty Joe Peleska Don Hansen Kenneth Rhoades Robert Krogh Robert Tichota STEERING COMMITTEE Brad Andersen City Council Bob Johnson Citizen Dr. Ben Hansen City Council Steve Lacey Citizen Chris Jensen City Council Jake Loftis Citizen Jon Stewart City Council Emery Lounsberry Citizen Kevin Willis City Council Wyman Nelson Citizen Doug Cook Planning Commission Sean Johnson Gateway Development Corp. Nate Dougherty Planning Commission Rex Pfeil Blair Community Schools Bob Krogh Planning Commission Jordan Rishel Chamber of Commerce Brian Brown Citizen Rod Storm City Administrator Steve Callaghan Citizen Phil Green Asst. City Administrator Chris Chikos Citizen Brenda Wheeler City Clerk Shelly Jones Planning Commission Sec. PLANNING CONSULTANTS - JEO CONSULTING GROUP, INC. Jeffrey B. Ray, AICP Planning Department Manager Dave Potter Senior Planner Kevin Andersen Planner-in-Charge Tonya Carlson Planner Michael Gilligan Planner Phil Luebbert Planner Clint Sloss Planner PLANNING SUB-CONSULTANTS - HDR, INC. Douglas Bisson, AICP Community Planning Manager Andrew Gorham, ASLA Landscape Architect Troy Henningson, RLA, ASLA Landscape Architect 4 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE TABLE OF CONTENTS 12345 INTRODUCTION PROFILE BLAIR ENVISION BLAIR ACHIEVE BLAIR IMPLEMENT BLAIR BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 5 130 148 150 150 154 98 99 106 114 78 78 88 16 16 25 31 36 54 58 62 10 12 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.2 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE 1.3 HOUSING PROFILE 1.4 ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT 1.5 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND UTILITIES 1.6 EXISTING LAND USE 1.7 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 1.8 ENERGY ELEMENT 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.2 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT 1.3 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 4.1 INTRODUCTION 4.2 FUTURE LAND USE 4.3 TRANSPORTATION PLAN 4.4 URBAN DESIGN 5.1 VISION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 5.2 IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS 5.3 ANNEXATION 5.4 PLAN MAINTENANCE 5.5 CRITICAL ISSUES 1.1 CITY OVERVIEW 1.2 THE PURPOSE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING 6 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1 Blair Historic Population 17 FIGURE 2 Historic Growth Comparison 18 FIGURE 3 Selected Demographic Comparisons 19 FIGURE 4 Blair 2010 Age Cohort 20 FIGURE 5 2010 Population Composition Comparisons 21 FIGURE 6 Blair Age Cohort Trends 2000-2010 22 FIGURE 7 Blair Race/Ethnicity Characteristics 23 FIGURE 8 Blair Population Projections 24 FIGURE 9 Blair Housing Stock Ages 25 FIGURE 10 Blair Housing Trends 1990-2010 26 FIGURE 11 Blair 2010 Occupancy Tenure 27 FIGURE 12 Blair 2012 Owner-Occupied Unit Value 27 FIGURE 13 Blair 2012 Household Income 28 FIGURE 14 Blair 2012 Owner Housing Costs 29 FIGURE 15 Blair 2012 Renter Housing Costs 30 FIGURE 16 Blair 2000-2012 Employment 31 FIGURE 17 Blair 2012 Employment by Occupation Type 32 FIGURE 18 Blair 2012 Commuting Times 33 FIGURE 19 Blair City Taxable Sales 34 FIGURE 20 Blair Pull Factor 35 FIGURE 21 2014-2015 School Enrollment 43 FIGURE 22 Blair School District Map 44 FIGURE 23 Regional Post-Secondary Institutions 45 FIGURE 24 Fire District Map 46 FIGURE 25 Existing Land Use Map 57 FIGURE 26 Wellhead Protection Areas Map 59 FIGURE 27 Floodplain Map 61 FIGURE 28 OPPD Service Area Map 64 FIGURE 29 Energy Sources in OPPD’s Generation Mix 65 FIGURE 30 Electricity Consumption by End-Use Sector 67 FIGURE 31 Average Home Heat Loss 67 FIGURE 32 Nebraska Energy Consumption and Cost 68 FIGURE 33 Wind Capacity Additions Per Year 68 BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 7 LIST OF FIGURES (CONT.) FIGURE 34 Wind Power Density 70 FIGURE 35 Global Solar Radiation at Latitude-Tilt - Annual 72 FIGURE 36 Future Land Use Map 105 FIGURE 37 Transportation Map 107 FIGURE 38 Trails Map 111 LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 Service Providers for the city of Blair 49 TABLE 2 Radio Stations Available in Blair 49 TABLE 3 Broadcast Television Stations Available in Blair 49 TABLE 4 Floodplain Section Diagram 60 TABLE 5 Blair Electrical Consumption by Sector in kWh 66 TABLE 6 Blair Electrical Expenditures by Sector in Dollars 66 8 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 9 1.1 CITY OVERVIEW 1.2 THE PURPOSE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING 1[INTRODUCTION] 10 12 10 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 1[INTRODUCTION] [section 1.1] CITY OVERVIEW The city of Blair is centrally located in Washington County along the eastern border of Nebraska. The city also serves as the county seat. The city is well located along various transportation routes, approximately 20 miles north of the city of Omaha. State and Federal Highways 133, 30, 75, and 91 confluence within the Blair corporate limits. Designated as a City of the First Class, Blair had a total population of 7,990 as of the 2010 census. History Blair was established when the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad chose to cross the Missouri River at that location. A 1,075-acre tract of land was purchased and platted, with lots to be sold at auction on May 10, 1869. The entire tract was purchased by John I. Blair, an official of the railroad, who announced his plans for the city, which he named for himself. Front Street quickly took shape. Many businesses and several churches were hauled overland from the former town sites to supplement those being built. In a short time there were hardware, implement, and dry goods stores, a hotel, a bank, and a newspaper. A town board was formed in August. Before the end of the year, the town called for an election to relocate the county seat, which at that time was in Fort Calhoun. Blair won, and a brick courthouse was erected at 19th and Grant. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 11 BL A I R Construction was also progressing on the rail line. Before a railroad bridge was built across the Missouri, freight cars were pushed onto barges on one side of the river, then pulled off on the other. Since the engines did not cross the river, a roundhouse to service them was built north of town. When the bridge was completed in 1882, that facility was dismantled and servicing was done in Iowa. Local brickyards turned out 1,500,000 bricks per year to meet the demands of the city’s rapid development. In 1884 the community, predominantly Danish, raised $3,000 in matching funds and appropriated several acres of land on which to establish a “folk school.” The forerunner of Dana College, Trinity Seminary was housed in a home until the impressive, four-story main building was dedicated in 1886. By then a city water system was in place, and South Creek, dug out by men with hand shovels, had been straightened to improve the drainage on south side of town. A public high school was constructed before the turn of the century.1 Blair was incorporated as a city in 1872. Geography Blair is located at 41°32’44”N 96°8’4”W. According to the US Census the city has a total area of 5.51 square miles, of which, 5.49 square miles is land and 0.02 square miles is water. The elevation is 1089 feet. The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) designation is Section 12, Township 18 North, Range 11 East of the Sixth Principal Meridian, Washington County.2 The Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area contains the Blair community. A Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is an important delineation of an urban region. An MSA, as defined by the United States Census, is an area containing a core area with a substantial population (at least 50,000) nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core. Climate Much like the greater Midwest and surrounding communities, Blair experiences varying temperatures throughout the year. The average annual temperature ranges from highs of 87 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to lows of 11 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. The average annual precipitation in rainfall equals 30.23 inches with the highest average rainfall per month in June.3 Governmental and Jurisdictional Organization The Blair City Council, which is a board of elected officials including the Mayor, performs the governmental functions for the city. 1http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/washington/blair/ 2http://www.blairnebraska.org/2030/About-the-City-of Blair3uscclimatedata.com 12 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE The City may enforce zoning and subdivision regulations including building, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance codes within its jurisdiction. The planning and zoning jurisdiction is pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 19-901 through § 19-933 (reissue 1997) includes all of the incorporated portions of the city, including an established extraterritorial jurisdiction of one mile. [section 1.2] THE PURPOSE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING The Blair Comprehensive Plan is a legal document that addresses the city’s land use and is designed to promote orderly growth and development. This document’s purpose is to “promote health, safety, morals, or the general welfare of the community.” The Comprehensive Plan presents data from multiple sources, such as public input and the United State Census Bureau to provide policy guidelines for elected officials to make informed decisions. The Comprehensive Plan acts as a tool to develop a road map or blueprint that guides the community through change as it occurs tomorrow and twenty years from now. The Blair Comprehensive Plan aims to provide guidelines for the locations of any future development within the planning jurisdiction of Blair. This update will assist in evaluating the impacts of development, including economic, social, fiscal, and service, and encourage appropriate land uses throughout Blair’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The Plan assists the city in balancing the physical, social, economic, and aesthetic features as it responds to private sector interests. Planned growth will help Blair prepare for its own management of resources as well as coordinating with further development in Washington County. The City of Blair strives to maintain the high standard of living and quality of life when serving its residents and managing growth and resources. The Planning Process Comprehensive Planning begins with the data collection phase. The Profile Section depicts historical and current data that represents demographic information from the American Community Survey estimates and bicentennial Census from the United States Census Bureau. Additional data are obtained from city staff, public input, state agencies, and field data collection. Data collected provides a snapshot of the past and present conditions of Blair. Analysis of data provides the basis for developing forecasts for future land-use demands in the city. The second phase, Envision, of the planning process is the basis for development of general goals and objectives based upon the issues facing the community and its stakeholders via public input. The Comprehensive Plan is a vision that represents the desires of the city for the future. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 13 BL A I R The Blair Comprehensive Plan represents a blueprint designed to identify, assess, and develop actions and policies in the areas of population, land use, transportation, housing, economic development, community facilities, and utilities. The Comprehensive Plan contains recommendations that, when implemented, will be of value to the city of Blair and its residents. Implementation is the final phase of the process. A broad range of development policies and programs are required to implement the Comprehensive Plan. The Blair Comprehensive Plan identifies the tools, programs, and methods necessary to fulfill the recommendations. Nevertheless, the implementation of the development strategies contained within the Comprehensive Plan is dependent on the adoption of the plan by the governing body, and the leadership exercised by the present and future elected and appointed officials of the city. Comprehensive Plan Components Nebraska State Statutes require the inclusion of certain elements in any Comprehensive Plan. Those elements are contained within the format of the Blair Comprehensive Plan, comprised of the following Components: • Introduction • Profile Blair • Envision Blair • Achieve Blair • Implement Blair Analyzing past and existing demographic, housing, economic, and social trends permit the projection of likely conditions in the future. Projections and forecasts are useful tools in planning for the future; however, these tools are not always accurate and may change due to unforeseen factors. It is important for Blair to monitor its population, housing, and economic conditions that may impact the city. This includes the surrounding development and available utilities in Washington County. Through periodic monitoring, the city can adapt and adjust to regional and local changes. Having the ability to adapt to external change allows the city to maintain an effective Comprehensive Plan for the future, to enhance quality of life, and to raise the standard of living for all Blair residents. 14 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 15 2.1 INTRODUCTION 2.2 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE 2.3 HOUSING PROFILE 2.4 ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT 2.5 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND UTILITIES 2.6 EXISTING LAND USE 2.7 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 2.8 ENERGY ELEMENT 2[PROFILE BLAIR] 16 16 25 31 36 54 58 62 16 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2[PROFILE BLAIR] [section 2.1] INTRODUCTION Profile Blair is the foundation of the community’s effort to achieve its physical, social, and economic goals. The Profile Chapter includes data regarding Blair’s demographics, housing, local economy, public facilities and utilities, energy consumption, natural and environmental conditions, existing land use, and transportation infrastructure. [section 2.2] DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE The Demographics section examines previous trends that have affected Blair’s development. The city’s population is influenced by multiple factors. These factors include its historical growth trend, age structure, migration patters, and race characteristics. The current composition of a community also affects future growth potential. Population is heavily influenced by housing and economic opportunities. Population growth is necessitated by a growing local economy and matching housing opportunities. http://blairnebraska.com/ BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 17 PR O F I L E Population trends allow a community to understand how it has grown. The relationship between a community’s recent growth with how it has historically grown is an important facet of population projections. More recent trends influence immediate needs and future decisions. The relationship between historic growth and recent trends assist in long-term decision making. For the past century, Blair has never seen a decade resulting in population loss. The rapid growth of the “baby boomer” era has given way to steady growth trends over the past 30 years. The main goal of the comprehensive planning process will be to provide Blair leaders tools to encourage and manage this level of growth for the foreseeable future. Figure 1: Blair Historic Population 18 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Comparing Blair’s growth with comparable cities gives context to its growth and currently population. Comparable cities are selected on factors such as proximity, current population, and geographic situation. For the past 40 years, Blair’s growth rate has exceeded that of its comparable cities. Figure 2: Historic Growth Comparison BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 19 PR O F I L E Regional population factors are in indication of the overall condition and sustainability of local growth trends. By maintaining steady growth, Blair can ensure the benefits of increased population, while still providing quality service to residents, both current and future. In most factors, Blair finds itself in the median of the selected population characteristics. With a higher estimated poverty rate and lower homeownership rate among its contemporaries, Blair must continue to work for economic progress to support a high quality of life in the community. Providing additional economic opportunities will encourage the upward mobility of current residents as well as a strong attraction for a skilled labor pool. Figure 3: Selected Demographic Comparisons 20 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Age structure analysis portrays a snapshot of the current population of a community by its age groups. It also serves as a baseline for future population projections by allowing the viewer to track age groups through time weighed against area birth, mortality, and migration rates. With peak population points in the younger age groups, Blair is positioned to see natural population growth through time. The youngest age groups will be served by child care facilities and the local school district. An annual evaluation of the capacity in these areas will help maintain a continued attraction from young families. Another large component of the population lies in the age groups of 45 to 65 (baby boomers). Blair must work to serve that population as their needs change with age. Currently the oldest segment of population is well represented as a share of Blair’s total population. Typically these age groups are attracted to and retained in the community by specialized health care services like hospitals, skilled care facilities, and special needs housing. Analyses should be given to gauge the capacity for growth in these areas. Figure 4: Blair 2010 Age Cohort BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 21 PR O F I L E Comparing the age composition of the region allows for the evaluation of the relationship between local and regional growth. With a median age of 36 in 2010, Blair skews younger than most Nebraska communities. Slightly lower than even comparable communities, the low median age in Blair is an indication of the prevalence of young families in the community. The local economy and proximity to Omaha create good economic opportunities for young families. When making residential location decisions, young families are often attracted to areas of high quality of life and childhood education. City and school district leadership should prioritize a partnership to ensure these factors to support population growth. Figure 5: 2010 Population Composition Comparisons 22 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE A steady increase in median age from 2000 to 2010 can be deceiving due to some of the considerable changes in age breakdown in the Blair community. Slight increases in the youngest two cohorts are offset by large increases in the baby boomer age groups. Coinciding with the increase in residents under the age of ten are increases in the young adult age groups, likely to be the corresponding parents. Figure 6: Blair Age Cohort Trends 2000-2010 BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 23 PR O F I L E Blair is a fairly uniform community in terms of racial and ethnic diversity. The 2010 Census reports that 96.4% of the community’s population was white. This number decreased by a percentage point since 2000, but still represents a significant majority of the racial makeup of Blair. No other single race equates to more than a percentage point of the population distribution. However, those reporting the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity increased to 2.8% of the total population, up one and one-half since 2000. Figure 7: Blair Race/Ethnicity Characteristics 24 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE The population projection shown in Figure 8 represents the results of an age cohort analysis. Natural birth and death rate averages are factored into each five-year age cohort for both genders. This natural growth rate is compared to the migration trends reported for age groups by the 2010 U.S. Census. Each analysis is carried forward over each five-year period covered by the 20-year planning period. The analysis suggests that if current trends continue, Blair would receive steady growth rates over each five-year period. However, the realization of these trends are largely determined by the availability of jobs within the region and housing opportunities within Blair’s corporate limits. Blair will have the ability to encourage or discourage this growth trend by its ability to provide adequate housing for new population growth. Figure 8: Blair Population Projections BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 25 PR O F I L E Mirroring Blair’s historic patterns of population growth is the development of its housing stock. The community offers a diverse housing stock in terms of age. Almost 40% of the households in the community were constructed after 1980, making the households less than 35 years old. A diverse housing stock is an essential element for community development. Housing choice provides quality ownership and renter opportunities for families and individuals of all socio-economic standing. Figure 9: Blair Housing Stock Ages [section 2.3] HOUSING PROFILE Housing is a key component to future growth and opportunities available within and around communities. The snapshot of Blair’s housing reports that the community contains a substantial inventory of housing built prior to the 1940’s. An older housing stock is one that dictates a higher level of maintenance and programming to keep housing inventory at an appropriate quality. Relatively low vacancy rates and high housing prices indicate a high level of demand for housing in the community. 26 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Blair has closely followed the national trend of an increasing population while family and household size decline. This increases demand on housing development as less population is served in each household. An increasing amount of housing is required to support even a flat population growth trend. A community growing like Blair experiences exponential increase in housing demand. Blair’s relatively low vacancy rate – 2.4% in 2010 - among owner-occupied units showcases the demand for new housing development in the area. Again echoing national trends the percentage of owner-occupied units of all occupied housing units has decreased slightly. In 1990 69.1% of occupied units were owner- occupied. In 2010, that number decreased to 66.8%. In other words, approximately two- thirds of occupied units in Blair are owner-occupied. The other third are renter-occupied units. Figure 10: Blair Housing Trends 1990-2010 BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 27 PR O F I L E Steady population growth and a well-maintained, diverse housing stock have kept home values high in Blair. The estimated median home value in Blair in 2012 was $144,800, or $18,100 above the median value of Nebraska –statewide. Comparing home values with household income levels offers a good indication of the overall economic quality of life in a community. Blair’s relatively high median income is also supported by high home values. Figure 11: Blair 2010 Occupancy Tenure Figure 12: Blair 2012 Owner-Occupied Unit Value 28 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE The distribution of Blair’s population into income levels as well as income source is displayed in Figure 13. Blair’s median household income of $56,946 is well supported by the distribution of population in higher income levels. Over 57.1% of Blair households have income levels at, or above that of the Nebraska median household income of $50,723 in 2012. Showing a high level of income independence, over three-quarters of households in Blair receive their income from earnings, rather than public assistance or personal retirement savings. Figure 13: Blair 2012 Household Income BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 29 PR O F I L E The relationship between income and housing is further explored in Figures 14 and 15. The U.S. Census defines monthly housing costs as the total cost of owning or renting a home; mortgage (rent), taxes, insurance, and utility costs. A monthly housing costs in excess of 35% of household median income is considered to be a burden to the household. Of owners, the median monthly cost of ownership was $1,315 in 2012. This represents less than 1% of the estimated median home value and 27.7% of the monthly median household income in the same year. 63.2% of households in Blair pay less than 25% of their household income on housing costs. Any additional household income is beneficial to the community. It is assumed that income not spent on housing can be applied towards savings and other, more discretionary income that can benefit the community. Having such a high percentage of households well below the burden level, is a positive indicator for the economic potential of the community. Figure 14: Blair 2012 Owner Housing Costs 30 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE The monthly housing cost of renters paints a different picture in Blair. Nearly 50% of renter households in Blair can be considered to be carrying a housing burden based on their household income levels. Ideally, rental households in a community should be committing much less of their income on housing expenses. There are many benefits for home ownership including accumulation of wealth via an appreciable asset. High homeownership rates also provide stability to residential neighborhoods. In order to make the transition from renting to home ownership, residents must accumulate savings. Such a high ratio of housing expenses compared to household income make the savings process very difficult. Quality and affordable rental opportunities can be a large asset for a community. On average, the median monthly housing costs for renters exceeded $675 in 2012. Figure 15: Blair 2012 Renter Housing Costs BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 31 PR O F I L E [section 2.4] ECONOMY & EMPLOYMENT The connectivity to, and within, the Omaha MSA creates a wide range of employment opportunities to Blair residents. Blair itself is representative of a diverse local economy. The largest employment sector includes educational services, health care, and social assistance jobs. While 2012 Census data likely does not reflect the true impact of the Dana College closing in 2010, this still represents the largest employment sector, with almost 1,000 total employees. However, the three next largest employment sectors still contain over 400 employees each; • Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services • Transportation and warehousing, and utilities • Manufacturing All four of the top employment sectors experienced growth since 2000. The following sectors experienced losses during the timeframe: • Construction • Wholesale trade • Retail trade • Information • Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services • Other services, except public administration • Public administration Figure 16: Blair 2000-2012 Employment by Industry 32 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Figure 17: Blair 2012 Employment by Occupation Type Figure 17 illustrates the types of jobs currently held by Blair residents. The employment by occupation type is largely centered on Management, Business, Science and Arts. The large majority of Blair residents work in professional, office settings. A smaller segment of the population is employed in trades positions such as construction, manufacturing, and/or logistics. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 33 PR O F I L E Figure 18: Blair 2012 Commuting Times The location of Blair within the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area influences the commuting pattern of Blair’s workforce. The majority of the working population, almost 60%, works in or around Blair – commuting less than 15 minutes. However, a significant portion of the population commutes 30 minutes or more – many of whom are likely to be working in Omaha. This relationship has many benefits, the greatest of which is that it allows Blair residents to maximize their earning potential with access to many more employment opportunities than could be supported by Blair alone. One downside is that the commuting population tends to spend a greater portion of their income outside of their resident community. A higher number of commuters generally have an impact on retail leakage to outside sources. One advantage Blair can claim in this area is that it also has a large economic destination in automobile sales. Auto sales in Blair have created an agglomeration economy. An agglomeration economy is one that locates similar industries in close geographic proximity in order to take advantage of pooled resources; infrastructures, suppliers, and/or customers. The auto sales draw has a lot of spillover benefits to the community in attracting outside customers within the community. 34 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Figure 19: Blair City Taxable Sales As a city, Blair recovered well from a five-year recession, with taxable sales increasing nearly 20% from 2011 to 2012. This period also coincides with the opening of the Walmart Supercenter on Highway 30. The community utilized its resources more efficiently, posting a $2,500 increase in sales tax per capita during the same period. During the 10-year period of 2004 to 2013, Blair’s net taxable sales increased 30.0%. The national rate of inflation (Consumer Price Index) increased 23.3% during the same ten year period. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 35 PR O F I L E Figure 20: Blair Pull Factor A city’s pull factor is a measure of the amount of dollars being spent within the city compared to being spent outside of the city – whether by residents or visitors of that particular city. The pull factor is a measure of the share of the overall market a city owns compared to other opportunities in the region. A pull factor of 1.0 means an equal amount is being spent within the city than outside of it. A pull factor greater than 1.0, or positive pull, indicates that more dollars are being spent within the city than outside of it. A pull factor of less than 1.0, or a negative pull, indicates a leakage of dollars being spent within the city. The pull factor trend line indicated in Figure 20 is a measure of Blair’s pull factor. During the ten-year period from 2004 to 2013, Blair experienced volatility in pull factor, finally peaking in 2012, coinciding with a respective increase in city taxable sales and sales per capita. Blair can continue to maintain a high retention of taxable sales by continuing to retain local business from Blair residents as well as provide unique retail options to attract outside shoppers into the community. The presence of several large-scale automobile dealerships provides an opportunity to do just that. While auto sales do not account for local sales tax, their presence in the community provides a powerful draw from regional shoppers, allowing other local retailers to draw from the traffic. 36 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 2.5] COMMUNITY FACILITIES & UTILITIES Public Facilities and Utilities State and local governments provide a number of services for their citizens. The people, buildings, equipment and land utilized in the process of providing these services are referred to as public facilities. Public facilities represent a wide range of buildings, utilities, and services that are provided and maintained by the different levels of government. These facilities are provided to insure the safety, well-being and enjoyment of the residents of a jurisdiction, in this case, the city of Blair. Facilities and services provide city residents with social, cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities, as well as law enforcement and fire protection services designed to meet the public need. It is important for all levels of government to anticipate the future demand for their goods and services if they are to remain strong and vital. The first step is to evaluate the ability of the city to meet existing and future demand while determining the level of services that will need to be provided. The analyses of existing facilities as well as the future demand for services are contained in this section. Alternatively, in some instances, there are a number of services not provided by the local or state governments but are provided by non-governmental, private or non-profit organizations for the community. These organizations are equally important providers of services to the community and therefore should not be overlooked. Community Facilities The Community Facilities component of the Blair Comprehensive Plan reviews present capacities of all public and private facilities and services. This section evaluates the current demands and accepted standards to determine whether capacity is adequate, as well as determine what level of service is required to meet future demands within the planning period. Finally, recommended improvements for community facilities and services that are not adequate for present or future needs are provided. The Community Facilities for Blair are divided into the following categories: • Parks and Recreational Facilities • Educational Facilities • Fire and Police Protection • City Buildings • Communication Facilities • Public Utilities • Health Facilities Parks and Recreational Facilities Blair is a community well-endowed with active parks space and passive open space that directly contribute to its touted quality of life. The existing park system is distributed throughout the community and well connected by either existing or planned trails. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 37 PR O F I L E “City parks can vary greatly in both size and the extent of features within them. To better analyze how a community’s parks serve its needs, categories have been determined for different types of parks. The categories are based upon a park’s size, features and purpose.”1 The Blair Parks Master Plan and Trails Update identifies four typologies of parks within the community. The plan also cites that school yards and other more private uses may also function as active park-space. Pocket Parks & Urban Plazas Pocket parks are generally one acre or less, and are often created to serve a special use of specific purpose. These types of parks often include more intensive landscape plantings, seating areas, and decorative lighting. They are not intended for active recreation, but instead for passive recreation or commemoration of historic events. Pocket parks and urban plazas are often placed in highly visible locations to serve as focal points for a community. Examples of pocket parks and urban plazas in Blair are: • Blair Mini-Park • Veteran’s Tribute Plaza Neighborhood Parks Neighborhood parks are typically 5 acres or less in size and are intended to serve residents who live within a ½ mile radius of the park. These parks often include playground equipment, open areas for informal play, green space, and picnic facilities. Other features that may occur within neighborhood parks may include splash pads, skate parks, specialty gardens or other types of park improvements that may draw visitors from a larger portion of a community. Examples of neighborhood parks in Blair are: • Rhoades Park • Ridgeview Park • Stemmermann Park Community Parks Community parks are typically larger than 10 acres and primarily serve residents who live within a one-mile radius of the park. Community parks often include unique features that serve portions of, or an entire community. Examples of these unique features include a larger park containing a community’s swimming pool, indoor ice rink facility, or community center. Community parks often have features that attract people to travel a longer distance from home to these parks. Examples of community parks in Blair are: • Black Elk-Neihardt Park • Optimists Park • Ralph Steyer Park 1Blair Parks Master Plan and Trails Update; adopted February 2015, Big Muddy Workshop, Inc. 38 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Special Use Parks Parks classified as “special use parks” serve unique needs of a community. This type of park doesn’t neatly fit within the other park categories that are based on size and service radius. Special use parks serve community-wide needs but may only attract a smaller percentage of the overall community to them. Community campgrounds, equestrian facilities, and sports complexes are examples of special use parks. Examples of special use parks in Blair are: • Bob Hardy RV Park • Veterans’ Memorial Ball Field Below is a short inventory of existing park and recreation amenities in Blair. In February, 2015 the city adopted a Parks Master Plan and Trail Update, providing a detailed parks inventory and documenting recommended improvements to the local park and trail system. The following is a summary of the parks and recreation inventory2: Blair Mini-Park The Mini-park is located at the west end of downtown at the intersection of Washington Street (US 30) and North 19th Street (US 75). It provides an attractive focal point for motorists passing through the community on either highway and helps reinforce the attitude that Blair is a progressive community with a high quality of life. Black Elk – Neihardt Park Black Elk – Neihardt Park at 80 acres is Blair’s largest park with, a unique history and a series of major public art features. The park includes the iconic “Tower of the Four Winds” and four interpretive pedestals that include tile artwork that interprets the writings of author John G. Neihardt. The park is located near the city’s current western boundary, along a series of ridgelines that provide visitors with broad, sweeping views of the area’s rolling topography. Most of the park is maintained in a natural state. Two paved loop trails exist in the park. A number of natural surface mowed trails exist throughout the park. These trails connect to the paved trails providing visitors with additional hiking opportunities. The park’s dramatic changes in elevation create challenges in providing accessibility to all the park’s features. The park is a site within the Blair Community Arboretum system and contain a small playground and nine- hole disc golf course. Blair has a rich horticultural heritage that is unmatched in most other Nebraska communities. Ralph Steyer, a former city parks employee, planted a wide variety of trees and shrubs within Blair’s park system. The park named in Mr. Steyer’s honor contains a wide variety of plant species and is one of three recognized sites of the Blair Community Arboretum. The Blair Community Arboretum is unique because it is comprised of five sites owned by three different organizations. Black Elk - Neihardt Park, Ralph Steyer Park, and Rhoades Park are owned by the city of Blair. Arbor Park Middle School is owned by Blair Community Schools. The former Dana Campus is owned by Midland University, in Fremont. Blair Community Arboretum 2Blair Parks Master Plan and Trails Update; adopted February 2015, Big Muddy Workshop, Inc. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 39 PR O F I L E Bob Hardy RV Park Bob Hardy RV Park provides visitors to Blair with a place to camp, using either recreation vehicles (RV) or tents. The park is located just northwest of downtown at North 19th (US 75) and Nebraska Streets, on the site of a former city ballfield. The concession stand building for the former ballfield was converted to a restroom and shower house building when the campground was constructed. Cauble Creek Park When the City purchased right-of-way for the section of the Cauble Creek Trail between Hansen and College Drives, it purchased a small irregularly shaped lot that extends south of College Drive, just west of North 24th Street. This lot includes a section of the creek plus a flat area to the west. Currently the trail runs through this property, and there are a number of mature trees scattered throughout the property and along the creek. Lions Park Lions Park is a classic neighborhood park with a large number of features. It is located just north of downtown and serves as a community gathering space. A historic railroad depot was relocated to the park’s southeast corner, and restored for use by the community. The depot can be rented for public and private events. A large deck surrounds the depot, providing a spill-out space from the interior spaces during nice weather. The deck on the depot’s north side is wider and serve as a stage for open-air music performances. Two additional open-air picnic shelters provide covered space for events. A playground and five horseshoe pits are located near the center of the park. Large shade trees create a pleasant “city square” setting. The Deerfield Lions Park Trail begins in the park, extending to Blair’s northwest neighborhoods. Optimists Park Optimists Park is Blair’s connection to the historic and storied Missouri River. The park provides boater access to the Missouri River and allows visitors to enjoy sweeping views of its waters. The Jackson Street Trail will soon connect the park to the community, providing multi-modal access to the park. When developed in the future, the California Bend site immediately north of the park will provide visitors access to 185 acres of natural lands and riverbank fishing opportunities. Ralph Steyer Park Ralph Steyer Park is an iconic city park serving the entire community. The Blair city swimming pool is located within the park. The swimming pool was constructed in the 1930’s as a WPA project and renovated in 1999. Steyer Park includes two large picnic 40 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE shelters, two playgrounds, a skateboard park and an expansive amount of green space with scattered picnic sites. The park is one of the sites within the Blair Community Arboretum. Rhoades Park Rhoades Park is located on the southeast corner of South 19th Street (US 75) and South Street. The highway makes a slight curve by the park, making the park’s green lawns and trees visually prominent to motorists. The Steyer Park Trail runs along the south edge of the park, ending at the intersection of Davis Drive and 19th Street. A metal pedestrian bridge spans the creek, from the trail to the park. Ridgeview Park Ridgeview Park provides sweeping views of the Missouri River Valley. The park site was once a landfill that was later closed and covered with soil to create a ridge top park. Existing parking stalls allow visitors to enjoy views of the river valley without leaving their vehicles. The park includes a small playground and a loop walkway with a bench. Stemmermann Park Stemmermann Park is located next to the Blair Youth Sports Complex and provides recreational opportunities to sports complex visitors, as well as neighborhood residents. The City’s tennis courts in the park are used by Blair High School for practice and varsity play. The park’s open spaces are used for warm-up activities for teams playing on the nearby fields. Teams also use the park’s shelters for picnics and snack times. Veteran’s Memorial Ball Field Veteran’s Field is the home field for Blair’s American Legion baseball program. The facility is well-developed with little room for expansion. Veteran’s Tribute Plaza Veteran’s Tribute Plaza is located at the east end of downtown, at the intersection of Washington Street (US 30) and 13th Street (US 75). It provides an attractive focal point for motorists passing through the community on either highway, and commemorate the service and sacrifice that local residents made in the Unites States Military. The plaza is well developed and includes extensive landscape plantings, in addition to memorial plaques and flagpoles. The parking lot at the east end of the plaza is shared with the American Legion Club, and is used for the community farmer’s market that occurs during the summer months. The city of Blair furnishes limited facilities for the community’s organized sports, and does not provide any organized sports programs. The high school tennis team program uses Stemmermann Park’s courts; and American Legion baseball, the YMCA, and Blair Cubs baseball team uses Veteran’s Memorial Ball Field for some of their programs. The remainder of the city’s organized sports programs relies on non-city owned facilities to provide a venue for practice and games. Several private and non-profit organizations provide youth and adult sports programs in Blair. Because the Blair Cemetery and Parks Department does not have recreation program staff, the following groups effectively function as the community’s recreation program providers. The groups include: • Blair American Legion Baseball • Blair Cubs Baseball • Blair Little League • Blair Soccer Association • Blair Youth Football Association • Blair Youth Softball • Blair YMCA Local Sports Programming BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 41 PR O F I L E Trails Trails provide a dual-service as both an amenity for recreation as well as a viable transportation option. Trails can be best-served when well connected with residential subdivisions, employment centers, and other community facilities. The Blair Parks Master Plan & Trails Update, adopted in February 2015 provides a detailed inventory of the existing trail system components and recommended improvements. Six trails of community- wide significance have been completed. The following is a summary of the existing trail system components. 1. The Deerfield Lions Park Trail begins in the southeast corner of Lions Park and extends northwest, connecting Lions Park to Arbor Park Middle School, the new city library site, Deerfield Elementary, and two trailheads within the Deerfield Subdivision. 2. The Cauble Creek Trail begins at Nebraska and North 23rd Streets and extends west to Hansen Drive, before turning to follow Cauble Creek to US Highway 75. The trail crosses the highway and joins to the Deerfield Lions Park Trail. It provides students attending Deerfield Elementary an option to walk or ride their bicycles to school. Currently, trail visitors cross US 75 at the marked pedestrian crossing. 3. The Lincoln Highway Trail was constructed as a part of the reconstruction of US Highway 30, from Washington Street south to near the US 30 and NE 133 roundabout. This trail provides a non-motorized transportation option for residents to access the businesses along this retail and commercial corridor. 4. The Steyer Trail begins at Rhoades Park on South 19th Street, extends east to Veteran’s Memorial Ball Field and ends at South 13th Street. This trail passes along the northern edge of Ralph Steyer Park, between 18th and 16th Streets. 5. The fifth major trail project, which is unnamed, includes portions of several of the proposed trails, to create a continuous trail that begins at South Street and South 13th Street and runs south to Wilbur Street. The trail turns east and runs along Wilbur, passes the YMCA, and turns north then following South 10th Street to Grant Street. The Grant Street portion of the trail extends west to 11th and extends east ending at about 6th Street. 42 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 6. Jackson Street Trail is an incomplete trail that extends east form North 10th and Jackson Streets to the eastern edge of the Blair Cemetery. This trail runs along the southern edges of Stemmermann Park and the Youth Sports Complex. A portion of trail was completed along 10th Street between Washington and Nebraska Streets, leaving two two-block segments required to connect the Jackson Street Trail to the South 10th Street segment of trail that begins at Grant Street. Two additional trail projects are to be implemented in 2015. The first, a Safe Routes to School project, will improve safety of trail visitors crossing US 75 on the Cauble Creek Trail. A section of trail will be added, allowing people to cross US 75 at the traffic signal at Deerfield Boulevard. This will enhance the trail’s attractiveness for both students and recreational trail visitors. The second, larger project will extend the Jackson Street Trial east to Optimist Park along the Missouri River. This trail project is tied to a number of other public works projects, which involve the replacement of the bridge over Fish Creek (Cameron Ditch) and flood- proofing the city’s water and wastewater treatment plants. When finished, this project creates a very important pedestrian and bicycle connection form the central portion of Blair to its eastern edge. Regional Attractions, Parks and Recreational Opportunities There are several other parks and outdoor recreational areas in the Blair area for residents and visitors to enjoy:3 • Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge › 3720 Rivers Way, Fort Calhoun, NE • Camp Fontanelle › 9677 County Rd 3, Fontanelle, NE • DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge › 1434 316th Ln, Missouri Valley, IA • Fort Atkinson State Historical Park › 201 S. 7th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE • Jackson’s Buffalo Farm › 2412 County Road 35, Omaha, NE • Pheasant Bonanza › 3097 County Road O, Tekamah, NE • Riverview Park › 10022 Riverside Lane, Blair, NE • Silvercreek Hill Vineyards & Winery › 3130 County Road M, Tekamah, NE • Skinny Bones: Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze › 3935 Hwy. 133 Blair, NE • Santa’s Woods › 3764 Hwy. 133 Blair, NE • Strohm Vineyards › 2207 County Road 45, Fort Calhoun, NE • Too Far North › 111 N. 14th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE • Washington County Historical Museum › 102 N 14th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE Golf Courses River Wilds Golf Club is an 18 hole, par 71 public course just north of Blair at 14002 US Highway 75. The Omaha Metro also provides several public and private courses for play within a short drive of the Blair community. 3http://blairnebraska.com: Attractions BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 43 PR O F I L E Educational Facilities Early Childhood Programs Blair Public Schools offers the “Blair Community Schools Early Childhood Preschool Program”. Located at 1653 Colfax, the program’s goal is to provide a high quality early childhood experience to prepare children for Kindergarten.4 Public Schools The Blair Public School system consists of seven schools throughout the community. Facilities include one high school, two middle schools, and five primary schools. The district offices are located at 2232 Washington Street. The district is well poised to serve population growth, with 2014-2015 enrollment at 77% of total design capacity for all facilities. Currently the middle school is the facility operating with the highest enrollment to capacity ratio. In the 2014-2015 school year, Otte Middle School was at 91% of designed capacity. The school system demonstrates the flexibility to shift enrollment grade levels at each facility to best-serve student population shifts. Figure 21: 2014-2015 School Year Enrollment and Capacity in Blair Public Schools School Name 2014-2015 Grade Levels 2015-2016 Grade Levels Enrollment Capacity Blair High School 9-12 9-12 709 900 Gerald Otte Blair Intermediate School 6-8 6-8 548 600 Blair Arbor Park School 4-5 3-5 351 500 Blair North Primary School K-3 K-2 169 198 Blair South Primary School K-3 K-2 172 176 Blair West School --81 154 Deerfield Primary School K-3 K-2 222 380 Total 2,252 2,908 4http://www.blairschools.org 44 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Figure 22: Blair School District Map BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 45 PR O F I L E Figure 23: Regional Post-Secondary Institutions Post-Secondary Education There are numerous educational opportunities in the Omaha, Lincoln, and regional areas for post-secondary education in just about any field of study. Below are a few of the larger enrollment institutions in close proximity of Blair offering a wide variety of disciplines for their students. Facility Location Full-Time Enrollment Miles from Blair University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE 12,073 21 Creighton University Omaha, NE 5,370 22 University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 2,815 22 Metropolitan Community College Omaha, NE 12,236 19 Bellevue University Bellevue. NE 7,139 30 Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA 5,344 26 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 20,702 70 Nebraska Wesleyan Lincoln, NE 2,072 64 Southeast Community College Lincoln, NE 6,591 88 Wayne State College Wayne, NE 2,780 84 Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE 2,343 89 Midland University Fremont, NE 1,288 23 Doane College Crete, NE 1,113 98 Fire and Police Protection Fire and Rescue The City of Blair is served by a volunteer fire and rescue department. The department has two districts served by independent stations; South Station is located at 16th and Lincoln Streets and North Station is located at 19th and Nebraska Streets. The Department leadership consists of officers of the following rank: • Fire Chief • 1st Assistant Chief • 2nd Assistant Chief • Four District Captains • Rescue Chief • Two District Rescue Captains • Cargill Liason 46 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Figure 24: Fire District Map BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 47 PR O F I L E Law Enforcement The city of Blair Police Department provides law enforcement and emergency service in the community. The Department currently consists of seventeen sworn officers. The Department office is located at 1730 Lincoln Street. The Department supports community safety with a number of support programs including; • Blair Area Crime Stoppers • Canine Program • Citizen Police Academy • Optimist Bicycle Rodeo • School Resource Officer Blair Animal Control and the Jeannette Hunt Animal Shelter are divisions of the Blair Police Department. Animal Control enforces city ordinances relating to animals. These ordinances prevent or minimize nuisances caused by improper or irresponsible care of animals. The Jeannette Hunt Animal Shelter promotes responsible pet ownership and the health and safety of the residents of Blair. The shelter provides temporary lodging and emergency veterinary care for lost or stray animals and opportunities for animal adoption. The shelter is located at 145 S. 4th Street.5 The Blair Police Department has a mutual aid agreement with the Washington County Sheriff. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department is located in the county courthouse at 1535 Colfax Street, Office 13. The Sheriff’s Department staffing is structured into five divisions with 47 full-time, six part-time employees, and four reserve deputies. The Sheriff’s office has a Chief Deputy, three Captains, one Lieutenant, four Sergeants, one Jail Sergeant, and four office employees. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department provides law enforcement outside of municipal corporate limits in Washington County, and by contract for smaller communities within the county.6 5http://www.blairpolice.org6http://www.washcountysheriff.org 48 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE City Buildings City Hall City Hall is located at 218 S. 16th Street. Offices located at City Hall include the Mayor’s Office, City Finance Department, City Supervisor/Building Inspector, and the Utility Department. City Hall also houses a large community room which the Blair City Council uses for meetings. The community room is used by various elected and appointed bodies for regular meetings and special events. City Hall is currently serving the needs of the community but as the city continues to grow so will its administrative needs. City Maintenance Facilities The city’s streets and utilities building is located on the east side of town, at 341 Grant Street. This building houses maintenance equipment and staff. Public Libraries The current Blair Public Library Building is located at 210 S. 17th Street. The facility is open to the public six days a week at various hours. A new library facility is planned for construction in the Deerfield addition in the northwest portion of the community. At this point the existing library building will be available to the city or put on the market for private purchase. The Blair Public Library is funded through tax dollars from the citizens of the city of Blair. To supplement the budget the library applies for federal and state grants and aid and receives gifts from civic groups and individuals.7 The Danish American Archive and Library is located at 1738 Washington Street, in downtown Blair. The Archive contains the country’s largest and broadest collection of materials relating to the life experience, cultural heritage and vital contributions to North America of the people of Danish extraction.8 7www.libraries.ne.gov/blair/about-us 8www.danishamericanarchive.net BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 49 PR O F I L E Service Providers Natural Gas Electric Cable Television Telephone Internet Water & Sewer Black Hills Energy X American Broadband X X X Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) X City of Blair X Communication and Utility Services Table 1: Service Providers for the City of Blair Table 2: Radio Stations Available in Blair Table 3: Broadcast Television Stations Available in Blair Strongest AM and FM Stations KKAR 1290 AM KFAB 1110 AM KOIL 1020 AM WHO 1040 AM WHB 810 AM KRVN 880 AM KKYY 101.3 FM KMLB 88.1 FM KGOR 99.9 FM KEZO 92.3 FM KDCV 91.1 FM KQKQ 98.5 FM KQCH 94.1 FM KIWR 89.7 FM KSRZ 104.5 FM KVNO 90.7 FM KEFM 96.1 FM KKCD 105.9 FM KBLR 97.3 FM KVSS 88.9 FM KIOS 91.5 FM KLTQ 101.9 FM KXKT 103.7 FM KRQC 93.3 FM KGBI 100.7 FM KFMT 105.5 FM Strongest Broadcast Stations KMTV: Channel 03 KETV: Channel 07 K68AV: Channel 68 KYNE: Channel 26 WOWT: Channel 06 KVSS: Channel 67 KUON: Channel 12 KPTM: Channel 42 KXVO: Channel 15 K21ES: Channel 21 K54EU: Channel 54 K61GA: Channel 61 KKAZ: Channel 24 KOHA: Channel 65 CITY CABLE: Channel 99 50 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Newspapers Listed below are the various newspapers serving the residents of Blair and surrounding area. • Omaha World Herald (daily) • Lincoln Journal Star (daily) • Washington County Enterprise and Pilot Tribune (weekly) Public Works The City of Blair currently provides the following public services to its residents: • Water treatment, distribution and storage • Sanitary sewer collection and treatment • Street maintenance The purpose of the Public Works Department is to promote and oversee the operation, construction, and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure. The Public Works Department is overseen by the Director of Public Works and Public Works Superintendent positions. These positions oversee both the Street Department and the Utilities Departments. The Street Department consists of six full-time staff; including one supervisor, one assistant supervisor, and four laborers. The Street Department is responsible for maintenance of more than 130 miles of streets.9 The Utilities Department consists of four full-time staff; including one supervisor. The Utilities Department oversees construction and maintenance activity for the city Water and Sewer systems. Water System The city of Blair currently owns and operates their public water system. The public water system consists of a surface water intake at the Missouri River, a lime-softening treatment facility with three clearwells, an elevated storage tank, two ground storage tanks and an integral distribution system serving the entire city of Blair and several private areas outside the corporate limits (including the Washington Country Rural Water System #2 which is operated by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (PMRNRD)). The water treatment facility is located at 742 Fairview Drive and the elevated water storage tank is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Highway 133 and County Road P26, one ground storage tank located in Black Elk Park and another ground storage tank located south of South 17th Avenue. The rated capacity of the water treatment facility is 20 million gallons per day (MGD). Currently, the water supply system for the city is capable of adequately supplying water to its consumers and has available capacity for growth. The plant is staffed by seven full-time staff; including one supervisor and six operators. The water treatment plant capacity is broken down to 15.5 MGD for Cargill Campus and 4.5 MGD for all other Blair water customers. Sewer Collection and Treatment The city of Blair owns and operates a sanitary collection system and wastewater treatment facility. The wastewater treatment plant is located at 850 Fairview Drive and consists of an activated sludge mechanical treatment facility. This includes a headworks structure with flow measurement, screening and a lift station, primary clarification, activated sludge 9http://www.blairnebraska.org/1302/Street-Department BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 51 PR O F I L E treatment basins, final clarification, chlorine contact disinfection and anaerobic sludge digestion. The plant is staffed by two full-time professionals; including one supervisor and one operator. The rated capacity of the wastewater treatment facility is approximately 2 million gallons per day (MGD). Currently, the wastewater treatment facility is operating at I MGD which is well under the original design conditions and has capacity for growth. Solid Waste Collection All residents living within the city limits are required to obtain solid waste services from a licensed Solid Waste Hauler. All Solid Waste Haulers removing waste from the city limits of Blair, including haulers who drop off and pick up dumpsters, are required to dispose of all waste in the Douglas County Landfill and obtain from the City Clerk’s office a Solid Waste Transporter’s License prior to collecting solid waste within the city limits of Blair. The Douglas County Landfill is located at 13505 N. 216th Street outside of Bennington. Below is a list of the current Solid Waste Haulers licensed in Blair: Residential & Commercial Haulers • Abe’s Trash Service, Inc. • Waste Connections, dba Papillion Sanitation • Weekly Pickup Service, Inc. Commercial Only Haulers • Waste Management of Nebraska Dumpster Haulers • ASAP Containers • Blair Roll Off Container Corp. • Clean Up Containers • Containers To Go • CSG Containers • Deffenbaugh Industries, Inc. • Got Trash? • Its Got To Go • MAC Containers, Inc. • McKinnis Roofing • Quality Containers, Inc. • R & J Haulaway, dba U-Fill-It • S2 Roll Offs, LLC 52 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Health Facilities One of Blair’s largest community assets is the availability of local medical services and facilities. The consensus from public input has been that most necessary medical services are available locally, limiting the number of trips outside the community for medical and health concerns. Hospital Memorial Community Hospital and Health System is located at 810 N. 22nd Street. The medical staff serves the residents of Washington and Burt counties by providing primary care services at the Blair Clinic, on the main campus, and through outreach clinics in surrounding communities. The Specialty Clinic hosts more than 30 physicians practicing in a wide range of specialties from allergies and asthma to urology and pulmonology. Surgical services are offered in orthopedics, ophthalmology, urology, podiatry, OB/GYN, ear nose and throat (ENT), and general surgery. Assisted Living Centers Assisted and senior living centers are a huge amenity for a community’s sustainability. Providing housing choice for retired, elderly, or handicapped individuals is vital to community growth of all ages. Carter Place › 1028 Joann Drive Carter Place offers assisted living, respite care, short-term stays, and urgent placement services. Professional nursing staff is on duty 24 hours per day. All staff receives ongoing education and training. Crowell Memorial Home › 245 S. 22nd Street Crowell Home is a Medicare/Medicaid certified facility offering full continuum care. Crowell Home houses a secured unit, 18 assisted living apartments, and eight independent living apartments. http://www.teamtsp.com/portfolio-items/memorial-community-hospital-health-system-additionrenovation/.com/ BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 53 PR O F I L E Good Shepherd Lutheran Community › 2242 Wright Street Good Shepherd is a licensed 84-bed skilled nursing facility where medical care, skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, or related services and treatments are provided for a period of more than 24 consecutive hours. The facility also contains housing units for memory support and Alzheimer’s Care, assisted living, subsidized housing, independent apartments, and child development care. Pharmacies A number of pharmacy options are available locally: • Walgreens Pharmacy › 1260 Washington St. • Health Mart Pharmacy › 238 S. 8th St. • Walmart Pharmacy › 1882 Holly St. Dental Local dentist options include: • Heartland Family Dentistry › 261 S. 19th St. • Blair Dental Clinic › 138 S. 17th St. • Coulter Herbert DDS › 1904 South St., #103 Physical Therapy Physical therapy offices in Blair include: • Nannen & Harte Physical Therapy › 636 N. 20th St. • Horizon Spine Rehabilitation › 1255 South St. • Memorial Community Hospital and Health System › 810 N. 22nd St. Chiropractic Local chiropractic offices include: • Hansen Chiropractic Wellness Center › 1454 Colfax St. • Blair Chiropractic Center › 1526 Washington St., #A • Japp Chiropractic › 650 S. 19th Street 54 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 2.6] EXISTING LAND USE The purpose of examining the current land use of a community is to establish an understanding of the previous growth and development of the community while analyzing the compatibility with adjacent land uses. Existing land uses are defined by how a specific parcel of land is being utilized, and does not take into account future land use or current land ownership. Existing Land Use Categories The number and type of land uses found in a community is constantly evolving to meet the demands of local residents and the regional economy. The success and sustainability of a community is directly influenced by the manner in which available land is utilized and incorporated into the city. Typically older Midwest communities are characterized by a fixed pattern of land use influenced by the consistency of their rural settings and abundant availability of relative economical land. However, Blair anticipates increasing levels of growth and development pressures from the Omaha metro and has seen the region transform from a rural setting to an extension to an urbanized extension of the larger city. The existence of the Highway 133 and 75 corridors provide even more opportunities for development. The opportunities that result from these external forces can create impacts upon the community and its residents and will significantly impact how and where Blair grows in the future. Based on community priorities, the city must balance community growth outward on the periphery with infill development and redevelopment. This will protect and enhance existing historic neighborhoods as well as maintain the communities connectivity and walkability. Residential - Single Family 42.16% A parcel of land with a residential structure occupied by one family, such as a traditional home on its own lot, surrounded by yards on all sides. Residential - Multi-Family 1.56% A parcel of land containing a structure being utilized by two or more families within a same structure. Commercial 10.14% A parcel of land containing a commercial business use which may sell a good or a service Industrial 9.67% A parcel of land containing a commercial use involved in manufacturing, packing, storage, or assembly of products. Public/Quasi-Public 11.58% A parcel of land owned, maintained, or controlled by a federal, state, or local governmental BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 55 PR O F I L E entity, which may be available for public use. The parcel may contain a use that is generally under the control of a private, religious, or non-profit entity that provides a social benefit to the community as a whole. Agricultural 7.64% A parcel of land that is not intended for development and is currently used for low intensity agriculture uses. Vacant/Environmental 9.59% A parcel of land that is undeveloped, whether by intention or environmentally restricted by hydrology, terrain, or access. Parks and Recreation 7.33% A parcel of land containing public or private land available for recreational, educational, cultural, or aesthetic use. Existing Land Use Analysis Like most communities, the vast majority of Blair’s land use is dedicated towards single- family residential parcels. However, as the community looks to develop additional housing, it must remain cognizant of the resources an infrastructure commitment that comes with continued development of single-family residences. In order to maintain Blair as a compact, connected, and walkable community, leaders must maintain a commitment towards density and redevelopment opportunities. The most glaring issue of land use in the Blair corporate limits is an overall lack of residential multi-family land uses. In this case, multi-family land use incorporates any residential parcel that contains more than one household. Duplexes and apartment complexes are included in this category. For a community with a great need for new housing development, multi-family units could be an efficient investment; utilizing minimal land availability to achieve a high number of housing units. The nearly 10% of vacant land within the city of Blair can largely be attributed to undevelopable land via topography or hydrology issues. However, there are a number of not- yet-developed residential and industrial lots. While a small number of vacant lots provide ample shovel ready development sites, city leaders should prioritize utilizing available lots to their maximum development potential. 56 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 57 Figure 25: Existing Land Use Map 58 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 2.7] ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS Wellhead Protection Areas The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) regulates groundwater quality and quantity. The NDEQ helps assist local municipalities with protecting their drinking water supply with the development of the Nebraska Wellhead Protection (WHP) Program. In 1998, Nebraska Legislature passed LB 1161 (Neb. Rev. Stat. §46-01501 to 16- 1509) authorizing the Wellhead Protection Area Act. Wellhead Protection Areas were delineated with community safety in mind. Both subdivision and municipal wells serve its populations and pose a larger threat to public safety if contaminated. The ultimate goal of the WHP Program is to protect land and groundwater surrounding public drinking water supply wells from contamination. The Wellhead Protection (WHP) Program provides the following in accordance with federal laws: 1. Duties of the governmental entities and utility districts 2. Determines protection area 3. Identifies contamination sources 4. Develop a contaminant source management program 5. Develop an alternative drinking water plan 6. Review contaminated sources in future wellhead areas 7. Involve the public The approaches of Nebraska’s Wellhead Protection (WHP) Program are to: 1. Prevent the location of new contamination sources in Wellhead Protection Areas through planning. 2. Minimize the hazard of existing contamination sources through management. 3. Provide early warning of existing contamination through ground water monitoring. The Wellhead Protection Area is a defined region with restrictive land use regulations to prevent potential contaminants from locating in the sensitive area. The boundaries are delineated by a time of travel cylindrical displacement calculation. The boundary is mapped by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) so communities can apply zoning regulations to the district. Though Blair’s water source is the Missouri River, portions of the city and its corresponding zoning jurisdiction contain Wellhead Protection Areas for jurisdictions other than the city of Blair. The city of Blair will continue to recognize area wellhead districts with the specific wellhead protection zones and appropriate zoning methods. Additional education for policy makers and area land owners may be needed to stress the importance of protecting Blair-area water sources. Additional information on groundwater protection can be found at the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the following website: • Nebraska Wellhead Protection Network › http://www.groundwater.org/ BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 59 Figure 26: Wellhead Protection Areas Map 60 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 100-Year Floodplain The city of Blair’s floodplain derives primarily from the Missouri River to the city’s east. A floodplain includes the floodway, one percent annual chance of flooding event, and .2 percent annual chance of flooding event. Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Hazard Mapping Program (FHMP), and the Risk Mapping Assessment and Planning (MAP), FEMA identifies flood hazards, assesses flood risks, and partners with states and communities to provide accurate flood hazard and risk data to guide them to mitigation actions. Floodway Floodway Fringe Floodway Fringe Channel 100-Year Floodplain Floodway As FEMA defines, a floodway is not only the existing water channel but also “other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevations more than a designated height. Communities must regulate development in these floodways to ensure that there are no increases in upstream flood elevations.” 1% Annual Chance of Flooding The one percent chance of annual flooding is commonly known as the “100-year floodplain.” This describes an area where a one percent chance of flooding may occur annually within the boundary. This area is mapped by categories 1%-A and 1%-AE. Both are considered within the 100-year floodplain. 1%-AE areas are considered to be more precise, including Base Flood Elevations (BFE’s), whereas 1%-A areas are determined using approximate methodologies. 0.2% Annual Chance of Flooding Two-tenths of one-percent chance of annual flooding is commonly known as the “500-year floodplain.” In these areas there lies a two-tenths of one-percent chance of flooding in any given year. Floodplain Map A floodplain map is a fluid document. The areas indicated are often updated as FEMA updates their studies. Amendments to hazard areas may not be represented on this map. Property owners within or near floodplain boundaries have options. Owners may submit a Letter of Map Change if they believe their property has been inadvertently mapped in Special Flood Hazard Areas. Property owners near the boundaries may want to verify that their property is not within a special flood hazard area when developing or selling the property to avoid infringing upon the hazardous zones or affecting nearby properties. Table #: Floodplain Section Diagram BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 61 Figure 27: Floodplain Map 62 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 2.8] ENERGY ELEMENT Energy plays a crucial role in nearly every aspect of our lives. It is used to grow our food, to move us from place to place, to light our homes, and to make the products we buy. The vast majority of our energy is currently supplied by fossil fuels. Federal regulations are tightening emission rules for power plants, thus increasing the cost of using fossil fuels. By planning for energy, Blair could save money, have a more resilient economy, conserve natural resources, and be better prepared for the future. Nebraska Energy Policy Overview Nebraska Legislation LB997 In 2010, Nebraska Legislators passed LB 997 requiring all municipalities, with the exception of villages, to adopt an energy element into their comprehensive plan. Energy elements are required to have three components: 1. Energy infrastructure and energy use by sector 2. Utilization of renewable energy sources 3. Energy conservation measures that benefit the community The following energy element is included within Blair’s Comprehensive Plan in order to fulfill the requirement of LB 997. Nebraska Energy Plan The 2011 Nebraska Energy Plan outlines 14 strategies for the state to consider in meeting the following objectives: 1. Ensure access to affordable and reliable energy for Nebraskans to use responsibly 2. Advance implementation and innovation of renewable energy in the state 3. Reduce petroleum consumption in Nebraska’s transportation sector These strategies include: • Continue support of Nebraska’s unique public power system • Increase opportunities for demand-side energy management and energy efficiencies • Maximize the investment in Nebraska’s coal plants • Expand Nebraska’s nuclear power generation capacity • Increase opportunities for industrial and municipal waste-to-energy projects • Optimize the use of Nebraska’s water resources for hydroelectric power generation • Improve municipal water and wastewater management strategies and water quality • Continue building Nebraska’s wind energy through public-private partnerships • Increase opportunities for methane recovery from agricultural and community biomass resources • Increase opportunities for woody biomass in Nebraska • Support distributed generation of renewable technologies • Increase ethanol production, blended and delivered across Nebraska and to markets outside the state • Increase development and use of other alternative fuels • Diversify and expand opportunities for renewable diesel in Nebraska BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 63 PR O F I L E Nebraska Energy Code Under §§81-1608 to 81-1616, the State of Nebraska has adopted the International Energy Conservation Code as the Nebraska Energy Code. Any community or county may adopt and enforce the Nebraska Energy Code or an equivalent energy code. Blair has adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. The purpose of the Code, under §81-1608, is to insure that newly built houses or buildings meet uniform energy efficiency standards. The statute finds that: there is a need to adopt the International Energy Conservation Code in order (1) to ensure that a minimum energy efficiency standard is maintained throughout the state, (2) to harmonize and clarify energy building code statutory references, (3) to ensure compliance with the National Energy Policy Act of 1992, (4) to increase energy savings for all Nebraska consumers, especially low-income Nebraskans, (5) to reduce the cost of state programs that provide assistance to low-income Nebraskans, (6) to reduce the amount of money expended to import energy, (7) to reduce the growth of energy consumption, (8) to lessen the need for new power plants, and (9) to provide training for local code officials and residential and commercial builders who implement the International Energy Conservation Code. The Code applies to all new buildings, as well as renovations of or additions to any existing buildings. Only those renovations that will cost more than 50 percent of the replacement cost of the building must comply with the Code. In Blair, when you apply for a building permit for a new home or commercial building you must show that your building will comply with the Energy Code by submitting a Compliance Certificate. This certificate can be generated by using free software programs developed by the U.S. Dept. of Energy. For residential: REScheck can be downloaded at www.energycodes.gov/rescheck For commercial: COMcheck can be downloaded at www.energycodes.gov/comcheck Nebraska Legislation LB436 - Net Metering The Nebraska Legislature passed LB436 which allows for net metering. Net metering is the process in which a citizen has the opportunity to generate their own energy and send excess energy onto the grid. The utility company purchases the excess energy from the customer through credits. Net metering was found to be in the public interest because it encourages customer-owned renewable energy sources. Net metering can stimulate the economic growth, encourage diversification of the energy resources used, and maintain the low-cost, reliable electric service for the State of Nebraska. Blair’s electricity provider, Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) has offered net metering since 2009. OPPD allows net metering for any consumer that has a qualified generator using methane, wind, solar, biomass, hydropower or geothermal energy with a total capacity of 25 kilowatts or less. As of December 31, 2013, OPPD had 44 qualified facilities with total generating capacity of 280 kilowatts. In 2013, the total estimated amount of energy produced by these customer generators was 368,883 kilowatt-hours, and the net received from them was 4,436 kilowatt-hours. 64 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Solar and Wind Easements and Local Option Rights Laws Nebraska’s easement provisions allow property owners to create binding solar and wind easements in order to protect and maintain proper access to sunlight and wind. Counties and municipalities are allowed to develop zoning regulations, ordinances, or development plans that protect access to solar and wind energy resources. Local governing bodies may also grant zoning variances to solar and wind energy systems that would be restricted under existing regulations, so long as the variance is not substantially detrimental to the public good. For summaries of additional programs, incentives and policies in Nebraska visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) website: http://www. dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=0&ee=0&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=NE Energy Infrastructure As seen in Figure 28, Blair’s electricity provider is OPPD. OPPD has a generating capacity of 3,237 megawatts (MW). OPPD has 15,567 miles of electric line across southeast Nebraska. The closest power plant to Blair is the Fort Calhoun Station 478.6 megawatt (MW) nuclear power plant. Black Hills Energy provides the natural gas for Blair. Figure 28: OPPD Service Area Map 7http://www.oppd.com/about/service-area/ BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 65 PR O F I L E Figure 29: Energy Sources in OPPD’s Generation Mix Figure 29 shows the mix of energy resources that OPPD uses to generate electricity. Fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) are the energy source for 72% of OPPD’s electricity generation. Using fossil fuels for electricity generation results in carbon emissions. Twenty- eight percent of OPPD’s energy sources produce little to no carbon dioxide emissions (nuclear, wind, hydro, landfill gas). As concerns for air quality increase, there will likely be a push to rely on low carbon dioxide emitting technologies for energy. Currently, 13.7% of OPPD’s electricity is generated from renewable energy sources, most of which comes from wind. In May 2014, OPPD customers began using 200 megawatts (MW) of wind generation from Nebraska’s newest wind farm, Prairie Breeze. Within the next few years, OPPD will begin buying the output of the 400-MW Grande Prairie Wind Farm near O’Neill, Nebraska. OPPD estimates about 30 percent of its retail generation will then come from renewable sources. Still, if it makes economic sense and fits into OPPD’s generation portfolio, more wind could be purchased. C H H H H Energy Sources in OPPD’s Generation Mix 45.9%14.3%22.4%11.0%3.7%2.5%0.2% 66 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Data specific to Blair was not available prior to 2012, therefore statewide electricity consumption is used in order to establish a trend. As seen in Figure 30, electricity consumption has consistently and significantly increased in all sectors for the past 50 years. As electrical consumption increases, OPPD and other public power districts will need to increase capacity and improve infrastructure. Rates for electricity would increase in order to pay for improvements. It is in both the consumer and the public power district’s interest to increase energy efficiency to stabilize electricity consumption. Energy Use Electrical consumption and expenditure data for the city of Blair was gathered from OPPD. Data was not available prior to 2012. Tables 5 and 6 show Blair’s electricity consumption in kWh and electricity expenditures in dollars. Electricity consumption was relatively stable from 2012 to 2013. The residential and industrial sectors saw consumption increase slightly in 2013; while commercial and street lighting consumption decreased slightly. Most sectors spent more on electricity in 2013 than in 2012, as total expenditures increased nearly 5%. Residential, commercial, and industrial sectors increased by 8.41%, 2.99%, and 11.92% respectively. Effects of recent investments in LED street lights are starting to show as street lighting expenditures decreased over 33% from 2012 to 2013. Many factors affect electricity consumption and expenditures including: use patterns, weather, economics, and population change. For example, an unusually hot summer will cause an increase in electricity consumption for air conditioning. Although things such as the weather are uncontrollable, there are certain things Blair can control. Within this energy element are strategies Blair can use to increase energy efficiency, so that less money is spent on electricity and more money in the local economy. Sector 2012 2013 % Change Residential 36,078,239 36,991,116 2.53% Commercial 51,773,210 50,764,772 -1.95% Industrial 8,582,400 8,840,160 3.00% Street Lighting 702,662 694,354 -1.18% Total 97,136,511 97,290,402 0.16% Sector 2012 2013 % Change Residential $3,647,608.30 $3,954,371.52 8.41% Commercial $4,022,905.20 $4,143,190.35 2.99% Industrial $472,111.32 $528,387.35 11.92% Street Lighting $206,246.48 $136,786.62 -33.68% Total $8,348,871.30 $8,762,735.84 4.96% Table 5: Blair Electrical Consumption by Sector in kWh Table 6: Blair Electrical Expenditures by Sector in Dollars BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 67 PR O F I L E Figure 31: Average Home Heat Loss Figure 30: Electricity Consumption by End-Use Sector Opportunities for Energy Conservation Buildings According to the 2012 American Community Survey (ACS), over 44% of the houses in Blair were built before 1970; 18% before 1940. These homes are an opportunity for Blair to significantly reduce its energy use. In older homes, improvements in insulation, windows, appliances and lighting can cause them to be significantly more energy efficient and save the homeowner in energy costs. Figure 31 shows the common places houses lose heat. Up to 60% of heat loss is through the roof and uninsulated walls. There are a number of programs and incentives available for homeowners and business that want to improve their energy efficiency. These programs and incentives are described in the education and funding sections below. http://www.eco-uk.co.uk 68 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Landscaping A well-designed landscape not only improves the aesthetics of a home or business, it can reduce water use and lower energy bills. According to the Nebraska Energy Office, a well-designed landscape saves enough energy to pay for itself in less than eight years. For example, when planted in the right spot, trees can provide shade from the sun in the summer and block the cold wind in the winter. Recycling and Composting Recycling and composting preserves energy by reducing the energy needed to extract raw materials. For example, using recycled aluminum scrap to make aluminum cans uses 95% less energy than making aluminum cans from raw materials (EIA). Recycling and composting also reduce the amount of solid waste dumped in the landfill, which allows landfills to stay open longer. The Washington County Recycling Center is located at 440 S. 3rd Street in Blair. The recycling center is operated with all volunteers and is currently open every Saturday morning from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Nebraska Energy Consumption and Costs By Sector, 2012 147.0 131.9 384.8 196.9 860.6 17.1%15.3%44.7%22.9%100% 1,390.3 990.5 2,289.5 5,423.0 10,093.3 13.8%9.8%22.7%53.7%100% IN TRILLION BTU IN MILLIONS OF $ Residential Commercial Industrial Transportation TOTAL ENERGY COSTS Transportation The average commute to work for the citizens of Blair is 18.2 minutes (ACS 2012). Over 86% of them drove alone (ACS 2012). The citizens of Blair are spending a lot of time, money, and energy getting to work. Strategies to reduce energy use for transportation include: invest in trails, sidewalks, and multi-modal transportation infrastructure, encourage carpooling, and encourage local economic development to reduce the need to commute. Figure 32 shows how much energy Nebraska consumed in 2012 and how much money Nebraska spent on energy in 2012. Total energy consumption decreased by 10 trillion BTUs from 2011 to 2012, or 1%. Even though transportation consumption was just under 23% of the total in 2012, Nebraska spent more money on transportation than residential, commercial and industrial energy uses combined. Figure 32: Nebraska Energy Consumption and Costs By Sector, 2012 BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 69 PR O F I L E Opportunities for Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Sources Nebraska is the only state in the U.S. that is 100% public power. Since they are not seeking profits, public power districts have been able to maintain some of the lowest electricity prices in the nation. The low cost of energy is one of the reasons that Nebraska has not fully taken advantage of its renewable energy potential. Unlike places such as California, where electricity prices are high, renewable energy systems have historically not been economical for Nebraska. With new proposed federal regulations, power plants will have to lower their carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. This means that heavy carbon emitters such as coal power plants will require retrofits or improvements in order to meet that goal. Since a large amount of the electrical energy generated by OPPD comes from coal, this will most likely affect the price of electricity in the area. Therefore, it would be in Blair’s best economic interest to improve energy efficiency and increase the amount of renewable energy produced in Blair. Below is a summary of potential renewable energy options for Blair. Wind According to the American Wind Energy Association, Nebraska has one of the best wind resources in the United States; 92% of Nebraska has the adequate wind speeds for a utility scale wind farm. Nebraska ranks 3rd in the U.S. in gigawatt hour (GWh) wind generation potential, but has been slow in utilizing this resource compared to other states. Nebraska currently ranks 20th in total MW installed with 735 MW. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nebraska’s wind potential at 80 meters hub height is 917,999 MW. Wind Power is capable of meeting more than 118 times the state’s current electricity needs. As seen in Figure 33, Nebraska added a significant amount of wind capacity between 2011 and 2013. 2011 124.5 MW 2012 122.0 MW 2013 74.8 MW Total 321.3 MW Figure 33: Wind Capacity Additions Per Year American Wind Energy Association 70 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE As seen in Figure 34, Blair and the rest of Washington County have average wind resources with wind power densities ranging from 400 to 500 watts per square meter. Electricity produced through wind power will be most cost effective on the utility/ commercial scale. Small scale wind systems for homes and businesses may not be as cost effective, but they should be encouraged in appropriate settings. Small scale wind systems can be utilized to lower the owner’s monthly utility bill in areas with net metering. Figure 34 represents the gross estimated annual average wind power density for Nebraska and Washington County. This data indicates how much energy is available for conversion by a wind turbine at a particular location. This map was created with data from EISPC and AWS Truepower. Figure 34: Wind Power Density Biomass Direct-fired System Most biomass plants that generate electricity use direct-fired systems. Simply, these plants burn biomass feedstock directly to produce steam. This steam turns a turbine, which turns a generator that converts the power into electricity. The feedstock for direct systems can be a number of things: wood and wood waste, agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, or industrial waste. Wood fueled systems currently provide energy for a number of manufacturing facilities, two colleges, and other buildings across Nebraska. Wood fueled energy systems have the potential to create significant energy savings versus traditional fossil fuels. The Nebraska Forest Service currently has a grant program to help with the up-front costs of converting to a wood energy system. Biodiesel The two Nebraska commercial scale plants located in Arlington and Scribner had an estimated production capacity of 5.4 million gallons per year, but both have recently closed in the late 2000’s due to the price of soybeans used for feedstock. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 71 PR O F I L E Ethanol Ethanol produced from corn and grain sorghum is a growing energy resource in Nebraska. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, Nebraska has the second largest ethanol production capacity in the nation and the second largest current operating production in the nation. Approximately 14% of the nation’s ethanol capacity is in Nebraska’s 27 ethanol plants. The Cargill plant in Blair produces ethanol from corn. The plant has a production capacity of 200 million gallons per year. 91% of Nebraska’s ethanol production goes to U.S. domestic markets, 5% is exported to other countries, and 4% is used by Nebraskans. The state’s Ethanol Board estimates that 40% of Nebraska’s corn crop and 75% of the state’s grain sorghum crop are used in the production of ethanol. Ethanol consumption is mainly in the form of blended gasoline. Ethanol production and consumption is expected to continue to increase as national legislation continues to affect state policies. The Renewable Fuel Standard, established in 2005 as a part of the Energy Policy Act, requires a minimum of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel to be used in the nation’s gasoline supply by 2022. In 2013, 87 octane fuel without ethanol began to be phased out and replaced with an ethanol-blended 87 octane gas. Nearly all fuel stations in Nebraska and Iowa have phased out 87 octane fuel without ethanol as of 2014. Biogas Biogas is a product of the decomposition of manure, via anaerobic digestion, and is typically made of about 60% methane, and 40% carbon dioxide. Biogas can be used to generate electricity, as a boiler fuel for space or water heating, upgraded to natural gas pipeline quality, or other uses. After the production of biogas, the remaining effluent is low in odor and rich in nutrients. The byproducts of biogas production can be used as fertilizer, livestock bedding, soil amendments or biodegradable planting pots. For additional information about biogas visit: http://www.epa.gov/agstar/anaerobic/. Solar Power According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nebraska is ranked 13th in solar energy potential. As seen in Figure 35, Blair and the rest of Washington County have an average solar radiation of 4.5-5.0 kilowatt hours per square meter per day. Currently, solar technologies are marginally used in Nebraska because it has historically been difficult for solar technologies to compete with the state’s low electric rates. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels has decreased 80% from 2009 to 2013. As the cost of solar panels continues to decrease, solar can be utilized at an individual home or business scale to help supplement electrical needs. There are incentives to help with the cost of solar, but additional steps could be taken to increase the amount of solar energy generated in Blair. 72 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Passive Solar Passive solar design takes advantage of a building’s site, climate, and materials to minimize energy use. A well-designed passive solar home first reduces energy use for heating and cooling through energy-efficiency strategies and then meets the reduced need in whole or part with solar energy. In simple terms, a passive solar home collects heat as the sun shines through south-facing windows and retains it in materials that store heat, known as thermal mass. Geothermal The type of geothermal application that is most practical and economical for the residents of Blair is the use of geothermal heat pumps. Closed loop systems move fluids through continuous pipeline loops that are buried underground at depths where the temperature does not fluctuate much. Heat picked up by the circulating fluid is delivered to a building through a traditional duct system. Geothermal heat pumps discharge waste heat into the ground in the summer months and extract heat from the ground in the winter months. Geothermal heat pumps are slowly becoming a popular method of heating and cooling buildings, especially among large institutions such as schools, and government buildings. For example, as of 2013, 82% of Lincoln Public Schools’ buildings have a geothermal HVAC system. Heat pumps use much less energy than traditional heating and cooling systems. This translates into energy and money savings while also reducing air pollution. There are many state and utility level incentives to help with the initial cost of geothermal energy. Figure 35: Global Solar Radiation at Latitude Tilt - Annual BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 73 PR O F I L E Education Blair will not be able to achieve its energy goals without the help of its citizens. Blair should educate the public on the benefits of energy efficiency and the most feasible renewable energy systems. In the following subsections there are resources provided that Blair can use to raise awareness regarding energy efficiency and renewable energy systems. Energy Saving Tips OPPD has a wealth of energy information on their website. Under their Residential or Business tabs, are a number of resources including: programs, incentives, energy saving tips, and education materials. http://www.oppd.com/ The Nebraska Energy Office has listed ways to save money on energy bills for the home, farm, business, or vehicle. Options for energy savings are listed on the Office’s web site at http://www.neo.ne.gov/tips/tips.htm. The U.S. Department of Energy created a document that explains tips on saving money and energy at home: http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/05/f16/Energy_Saver_ Guide_PhaseI_Final.pdf Jobs and Economic Development Impact Models (JEDI) Developed for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the JEDI models were created to demonstrate the economic benefits associated with renewable energy systems in the United States. This model can be used by anyone: government officials, decision makers, citizens. The model is simple, the user enters in information about the project and it will generate economic impact data such as jobs, local sales tax revenue etc. 74 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Funding Although energy efficiency upgrades and some renewable energy applications will save money over time, the initial costs can be burdensome. Below are some incentives, programs, and resources that Blair can use to help with the initial costs of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Financial Incentives There are a number of federal and state incentives for renewable energy production and energy efficiency. These include: • Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Corporate) • Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Personal) • Property Tax Exemption for Wind Energy Generation Facilities • Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Community Wind Projects • Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Property • Dollar and Energy Savings Loans (State Loan Program) OPPD has a number of incentives and programs available to help with the cost of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Blair is encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities provided by OPPD. Grants In 2010, Blair was awarded an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant for $248,696.21 to install LED streetlights. The 589 LED streetlights saves an estimated 114.75 megawatt-hours per year. There are many state, federal, and non-profit agencies that distribute funding for energy projects and the city of Blair should continue to explore grant opportunities to help fund energy conservation or renewable energy projects. Energy Assistance Programs Residents wanting help paying their utility bills can visit this website with links to many programs in Nebraska: http://nebraskaenergyassistance.com/assistance/ The Weatherization Assistance Program helps lower income families save on their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The Nebraska Energy Office administers the federally-funded program. This website describes the program and how to apply: http://www.neo.ne.gov/wx/wxindex.htm BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 75 PR O F I L E 76 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 77 3.1 INTRODUCTION 3.2 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT 3.3 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 3[ENVISION BLAIR] 78 78 88 78 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 3[ENVISION BLAIR] [section 3.1] INTRODUCTION This portion of the planning process creates a “wish list” of items identified within the public input process. The development of a comprehensive plan is an on-going process of goal setting and problem solving. The desired results will encourage and enhance economic opportunities and quality of life. The planning process focuses on ways of solving existing issues within the community and providing a management toll enabling citizens to achieve their vision for the future. Successful plans involve the community to represent their needs and vision for the future. The over-arching goal of the Envisioning process is to provide a variety of opportunities for the public to become involved in the decision-making process. Community members are well-informed and have intimate knowledge to make the most of Blair’s potential. [section 3.2] CITY COUNCIL RETREAT On February 7, 2015 the Blair City Council held their annual retreat and planning session. The retreat involved council members, city staff, and department heads to discuss future needs and strategies. During this meeting, a significant discussion regarding the Comprehensive Plan took place. This direct engagement of the political leaders in the community provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the future needs and desires of the community, a SWOT (community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and strengths) analysis, and specific goals for the Comprehensive Plan. It is recommended that the planning period covered under the Comprehensive Plan is approximately 20 years. The biggest challenge of predicting the future needs of a community lie in analyzing the external forces affecting a community that far in to the future. Economic, social, and technological changes have a drastic impact on a community and its citizens. To establish the appropriate frame of mind, a discussion was held over how society, and specifically Blair has changed over the past twenty years (since 1995). Over the 20-year period of 1995 to 2015, Blair experienced dramatic socio-economic changes. These changes were both a cause, and result, of drastic physical changes to the community. During this period, the population of Blair increased from an estimated 7,516 to an estimated 8,526, or 13%. Retail sales within Washington County nearly doubled in the 20-year period from $77.5 million in 1995 to $147.8 million in 2015. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 79 EN V I S I O N Blair in 2035 The next step in the visioning process involved looking ahead 20 years to 2035. First, the Council was challenged to think of what they wished Blair would look like after that timeframe. This process was designed to encourage the Council to picture the best-case scenarios for the community in order to establish a framework of potential projects down the road. The scenarios are described below: Removal of State Hwy Designation of Hwy 30 through the Downtown District With bypass projects rerouting heavy truck traffic, city officials hope to be able to remove the state highway designation of Highway 30 through the downtown district. A highway designation includes increased restrictions in the right-of-way that limit the type of improvements that can be implemented to make Downtown Blair a more walkable district. Heavy truck traffic can be a negative influence on a retail district due to safety, noise, and maintenance issues that come with heavy use. Addressing Infrastructure Needs for Manufacturing/Technology Jobs Anticipating the infrastructure and utility needs of modern and advanced manufacturing and technology industries will be paramount in maintaining a competitive advantage for business retention and recruitment in the future. The investment in these types of infrastructure must be strategically implemented to ensure that the community can compete in an evolving economy. Restaurants Few businesses provide more for a community’s perceived quality of life like new and unique restaurants. Dining options are a major amenity that young professionals and families utilize regularly. Regional Trail System Civic leaders foresee Blair offering recreation and transportation options via great local and regional trail system. The City has taken significant steps to providing a well-connected local trail system. Future aspirations including linking the local trail system to a regional trail, connecting Blair to the Omaha Metro Area and other surrounding communities and points of interest. Trails are another desirable amenity to young professionals and families alike. A well-connected trail system also provides transportation options other than a vehicular-dominated transportation system. Aerial map of Blair in 1995 Aerial map of Blair in 2015 80 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE More Local Employment The U.S. Census reports that approximately 40% of Blair residents commute to employment outside of the Blair area and Washington County. The Council expressed their vision of Blair in 2035 to include more retention of that workforce by offering additional local employment options. Offering local primary (production and export- oriented) jobs has a compounding effect on a local economy. Local jobs increase the daytime population of a community. A high daytime population supports a sustainably secondary employment market like restaurants, retail, and other service-oriented industries. Focusing economic development efforts on primary jobs that support the local workforce will have an exponential benefit for the community. More Diversity in the Local Workforce Attracting a skilled workforce to the community will help business recruitment and retention efforts by local leaders. In a similar manner to population attraction for employment, employers are also attracted to areas where a skilled workforce is present. Blair is fortunate to be located within a greater laborshed area including the Omaha Metropolitan Area. The community can work to recruit a more talented workforce by offering quality of life amenities that attract young professionals and families. However, Blair can also take significant steps to developing the existing workforce with local job training and continuing education options. Economic development and educational leaders should collaborate to provide workforce development programming whenever possible. More Retail Local retail options can provide as much benefit to the perceived quality of life in a community as public investments into parks, and other public infrastructure. Civic leaders can support local retail development by supporting and incentivizing investments in this industry where needed. Blair’s LB840 can be utilized for financial incentives to support retail development in the community. However, other non-financial strategies can be implemented to support and encourage retail activity in the community. By investing into the downtown district of Blair, leaders can support retail development with the physical infrastructure necessary to create a retail district in the area. The Nebraska Main Street Network is one example of many technical assistance opportunities to support retail districts in a community. A Vibrant Downtown While the implementation of a highway bypass project is already underway, the Council agreed that as the community grows geographically, another bypass may be beneficial to lessen traffic congestion within the community. Civic leaders should be cognizant of traffic circulation within the community and continually look for ways to improve connectivity within and outside of Blair. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 81 EN V I S I O N Influence of External Forces The next step in the visioning process involved discussing external forces that can have an influence on how Blair develops in the future. The Council was challenged to think of future trends that will impact Blair in 2035. Transportation Corridors State Highway 133, Blair’s direct connection to northwest Omaha, will soon be completed as a four-lane, divided highway. The expansion will significantly reduce commuting times to Omaha by easing congestion on the heavily-trafficked corridor. The increased connectivity will put even more development pressure on the Blair area. The Blair community should prepare for development along this, and other transportation corridors, to ensure well-planned, aesthetic, and well- connected development. Similarly, Blair itself will continue to develop west along the Highway 91, and 30 corridors. Residential growth is relatively bounded in all other directions, forcing new residential development to the west. The natural topography will prove to be a barrier for development in this direction. Significant investment will be required to extend water and sanitary sewer infrastructure over a ridgeline bounding the community to the west. Communication-based Economy Advances in communications technology will change the way local economies develop. Even local retailers and service businesses will demand high-speed communication technology to stay competitive. Tele-commuting and home-based businesses will become more common. Civic leaders can invest in the competitiveness of Blair economically, by investing in technology and communications infrastructure. Aging Population The national population is trending older as family size decreases and life expectancy increases. Access to medical services will be an essential quality of life amenity in communities. With Memorial Community Hospital and several medical service offices, Blair is poised to offer these amenities well into the future. 82 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE SWOT Analysis After envisioning the future for Blair, the Council was directed to think of the current status of the community. A SWOT analysis is a discussion of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats a community faces. Analyzing the internal and external assets and liabilities facing a community is an important step in the process of identifying goals and objectives for community development. Strengths Blair leaders tout its quality of life as the community’s biggest strength. The safety and aesthetics of the community are major contributors to the perceived quality of life. The Police and Fire/EMT Departments received praise of their service to the community. The Blair Community School district was cited as an asset to drawing young families to the community. Blair also offers prime parks and recreation facilities as well as family-oriented programming. Specifically, the youth programs were highlighted as a significant strength for the community. The youth sports complex, YMCA, library, and theatre/ arts facilitated by the school district offer distinct opportunities for children in Blair. The library, especially, provides important services for all generations of Blair citizens. The level of volunteerism was exemplified in the community, especially relating to the entirely volunteer-ran youth sports program. The city trail system also provides a great amenity to the quality of life in Blair. Trails are an important asset in promoting community health, recreation, and alternative forms of transit. In either existing, or planned trails, the system connects the majority of the community as well as important destinations like parks and schools. The Blair Marina provides river access for boats and recreation space via Optimist Park. River access is limited in the region, and the Marina provides a great attraction to the community on a regional basis. Blair has many economic assets that were identified as strengths by the Council. The bio- campus, anchored by the Cargill Ethanol Plant, provides a large employer for the region. This area has developed exponentially since Cargill’s opening in 1995. Telecommunications are becoming a necessity for a competitive economy. Blair leaders are proud to tout that a fiber-optic connection is available for local businesses. High speed internet connection is a competitive advantage for the community for business retention and attraction. Blair’s geographic location provides a significant strength to the city. Located within the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Blair is well connected to major transportation routes like Interstates 29 and 80, Union Pacific Railroad, and is also connected via the Blair Municipal Airport. The Missouri River also proves an environmental and recreational asset to the community. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 83 EN V I S I O N Weaknesses It’s important for a community to identify and address its weaknesses and barriers to growth. The Council spent some time discussing these weaknesses to bring them to light for potential improvement strategies through the Comprehensive Plan. While quickly identified as a strength for the community, the city’s geographic location also proves to be a weakness. The proximity to Omaha yields retail and workforce leakage to the larger city. The region’s geographic limitations – topography and hydrology – prove to be significant barriers for growth in the community. The close location to Omaha yields retail leakage, or loss of local discretionary spending. Economic development and corresponding housing development is also restricted by the unique geographic situation of the community. Seemingly, bounded by significant topography to the west and floodplain prevalence to the east, the supply of developable land immediately adjacent to the community is both limited and costly. A lot of time was spent discussing housing shortfalls within the community. The perception lies in a limited supply of housing, exemplified by the idea that the available inventory doesn’t match where the greatest housing needs lie. There are specialty housing demands that Blair currently does not provide. Among these demands are in independent senior living. Townhomes and condominiums are an attractive option to seniors who are looking to downsize or remove some of the burden of home ownership and property maintenance. These housing options can also be an attractive option to first-time home buyers and new residents in the community. Youth recreation was also a topic of discussion as a potential weakness. The youth athletic program had received a lot of praise in terms of participation and quality. The level of success has driven the sports complex to capacity. Additional ball and soccer fields will be required to support the expansion of the sports programs and population growth. Community leaders would also like to see non-athletic recreation options for children in Blair. Cultural activities like theater and music are strong desires from local parents and children. Omaha Blair Corporate limits of Omaha and Blair 84 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE The lack of transportation options was viewed as a weakness in the community. Having a mass-transit or paid-transit service would provide options for those without access to automobiles. As Blair works to provide housing options for elderly and residents with specialty needs, transportation options for these individuals will also improve quality of life in the city. The ability of the city to service a growing population had City Council concerned. There lies a need to connect to citizens digitally. City leaders would like to implement increased technology to better serve residents of Blair. Council constituents often voice concerns and complaints regarding the ability to connect to the internet with high-speed broadband. High-speed internet connection is vital to both quality of life and economic development in communities. As the community grows, additional city staff will be required to administer services, and maintain utilities and infrastructure. The condition and capacity of City Hall, at 218 S. 16th Street, is a concern. City Hall currently shares the building with the Fire Department and does not fully utilize the second story of the building. An analysis of the space utilization of the building may be necessary to provide recommendation for the most efficient utilization of the building. It was felt that economic development is not fully optimized by the lack of rail access in the industrial areas of the community. City leaders, and Gateway Economic Development will have to work with Union Pacific Railroad to optimize rail connections in industrial development areas to maximize the development potential in the area. The city of Blair has committed to providing high quality services and amenities to support the desired quality of life amongst its residents. In order to maintain and continue improving these services the city must ensure that civic revenues can support this delivery. The level of revenues for the city is a concern for city council. Further compounding the difficulty in funding community betterment projects is the lack of accessibility to grant funds. Blair’s location in the Omaha MSA, as well as its overall economic prosperity, reduces the accessibility to needs-based grant funds. Opportunities It is important for a community to occasionally evaluate the opportunities that materialize through time. Regional economic, demographic, technology, and policy shifts can manifest opportunities that can assist a community in achieving its vision. One of the most unique opportunities Blair claims is the Dana College Campus. Bounded by Highway 91, College Drive, North 27th Street, and Neihardt Park; Dana Campus is approximately 150 acres in size on the west edge of Blair. Founded by Danish Lutherans, the college was active from 1884 to 2010. After its closure, the campus was purchased by Midland University with the intent of reopening as a functioning college. While those plans have not yet been realized, city leaders are actively pursuing utilization of the area as a college or other means. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 85 EN V I S I O N Functioning as either a college, or for other purposes, the area has a tremendous value for the community. The physical campus has a lot of economic development potential regardless of its use. A functioning college brings high paying education jobs and a student demographic that is active in the community. The unique tract of land also has potential for economic development as a corporate campus. The formation of the Cargill Corporation’s Blair Campus has leveraged millions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs to the area. The potential for additional expansion of the campus is always a tremendous opportunity for the community. Recent investments in the Blair Municipal Airport also gives the area an economic development draw. Though outside of the city’s jurisdiction, the airport provides a unique competitive advantage that can be exploited for job creation in the area. Gateway Development Corporation is actively pursuing opportunities to take advantage of these amenities. Current plans call for the expansion of Nebraska Highway 133, connecting Blair to Interstate 680 and the Omaha area. This expansion will reduce commuting congestion and times to the area. A reduce drive time will make Blair an even more attractive community for commuters. Figure 18 indicates that an estimated 12.2% of Blair’s working population commutes 30-34 minutes. Many of these commuters are likely traveling to the Omaha area for work. Faster commute times will bring additional population to the community and likely spur additional residential and commercial development along the Highway 133 corridor. Highway 75 to the southeast provides yet another connection to the Omaha area and can be utilized for a development corridor as well. The amenities detailed above, provide Blair with unique development opportunities. As a community with utilities and infrastructure with available capacity, Blair can be marketed for “shovel-ready” growth. Dana College: 2010 (Lincoln Journal Star) 86 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Threats Threats are external forces that have a likelihood to impact the ability of a community to achieve its vision. Identifying and understanding potential threats are an important step to removing these barriers to growth. The Council was asked to consider what external threats have an impact on the community. Quality of life was quickly identified as one of the strengths of Blair. A community’s perceived safety has a tremendous impact on quality of life. One concern and threat to Blair’s quality of life is crime. Council feels that Blair may become a target of crime that may derive from the larger Omaha metro. City leaders should continually analyze crime reports and enforcement to identify potential rises in crime rates and react accordingly with investments in the police force and other preventative measures. Blair, like many communities sees itself in a demographic shift in terms of its workforce. According to the Census, nearly one-third (32.7%) of the 2010 Blair population was over the age of 50. As the relative age of Blair’s population increases over time, the community will see a greater share of its population leaving the workforce. City and business leaders will need to work to ensure that a skilled population is present to fulfill vacated jobs and local business. This an important planning step to ensure a thriving local economy as well as ensure a local, independent business presence so that everyday goods and services continue to be offered locally. A national trend the Council wishes to watch for is a perceived increase in federal/state regulations affecting the delivery of municipal services and the community’s ability to grow. Specifically, the Council will observe regulations affecting infrastructure and utilities, floodplains, natural disasters, and other environmental regulations that will impact the city’s potential for growth. Blair finds itself fairly bounded by sensitive environmental conditions such as floodplain and terrain with unique flora/fauna that will affect the community’s ability to expand in these areas. Blair has recently been impacted by natural disasters that have greatly impacted the community, its residents, and businesses. Flooding and a hail storm have left lasting impacts on the community. As of the adoption of this plan, the community is still repairing and recovering from a hail storm in June of 2014. A potential long-term impact could be the health and longevity of the community’s tree-stock. As a historic community, Blair is ripe with mature trees that prove to be an amenity for the community’s aesthetic appeal. This storm may have been significant enough to threaten the integrity and health of trees in the area; leaving the community more susceptible to physical damage. One asset to the community, especially in terms of economic development, is access to the Union Pacific rail line throughout the Blair area. However, rail lines can also prove to be a threat to quality of life for residents in their vicinity. Noise and crossing barriers can have a negative impact on residential and commercial development. Any expansion of the rail line may have a detrimental effect on the quality of life and commercial viability of several areas of the community. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 87 EN V I S I O N The abundance of rail and highway corridors prove to be a great amenity for regional access in the Blair area. However, the prevalence of these high-speed, heavy-use transportation networks are a challenge for localized traffic circulation. One complaint is that local traffic congestion restricts access within the community. Blair is a community that historically has seen steady growth for the last century. Population projections depicted in Figure 8 indicate sustained population growth for at least the next twenty years. Other projects and forces, like the completion of the Highway 133 expansion, will potentially increase those projections. While Blair has committed itself to fostering growth, immense development pressures can be detrimental to a community’s effective delivery of services to all residents. Blair’s City Council recognized the threat of rapid growth and development and should respect all decisions that affect the community’s ability to grow in a sustainable manner. Comprehensive Plan Goals The final challenge to council members was to identify specific goals they wished to achieve during the planning process. This exercise provides context to the plan and aims to identify prioritized action statements; key to plan implementation. A number of specific desired outcomes of the planning process were identified. These outcomes will be addressed with specific recommendation action steps in later sections of this plan. These outcomes include: • Traffic circulation improvements • Recreation and quality of life improvements • Infrastructure needs forecasting • City government and services strategic plan • Housing needs with identified locations for development • Identified locations for economic development 88 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 3.3] COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Focus Group Meetings During the day of February 26, 2015 a series of focus group meetings were conducted to discuss select topics of interest to the community. These meetings involved select stakeholders involved professionally or personally in the fields of; housing, economic/ business development, city services, and faith leaders. The general public was also invited to participate in these conversations. Each group of stakeholders was asked questions regarding their views on the community in general, with respect to their respective fields, and about goals and projects they see as beneficial to the community. The “magic wand” question allows participants to envision the future and direction of the community. Essentially the question asks, “If cost were not a factor what project(s) would you like to see implemented in Blair?” HOUSING FAITH LEADERS CITY STAFF & SERVICES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT $ BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 89 EN V I S I O N Housing Focus Group Housing is a major component of the Blair Comprehensive Plan. The community has seen steady growth for the past several decades, and projections indicate additional growth in the community. This growth, along with the continued work in local economic development, has corresponding pressure on the local housing market. The perception is that the demand for housing greatly exceeds local supply. City leaders wish to promote local housing development to capture and retain the regional workforce and ensure community growth. Assets • High quality of life • Short commute to Omaha • Local employment opportunities • School system • Trail system • Youth sports complex Weaknesses Transportation • Truck traffic • Trains (noise, intersection conflicts) Housing The availability of housing in Blair was discussed as a significant weakness of the community. The developable land is a major contributor to the challenges of developing new housing, however there is lot availability within the community. • Lack of housing • Housing diversity (duplex/triplex viewed favorably) • Changing housing needs (special needs, elderly housing, etc.) • Competition with other communities (“50% of starter home market finds homes elsewhere”) • “Housing is expensive in Blair” (young families can’t afford Blair) • Housing condition • Certain plats not desirable for development (covenants) • Rentals • Lack of options and diversity • Expensive – “more expensive than owning” • Affordability and quality • Lack of available developers Business • Lack of Restaurants 90 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Faith Leaders Focus Group A community’s ministerial staff provides a unique and intuitive perspective due to their direct interaction with their parishioners. Faith leaders are also often highly involved in community volunteer programs and social services, therefore understanding the true character and needs of residents. Assets The consensus throughout the ministerial community is that Blair has an extremely high quality of life. Quality of life is a broad term that involves both physical amenities of the community as well as a high level of community services and overall positive perception. The perceived issues and services described by the faith leaders focus group that contribute to the community’s quality of life include: • Safety • Community involvement and volunteerism • Sense of community and cooperation • Community friendliness Magic Wand Economic Development • A vibrant downtown full of businesses • Divert truck traffic • Employment opportunities for the elderly Quality of Life • Public transportation targeting the elderly • Non-athletic youth programming • Water park / splash pad Housing • Lower cost of housing • Housing quality improvements • Additional housing variety • Prioritize housing targeted for elderly BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 91 EN V I S I O N City Staff and Services Focus Group A focus group consisting of city staff targets input regarding community utilities and infrastructure. This group is an important source of information as the community looks to define its goals for growth and services. In order to ensure successful growth while maintaining a high level of service to its residents, a community must evaluate its utility capacity. This evaluation should include the condition of current infrastructure, level of service, and potential investment requirements in the future. Assets • Community location in proximity to Omaha Metro • Transportation access via rail and highway corridors • Regional job market (availability locally and in Omaha) • Parks and recreation • Quality of life • Blair Community Schools • City’s commitment to quality (development and services) Economic Development Assets • Regional labor pool • Community infrastructure Weaknesses and Local Challenges • Lack of developable land • Local resistance to change • Lack of budget availability for additional/improved services • Outside perception of the community (too far away from Omaha) • Lack of housing developers City Hall The current city hall is at full capacity for administrative staff. As city staffing increases with population growth, office space will have to be expanded at city hall or other locations. The second story of city hall is currently under-utilized. This area could be used as storage, for an expanded temperature-controlled server room, or for additional office space. The city hall building is also used by the Blair Volunteer Fire Department. The City should work with the Blair Volunteer Fire Department to develop a master plan for the city hall building. As residential subdivision creation and housing starts increase, a renovation project of existing city hall should be planned and implemented. The vacancy of the existing library building may provide an opportunity to expand office space in the vicinity of city hall. City Investment Considerations During the focus group meeting and specific key interviews, city staff were asked to consider the required investments and improvements that would be required to support a community growing in population. As population totals increase, additional city staff, equipment, and space are required to maintain and improve services. 92 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Parks Three full-time employees in the Cemetery/Parks Department currently work out of the facility at 550 Jackson Street, next to the Blair Cemetery. Sufficient office space exists for only one additional full-time employee in this facility. The equipment storage bays at this facility are at capacity, and limit the size of equipment which can be stored at this location. Additional storage space and expanded office space should be planned and implemented as necessary. Park improvements were specifically analyzed and recommended in the 2015 Blair Parks Master Plan & Trails Update. To serve a population of approximately 10,000, 46 net acres of new active park space should be added to the City of Blair parks. These new parks should also include approximately 12-15 acres dedicated for sports and athletic facilities. The City of Blair should work closely with the Blair Community Schools and local athletic associations to locate and develop athletic facilities. Police Station The existing Police Station was purchased and renovated in 2003. Since then, two additional sworn officers have been added to the department. The existing on-site evidence room, impound capacity and storage area is nearing capacity. The existing unused office space is limited. As Blair’s population approaches 9,000, additional office and storage space should be planned. Public Works A study of the hydraulic water system is required to properly analyze the water system’s ability to serve new subdivision growth and the corresponding pressures on the current infrastructure. As flow rates are adjusted by the Corps of Engineers throughout the Missouri River, the city will need to plan to adjust its water source intake system as well. An investment to extend the intake system via shallower depths of the river will likely be warranted. As Blair looks to invest in economic development and bring more jobs to the community, appropriate infrastructure investment must either precede or follow suit. Most notably, city leaders must look at the availability and capacity of the water infrastructure to support expansions to the industrial park to the east of the community. Corresponding residential growth on the periphery of the community will require the expansion of utility infrastructure to serve new developments. While both the capacity and hook-ups are readily available, Blair’s topography may require the investment in new trunk sanitary sewer mains or lift stations to serve sanitary sewer across ridge lines or to higher elevations, as well as expanded municipal water storage. Corresponding residential growth on the periphery of the community will require the expansion of utility infrastructure to serve new developments. While both the capacity and hook-ups are readily available, Blair’s topography may require the investment in lift stations to serve sanitary sewer and water infrastructure across ridge lines or to higher elevations. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 93 EN V I S I O N Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Focus Group The Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Focus Group were aimed at garnering input from the local business community as well as the staff and board of directors of both the Blair Area Chamber of Commerce and Gateway Development Corp. The goal for this focus group was to get a sense of the opportunities and barriers for business growth and success in Blair. $ Economic Development Assets • Cargill Campus • Quality industrial development • Cheap and reliable utilities • Transportation infrastructure • Skilled and available labor force • Access to regional “Greater Blair” labor pool Barriers to Growth • Non-developable land • Vacant college campus • No rail access for industrial development • Expensive land prices • Five highway entrances • Traffic • Maintenance • Lack of parking downtown • Lack of walkability throughout the community • Limited local business hours Marketing the Community • Truck Mountain • Travel guides • Website Needed Businesses • Niche retail in downtown • Hotel • Wildlife viewing • Sporting goods retail Magic Wand • Active and operating college on Dana campus • Complete bypass of community • Sit-down restaurant • Housing development • Additional primary employers • Rail access for industrial development • Zoning for commercial development 94 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Town Hall Meetings On February 26, 2015, a series of two town hall meetings were held to solicit input regarding the community from the public at-large. This input was aimed to guide the direction and recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan update. Community Assets • Proximity to Omaha metro and amenities • Dana campus and downtown are opportunities • Airport • Community involvement and commitment • Friendly community • Housing stability • Blair community schools • Cargill Campus • Availability of workforce • Transportation connectivity • Youth sports complex • Sense of safety and security • Public private partnerships • Chamber of commerce • Hospital • YMCA • Fire department • Parks and trail system Community Weaknesses • Topography • Truck traffic on main street • Lack of affordable housing • Train traffic (noise) • Lack of youth activities • Entry-level employees • Dana campus vacancy • Lack of public transit • Lack of family restaurants • Lack of lighting on trail system • Lack of parking downtown • Slow residential internet speeds Twenty-Year Vision • Vibrant Main Street (Old Market feeling) • Vibrant retail district (downtown and highway) • Completed bypass (entire community) • College utilization of Dana campus • Expanded industrial campus • Mixed-use districts • Public event spaces Potential Barriers to Vision • Land acquisition costs • Financing • Lack of local developers • Lack of housing diversity Desired Development • Retail (clothing, sporting goods, office supplies, additional grocery options, home improvement-lumber yard) • Local hotel • Family entertainment (bowling alley, movie theater) • Youth sports tournaments • Unique draw (brewery) • Senior housing Service Improvements • Water system – long term plan for growth • Infrastructure maintenance • Public event space (farmers/flea market) • Lighted trail system • More internet/broadband options • More street connectivity towards housing developments Magic Wand • College @ Dana campus • Complete bypass • Additional major employer BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 95 EN V I S I O N BuildBlair.Mindmixer.com The MindMixer site, www.buildblair.mindmixer.com, served as an online public forum to supplement the traditional planning process by turning over community participation typically performed in conventional public meetings to the access of Internet users. The web platform operates as a convenient, and easy-to-use manner in which citizens can participate in community discussions at their convenience, whether at home or on mobile devices. The site served as a virtual town hall, whereby users could generate ideas, support others’ ideas, and ultimately prioritize the best ideas in the community. The results of the website proved to be a success with over 2,500 unique visitors to the site totaling over 5,400 page views. These visitors provided nearly 50 unique ideas to improve their community and 300 interactions regarding the ideas. The overwhelming majority of comments regarded support for a revitalized downtown, with lively business and cultural amenities. Nearly all comments were contingent on the ability to bypass most heavy truck traffic off of Washington Street. Other feedback included additional, or improved, family recreation amenities including lake recreation, additional riverfront amenities, and an improved swimming pool with splash pad. Some of the top trending ideas are detailed on the following page. Ideas are reinforced with the number of stars, or rated ideas from Build Blair participants as well as the number of follow-up comments ideas received. 96 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 97 4.1 INTRODUCTION 4.2 FUTURE LAND USE 4.3 TRANSPORTATION PLAN 4.4 URBAN DESIGN 4[ACHIEVE BLAIR] 98 99 106 114 98 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 4[ACHIEVE BLAIR] [section 4.1] INTRODUCTION The Achieve Section is a guide for the future direction of the community. This includes the analysis of the Profile Section and the dreams of the Envision Section. In order to maintain the high quality of life that Blair citizens value and continue to grow the population base, the main emphasis of the comprehensive plan update is to provide an environment for new housing options, desirable job growth, and business investment. Blair’s location on the periphery of the Omaha Metropolitan Area provides an exciting environment to achieving such success. The unique situation of community growth Blair will experience stems from the physical limitations for expansion of the city’s corporate limits and new subdivision development. The natural constraints of topography and floodplain leave Blair somewhat landlocked to expand physically. Careful consideration of optimal land use is crucial for responsible growth in Blair. An updated series of broad-based goals were established after careful consideration and refinement of the existing goals for the community. These updates were based on the community’s progress and achievements towards these initiatives as well as the new community vision moving forward. These goals will be further refined into actionable policies and strategies in the Implementation Section. http://www.enterprisepub.comHighway 133 between Omaha and Blair. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 99 AC H I E V E General Community Goals The first step in developing goals, policies and action strategies for this Plan was the creation of general community goals. These general community goals were developed via input from the Blair Planning Steering Committee and the results of the community-wide opinion survey in an effort to “highlight” eight important elements of this Comprehensive Planning process. These eight elements include Population, Community Image, Land Use, Housing, Infrastructure and Public Facilities, Transportation and Circulation, Commercial/ Industrial and Plan Maintenance and Implementation. The following represents the General Community Goals: 1. Foster the values of the community and encourage the development of local action to preserve and strengthen the City of Blair. 2. Implement appropriate community and economic developments to support an annual population growth of 1.5% and achieve a population of 10,000 by the year 2035. 3. Ensure access for all residents to a variety of safe, decent, sanitary housing types by developing a diverse housing stock; prioritizing entry-level housing to support workforce development and population growth. 4. Broaden the economic base to create and expand employment opportunities for all age categories. 5. Preserve and improve the physical appearance and character of the community, prioritizing the downtown district and the community points of entry along the Highway 30 and 75 corridors. 6. Develop a land use plan which embodies the identified goals and policies and adopt a zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations to implement the land use plan and policies. [section 4.2] FUTURE LAND USE The Future Land Use component focuses on the development of Blair as it expands and redevelops within the corporate limits as well as its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The existing land use conditions and analysis were covered in the previous Profile chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. Coinciding with potential development outside of the corporate limits, Blair must focus on maximizing opportunities within its boundaries with infill developments. The objective to supply alternative housing options is consistent with the nationwide changes found in household and population demographics. Additional housing options will assist the city in facilitating a growing and diverse population and ease residential demand and backlog. Comprehensive Plans generally project into a twenty year time period with Future Land Use as an important component of the document. Future Land Use resembles the desires, wishes, and collective ideas of participating citizens. The Future Land Use Map (Figure 36) resembles those intentions with a long-range view and will be used as a guide for best land use choices. Variables and unforeseen changes may change this map. 100 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE The Future Land Use Plan assists the community in determining the type, direction, and timing of future growth. The criteria established in the Plan reflect the following: • The current use of land within and around the community • The desired types of growth, including location of growth • Physical characteristics, as well as strengths and constraints of future growth • Current population and economic trends affecting the community The Future Land Use designations are based upon Blair’s current land uses within the desired intentions of the community. Future Land Use applies a best-use strategy that includes natural and man-made limitations. A simple example is identifying the floodplain boundaries and using this land with low impact uses, like agricultural, open space, or park designations. There are nine general land use categories used to define different use types, characteristics, and densities. These categories have been chosen to reflect the basic use and intensity to which land in the city and its jurisdiction is proposed to be developed. While the categories define land uses, they are intended to do so in a very general way; these land use categories are the basis for the zoning districts, but they are not the same as zoning districts. Any number of zoning districts may be appropriate in a single land use category. The Future Land Use Categories Include: • Agricultural • Commercial • Industrial • Parks and Recreation • Public/Quasi-Public • Railroad • Residential – Mobile Home • Residential – Multi-Family • Residential – Single Family Agricultural The Agricultural land use is intended to accommodate continued agricultural uses while allowing for residential acreages with lower intensity land uses. This designation is applied to determine that the land is best suited as productive farmland and less than ideal locations for city infrastructure and improvements. As current conditions provide, these less demanding land uses are best served by individual septic and water sources. Characteristics of the Agricultural category include: • Location of Agricultural land is found surrounding the outer limits of contiguous urban land use and typically less accessible to the transportation network. These areas may be near the transportation network but have additional financial difficulties being supplied with city services • Accessory buildings are at a larger scale than low density residential. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 101 AC H I E V E • Uses within this area include agricultural uses (with the exception of livestock feeding operations), wineries, single-family residential, parks and recreation, open space, and associated accessory uses. • Typical zoning includes: • AGG – Agricultural District • RRE – Rural Residential Estate District Commercial Commercial uses may vary widely in their intensity of use and impact, varying from low intensity offices, to more intensive uses such as gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, or automobile sales/repair. Parking lots are usually shared by adjacent uses. Areas designated as general commercial in the land use plan may not be appropriate for every commercial zoning district. The appropriateness of a commercial district for a particular piece of property will depend on a review of all the elements of the Comprehensive Plan. Characteristics of the Commercial category include: • Located throughout town, the intensity of particular uses suited to the character of the surrounding area • Larger, more intense commercial developments located nearer to major streets • Neighborhoods should be served by small-scale commercial developments, providing uses that serve the convenience and daily needs of nearby citizens • Commercial businesses of all types and sizes should design at the pedestrian scale. Commercial areas shall be connected to residential neighborhoods by sidewalks and/or community trails • The design and exterior surface treatments should reinforce existing development patterns. In newly developing areas design themes should strengthen the overall image of the development consistent with the character of Blair • Landscaping, berms, fences, and setbacks should be used to visually screen and buffer commercial uses from residential uses, however should provide opportunity for connectivity with adjacent residential areas • Typical zoning includes: • A/CH – Agricultural Business and Commercial District • CCB – Central Business and Commercial District • CL – Limited Commercial • OPD – Office Park District Industrial The Industrial land use area focuses on the light to heavy industrial designation. Location is important, as proximity to major streets and highways can help ensure heavy traffic avoids residential areas and prominent pedestrian activity centers. Careful consideration shall be given before designation of any industrial uses so as not to encroach upon, or conflict with, less intensive uses, or detract from important new corridors. The Industrial land use area is intended to accommodate smaller, less intensive to heavily intensive industrial uses. Characteristics of the Industrial designation include: 102 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE • Locations that cater to the specific needs of the user, providing a level of water, sewer, and electrical capacity, proximity to major transportation routes, and lot sizes necessary to accommodate initial development and potential future expansions • Significant landscaping and buffering should be used to screen industrial uses from view of adjacent, non-industrial land uses as well as transportation and view corridors • The design and exterior surface treatments should reinforce existing development patterns of neighboring improved areas. In newly developing areas, design themes should strengthen the overall image of the development consistent with the character of Blair • Strict control over signage, landscaping, and design is necessary for site design to provide adequate buffer from adjacent land uses and transportation corridors • Uses within this areas include warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, assembly, production companies, employment centers, self-storage facilities, etc. • Typical zoning includes: • A/ML – Agricultural Light Industrial & Manufacturing District • A/MH – Agricultural Heavy Industrial & Manufacturing District Parks and Recreation The Parks and Recreation land use area accommodates those undeveloped properties that are intended to benefit the public by remaining undeveloped as open space or parks. However, many of the areas identified tend to be already developed within uses specific to this category. The reason for this is that speculation with respect to future public and quasi- public uses can artificially inflate the underlying land value to the detriment of the city finances and community residents. In addition, not all existing or proposed parks, recreation, and open space land uses are identified by way of Parks and Recreation Land Use designation since these uses are typically allowed outright or by conditional use in varying residential and commercial zoning districts. Characteristics of the Parks and Recreation category include: • Locations that are dispersed throughout the community for easy access, or are important and appropriate to the function served • Uses within this area include parks, passive and active recreation areas, athletic fields, trails and natural areas, as well as drainage and flood control structures such as detention or retention facilities, drainage swales, and floodplain areas. • All zoning districts may apply Public/Quasi-Public The Public/Quasi-Public land use areas are intended to provide easy, convenient access for common activities of residents. However, the areas identified on the map tend to be already developed within uses specific to this category. The reason for this is that speculation with respect to future public and quasi-public uses can artificially inflate the underlying land value to the detriment of the city finances and community residents. In addition, not all existing or proposed public and/or quasi-public land uses are identified by way of Public/ Quasi-Public Land Use designation since these uses are typically allowed outright or by BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 103 AC H I E V E conditional use in varying residential and commercial zoning districts. Characteristics of this category include: • Locations dispersed throughout the community, near activity centers and major streets • Locations that provide an opportunity to share facilities between uses, such as library, park community center, or post office • Uses within this are include public facilities, municipal properties, hospitals, and schools • Structures should model appropriate architectural design elements, high quality construction techniques, and appropriate materials and finishes • All zoning districts may apply Residential - Mobile Home The Residential – Mobile Home land use area is intended to accommodate factory-built, single-family structures exceeding the density of four units per acre. The location of this area is intended to be buffered from, but well-served by transportation corridors. Characteristics of the Residential – Mobile Home category include: • Location where uses can serve as a transition between residential areas and more intensive uses • Location in areas adequately served by transportation facilities and near transportation corridors • Opportunities for on-site outdoor recreation and open space will be an important design element • Dwellings and other improvements will be temporary, mobile structures • The area will include densities exceeding four dwelling units per acre • Accessory units are not permissible • Typical zoning includes AGG – Agricultural District Residential - Multi-Family The Residential – Multi-Family land use area is intended to accommodate denser residential development. This area supports apartment complex-type development, or a mixture of townhomes and apartments. The location of this area is intended to act as a buffer between more intensive commercial uses and lower density residential uses. Characteristics of the Residential – Multi-family category include: • Location where uses can serve as a transition between lower density residential areas and commercial sues • Location in areas adequately served by transportation facilities and near abundant employment and recreation opportunities • Opportunities for on-site outdoor recreation and open space will be an important design element • Pedestrian connectivity within and between developments shall be required through use of the public sidewalk and trail systems. Such pedestrian opportunities will compensate for the density of development • The area will include densities exceeding four dwelling units per acre 104 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE • Residential alternatives should be allowed, including units with varying numbers of bedrooms, and live/work units. • Uses within the area include single-, two-, and multi-family dwellings, with a focus on group homes, multiple-family, and multiple-story structures • Typical zoning includes Residential Multi Family High Density Residential - Single Family The Residential – Single Family land use area is intended for typical suburban scale residential development densities. This category represents one of the most common residential land use types, and is located throughout the community and in the extra- territorial jurisdiction. Characteristics of Residential – Single Family category include: • Locations adjacent of contiguous development to provide convenient access to transportation routes, commercial areas, jobs, schools, parks and recreation areas, and public services • Accessory structures should be limited in size to reinforce the pedestrian scale of neighborhoods • Pedestrian connectivity is important; the public sidewalk and trail system should provide adequate opportunities for residents to walk to destinations and for recreation • The area will include densities ranging from one to four dwelling units per acre • Uses within this area include single-family residential dwellings, public and quasi- public use, and parks • Typical zoning includes: • RL – Residential Low Density • RM – Residential Medium Density • RML – Residential Multi-Family Low Density BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 105 AC H I E V E Figure 36: Future Land Use Map 106 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 4.3] TRANSPORTATION PLAN Transportation Relationship to Land Uses Commercial uses and activities are most sensitive to accessibility since their survival often depends upon the ease with which potential customers can identify and access their location. The availability of convenient parking is also a concern and demand of potential customers. Therefore, commercial land uses are generally located along transportation corridors, key intersections, and clustered within a business district. Clustering commercial uses is an advantage, allowing for traffic control, shared parking, and pedestrian connectivity. Residential uses are very sensitive to traffic patterns. Commercial and industrial traffic should not travel through residential areas in order to access their destination. In residential areas speeds are slower, and roads are typically narrower to encourage safer driving habits. Pedestrian safety is a priority when planning transportation routes through residential areas. Industrial uses are highly dependent on transportation access. While visibility is not as critical for an industrial business, such uses often need access to more specialized transportation facilities such as railroad lines, highways, and reinforced roadways built for heavy truck traffic. Public uses, such as city offices and parks, also require efficient and clear access routes. The public should be able to locate and utilize public services and facilities without difficulty. Facilities such as schools, community centers, and regional parks may generate significant traffic loads, especially during events, and need to be located near arterial streets. Trail and pedestrian accessibility to these public uses is also very important and trails should be designed to connect such uses to residential areas of the community. The Future Transportation Plan is the collective result of the intentions and predictions of where Blair will develop and logical areas for city investment. The Future Land Use is the basis for developing the future transportation network in and around Blair. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 107 Proposed Transportation Plan Created By: K. AndersenDate: June, 2015Revised: Software: ArcGIS 10.2File: 130557.00 Blair, NebraskaBlair, Nebraska This map was prepared using information from recorddrawings supplied by JEO and/or other applicable city,county, federal, or public or private entities. JEO does notguarantee the accuracy of this map or the informationused to prepare this map. This is not a scaled plat. ´´ Legend Blair City Limits Street Centerlines Classification Reclassified Arterial Proposed Arterial Proposed Collector Hwy Arterial Other Arterial Collector Local r r r Proposed Bypass 0 2,300 4,6001,150 Feet Figure 37: Transportation Map 108 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Future Street Classifications Streets are classified based upon the function they serve. All streets fall within one of four classifications. Utilizing street classifications allows a community to examine their transportation system and identify weaknesses. Using a hierarchical classification system, street facilities and improvements can be planned to address existing and future transportation needs as well as influence land use patterns. As an alternative transportation option, trails are also identified within the Proposed Transportation Plan. Highway Arterial Classification Highway Arterial classified streets permit traffic flow through urban areas and between major destinations. Generally planned and maintained by the Nebraska Department of Roads, Highway Arterials are regulated outside of the city’s jurisdiction, which can limit access and activity within the Right-of-Way. Highway Arterials are characterized by heavy traffic volumes. Blair’s Highway Arterials Highway 30 Highway 30 provides Southwest and East access to/from Blair and connects Blair directly to the state of Iowa via the Missouri River bridge. Highway 30 is a critical transportation route, making the direct connection to the industrial uses on the eastern portion of the community as well as housing a commercial corridor to the south. Highway 30 is an access point for the first phase of a planned highway bypass route aimed at easing truck traffic through the Central Business District along Washington Street. This portion of the bypass connects Highway 30 with Highway 75 at the Hollow Road intersection. Highway 133 Highway 133 is a major connection route to/from the northwestern portion of the city of Omaha. Intersection with Highway 30 on the southern border of the Blair corporate limits, Highway 133 is connected to Interstate 680 in the Omaha Metro. The Blair Municipal Airport is also accessed via Highway 133. Currently undergoing an expansion project which will transition the highway to a four-lane divided route, Highway 133 could prove to be a key commuter route. Because of the traffic potential, Highway 133 is identified as a potential growth corridor for commercial and residential development. Highway 91 Highway 91 is connected into Blair via Washington and Fontenelle Streets in the western boundary of Blair. Prior to the intersection with Highways 30 and 75, Highway 91 runs through a primarily residential area to the west and connects the current Blair Public Schools Administration Building at 2232 Washington Street. Highway 75 Highway 75 is one of Blair’s key connection routes, connecting the community with North/ Downtown Omaha to the south and agricultural markets to the north. These agricultural markets provide much of the supply to the value-added agriculture and commodity processing industries, including Cargill and Novozymes in the Blair Industrial Park. For this reason, Highway 75 serves the majority of truck traffic through a route that transects BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 109 AC H I E V E the Central Business District, along Washington Street. This route creates conflicts with the pedestrian-intensive district, and serves as the impetus for re-routing that traffic via a planned multiple-phase bypass project. Proposed Highway Arterial The proposed highway bypass routes are classified as highway arterial roads. Other Arterial Classification This functional class serves trips of moderate length and offers a lower level of mobility than a Highway Arterial. This class of street interconnects with and augment Highway Arterials, distributes traffic to smaller areas, and contains streets that place emphasis on land access. These street/s roads are characterized by moderate to heavy traffic volumes. Blair’s Other (Local) Arterial Streets • Jackson Street • Grant Street • Nebraska Street • Wright Street • College View Drive • Adams Street • South Street • 23rd Street • 16th Street • 10th Street • N. 18th Ave Collector Street Classification These streets serve as a link between local streets and the arterial system. Collectors provide both access and traffic circulation within residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Collector streets also provide more direct routes through neighborhoods for use by transit, pedestrians, and cyclists. Moderate to low traffic volumes are characteristic of these streets. Blair’s Collector Streets • N. 28th Avenue • S. 25th Street • S. 16th Street (South of South Street) • S. 10th Street (South of Grant Street) • Deerfield Boulevard • College Drive • Lincoln Street (West of 23rd Street) • Clark Street • Lincoln Street (between Highways 30 and 75) • South 1st Street (between Highway 30 and Grant Street) 110 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Local Street Classification Local streets are composed of all lower order facilities that essentially serve as a conduit between abutting properties and higher order streets. Local streets provide the lowest level of mobility in terms of vehicular speeds, and generally exhibit the lowest traffic volumes. Transportation via Trail System Trails Master Plan In early 2015, the Blair City Council adopted the Blair Parks Master Plan & Trails Update. This plan introduces specific improvements to each trail section as well as recommendations for linking local trails to a regional network. The document also introduces the concept of ‘Complete Streets’. “The complete streets philosophy is based upon providing balanced transportation options to a community’s citizens, which was the basis for community design prior to the advent of the automobile.” Trail System Improvements Trails were identified throughout the Envision process as a viable, yet under-utilized transportation option. Blair finds itself well connected with existing and planned trails. All Blair Public Schools, and most employment centers are connected with trails. Based on public input, the city should embrace the trails system as a transportation alternative to alleviate traffic congestion and promote public health. To do so, the city should continue to integrate new developments into the trail system and invest in safety features such as at- grade street crossing features, on-street striping and signage, and off-street Right of Way acquisition for improved trails along existing vehicular streets. http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2014/10/protected_bike_lanes_between_p.html Washington County, Oregon Department of Land Use and Transportation Bike lane and road sharing examples shown in plan view and section. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 111 Proposed Trails Plan Created By: K. AndersenDate: June, 2015Revised: Software: ArcGIS 10.2File: 130557.00 Blair, NebraskaBlair, Nebraska This map was prepared using information from recorddrawings supplied by JEO and/or other applicable city,county, federal, or public or private entities. JEO does notguarantee the accuracy of this map or the informationused to prepare this map. This is not a scaled plat. ´´ Legend Existing Trails Planned Trails Proposed Trails Blair City Limits 0 2,300 4,6001,150 Feet Figure 38: Trails Map 112 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Local Right-of-Way Considerations As Blair develops and grows, it will be important to plan for the necessary street improvements to support the development. To facilitate these street improvements, the appropriate right-of-way will need to be acquired. Right-of-way will be obtained through purchase, either outright or through condemnation. However, when land subdivision projects are proposed along routes identified for future improvement, the city can require the dedication of the right-of-way necessary to support the improvement. The required right-of-way width will vary according to the classification of the street being developed or improved, the nature of any public utilities that will share the right-of-way with the street, and any sidewalk and trail requirements along the corridor. Additional right-of-way may be needed for boulevards where landscaping is required or encouraged. Future right-of-way on proposed road classifications should be protected through corridor protection overlays and increased setbacks should be implemented to reduce potential conflicts. Blair’s One- and Six-year Plans (2015-2020) At the beginning of each year, the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), municipalities, and counties must submit a one-and six-year transportation plan to the Board of Public Roads Classifications and Standards. This identifies the transportation projects to be completed within the following six years. The one-year transportation plan is created and budgeted for specific projects and procedures to be completed within that fiscal year. The long term projects also have specific intentions and procedures addressed but are subject to priority or budgeting changes. The long range plans help coordinate municipalities, counties, and NDOR, as stated in Nebraska Revised Statutes §39-2155 “based on priority of needs and calculated to contribute to the orderly development of an integrated statewide system of highways, roads, and streets.” 2015 • Reconstruction of Fairview Drive (FEMA Funding) • Emergency Repair Work on Marina Drive and Blaine Streets to include new box culvert at Fish Creek (FHWA Funding) • Jackson Street from 3rd Street to Fish Creek including new walking trail (FHWA Funding) • Trail Connectors project for Dana and Lincoln Trails (FHWA Funding) • Lafayette Street from 16th to 17th Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • Butler Street from Courtvue to US Highway 30 Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • 13th Street from Jackson to Wright Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • Jackson Street from 13th to 15th Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • 20th Street from Front to Lincoln Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • 22nd Street from Front to Washington Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • South Street from 20th to 215t Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • South Street from 21St to 23rd Street (South Half) Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • Davis Street from 19th to 215t Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • South Street from 24th to 25th Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • 25th Street from Elm to South Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 113 AC H I E V E • Colfax Street from 17th to 19th Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • Colfax Street from 13th to 15th Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • South Street from 12th to 13th Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • Grant Street from 12th to 13th Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • 9th Street from Grant Street to US Highway 30 Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • Grant Street from 9th Street to UPRR Crossing Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • 16th Street from Lafayette to Wilbur Streets Mill and Overlay Asphalt (Local Funding) • Road Improvements for Railroad Quiet Zone Project (Local Funding) • Preliminary and NEPA Work for Blair South Bypass Project (Federal Funding) 2016-2019 • Overpass of UPRR from Highway 91 to Highway 91 West of UPRR Tracks (Local Funding) • Arthur Street GAP Paving from 2nd Street to Blaine Street (Local Funding) • Highway 91 at 23rd Street Intersection (FHWA Funding) • Nebraska Street from Hansen Drive to Highway 91 an Extension on a New Alignment (Local Funding) • 16th Street from Nebraska to Adams Street Widening Existing Street to Three Lanes (Local Funding) • Nebraska Street from 10th Street to Highway 75 Widening Existing Street to Three Lanes (Local Funding) • 1st Street from Highway 30 New Overpass over UPRR Tracks ending at 2nd and Jackson Streets (Local Funding) • Garfield Road GAP Paving from Arthur Street to River Drive (Local Funding) • 25th Street from Hollow Road to County Road 31 Grade and Improve Drainage (Local Funding) • Hollow Road from South Creek to 25th Street Grade and Improve Drainage (Local Road) • Blair Bypass from US Highway 75 north to North Highway 75 (Unidentified Funding) 114 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 4.4] URBAN DESIGN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS As part of the update to the City of Blair Comprehensive Plan, a Design Team was assigned the task of developing concepts for four (4) improvement projects selected by a Committee of City staff and business and community leaders. These projects represent important community features or underperforming areas that have the potential to be redeveloped into major assets for the city. Each provides the opportunity to become a key focal point for the community. The four (4) projects selected were as follows. • 16th Street Civic Corridor • Highway Entrances • Washington Street Road Diet • Downtown Pocket Park The Design Team led a two-day Design Charrette held on March 18 & 19, 2015. During the Charrette, the Design Team visited each of the respective project sites, took inventory of existing conditions, and then studied various design concepts. At the end of each day, the concepts were presented to the Committee for comment and feedback. A public meeting was held on the last night of the Charrette and provided residents the opportunity to view the proposed concepts. The following section summarizes the framework, intent, and conclusions reached for each of the four projects. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 115 AC H I E V E Existing Corridor The areas to the north and south of downtown Blair have become separated by the Highway 30/75 section of Washington Street, the city’s central spine, and the Union Pacific rail line. Access between the two areas, which are primarily made up of single-family residential neighborhoods, is limited to a small number of north-south streets. These select streets wind up carrying higher volumes of traffic and are important conduits for community users. 16th Street is perhaps the most prominent of these corridors, as it runs through the center of Blair and bisects Washington Street downtown. 16th Street Civic Corridor Existing 16th Street Corridor Civic Nodes & Washington Street Civic Nodes North of downtown, 16th Street runs by Lions Club Park, a central public open space. South of downtown, the street runs past the Washington County Courthouse, an iconic civic building. With these two important public sites serving as bookend nodes, the Design Team proposed a series of streetscape improvements that could transform 16th Street into an important civic corridor. The goal would be to create both a visually significant corridor that connects important public sites while calling attention to the area’s rich context and a highly functional street for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians to all use safely. Washington Street serves as an important midpoint for the corridor, moving vehicles and pedestrian alike toward 16th Street from the east and west. The historic downtown buildings and improved streetscape proposed as part of the Washington Street road diet (to be covered later in this section) will provide the urban fabric upon which the corridor can be built. Front Street Washington Street Lincoln Street County Courthouse Lions Club Park 17 t h S t r e e t 17 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t Front Street Washington Street Lincoln Street 17 t h S t r e e t 17 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble R i d g e D r Entry Sign 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble R i d g e D r Entry Sign 116 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Streetscape & Landscape Enhancements The streetscape improvements would include enhancements to the County Couthouse grounds, specifically a renovation of the north and west lawns. New street trees and parkway plantings or planters could be installed along the streets surrounding the Courthouse grounds. These landscape improvements could continue north along both sides of 16th Street through downtown and terminating at Lions Club Park, where they can be carried around the green space on the four adjacent streets. Along with new plantings, new street light poles and fixtures, accent paving, and benches could be placed along 16th Street to further define the route as a special corridor and to accommodate greater pedestrian use. These amenities should share a historical aesthetic representative of the Courthouse itself as well as the older buildings in downtown. Side Path The position of 16th Street within the existing right-of-way, shifted off-center to the east, could allow for an off-street side path on the west side of the corridor. A side path is a widened sidewalk, typically 8-to-12-feet-wide, that accommodates shared use by bicyclists and pedestrians. The placement on the west side of the street would prove advantageous for easy connection (avoiding crossing 16th Street) for users to the elementary school, public pool, skate park, and Ralph Steyer Park south of the Courthouse and to the Lions- Deerfield Bike Path terminus adjacent to Lions Club Park. County Courthouse Lions Club Park Front Street Washington Street Lincoln Street 17 t h S t r e e t 17 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t County Courthouse Lions Club Park Front Street Washington Street Lincoln Street 17 t h S t r e e t 17 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t Streetscape & Landscape Enhancements Side Path 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble R i d g e D r Entry Sign 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble R i d g e D r Entry Sign BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 117 AC H I E V E County Courthouse Lions Club Park 16th Street Programmable Space Front Street Washington Street Lincoln Street 17 t h S t r e e t 17 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t Programmable Space As the new streetscape would approach the downtown district, the Design Team felt there could be an opportunity to further enhance the character and capacity of the corridor. The two-block section between Lincoln and Front Streets (one block north and south of Washington Street) could be designed as a programmable public space. This would entail the two-block section be designed as flexible space that could accommodate events of different size and orientation. The landscape improvements, lighting and site amenities, and side path would continue through, but the street section itself could be reconstructed entirely out of specialty paving, pavers, decorative concrete, or a combination of the two, to visually define the programmable area. On-street parking should be provided, but the curbs along the outside of the stalls and at the intersection nodes would be removed to create the affect of an at-grade, zero-curb plaza space. Bollards similar in aesthetic to the historical light poles and other amenities could be placed where the traditional curb lines would have run to define the edge of the plaza, while providing a safety buffer for the pedestrian zones on either side. These pedestrian zones could have large planter beds and lines of columnar street trees that would soften the downtown context while visually distinguishing the space from the rest of the urban fabric. Benches could also be located in these pedestrian zones in small alcoves between planters to provide opportunities for smaller, more private use. Specialty lighting could be implemented within the two-block district. Festival light strings or single, hanging fixtures could span between street light poles and illuminate the plaza space from above. Programmable Space Programmable Space - Concept Plan Programmable Space - Concept Section P Travel LaneTravel Lane 12' Angled Parking 20' P Angled Parking 20'12' ROW 120’ 9’2’ Planter 8’ Plant Bed 9’ 2’ Planter 8’ Plant Bed 6’ SidewalkSide Path 12’ Pedestrian Zone 31’ Curb to Curb 64’ Pedestrian Zone 25’ 16th Street - Blair 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble R i d g e D r Entry Sign 118 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE County Courthouse Lions Club Park Front Street Washington Street Lincoln Street 17 t h S t r e e t 17 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 16th Street Civic Corridor - Composite Diagram 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble R i d g e D r Entry Sign BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 119 AC H I E V E Highway Entrances An important piece of any community’s long-term planning is the image, brand, and aesthetic that it chooses to present to its residents and visitors. Ideally, all of these elements would be similar and tie to important characteristics of the community, like its history, the heritage of its people, important civic features, or its natural environment. The primary transportation routes into and out of a city provide key points where the presentation of this collective identity could be shown via entry signage and gateway features. Currently, the City of Blair does not have a distinguishable city identity portrayed through its entrances. Because the city is located at the intersection of two cross-state routes, U.S. Highways 30 and 75, the capacity exists to create entrances that will serve as grand gateways to the Blair community. The following three locations were identified during the Design Charrette as sites where new entry signage and features should be installed for maximum visibility and effect. East Entrance - Highway 30 at South 1st Street West Entrance - Roundabout Interchange at Highways 30 and 133 South Entance - Highway 75 at Future Bypass The Design Team identified the natural topography and native landscape as the main characteristics which could be emphasized in the design and layout of the entrance features. Each of the three locations would feature signage constructed “into the landscape,” meaning the siting of the signs would incorporate topographical elements into their compositions. Each location has some type of slope adjacent to the roadway that is characteristic of the rolling landscape of the southern portions of the city. The signs would be elevated on the slopes via terraced retaining walls that could provide important relief detail which could make the signs themselves more prominent. The walls could be comprised of native ledgestone stacked into the slopes. The identification (text) portion of the sign could be metal script lettering, in the font found on the City’s website, with no backing and mounted on top of the retaining walls. Native grasses and shrubs would be planted to accent the walls and sign features. A stand of evergreen trees could be located directly behind the “Blair” lettering to provide a consistent backdrop for easy viewing while small native deciduous trees could be placed intermittently to provide the occasional splash of color and texture at the gateways. Concept for East Entrance, Looking West toward Blair 120 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE East Entrance - Highway 30 at South 1st Street As motorists currently travel west on Highway 30 toward downtown Blair, just after crossing into Nebraska over the Missouri River bridge, they are greeted with a small, understated entry sign at the intersection with Marina/Longview Drive. This location is too close to the bridge and not monumental enough to draw the proper attention from motorists. A more appropriate location is located further west on Highway 30 at the intersection with South 1st Street. A small knob on the north side of the highway could provide an ideal high point for an entry sign and terraced stone retaining walls to be built into the natural terrain. Beds of wildflowers or native perennials could be incorporated around the base of the walls and provide a swath of color to help the sign location stand out in the landscape. A wooded creek runs along the highway to the north, behind the knob, and later crosses the highway below a bridge just east of 4th Street. The treestand could provide a continuous backdrop for the bands of native grasses that would stretch out for a considerable distance both east and west from the sign walls. These curving bands would also jump the highway and cover the large depressed area on the south side of the roadway. On the far side of the depression, curvilinear retaining walls of the same natural ledgestone could be shaped to more drastically define the slopes. Native shrubs could then be placed along the tops of these walls to better enclose the native landscape corridor. Conceptual Plan of East Entrance U.S. Hw y 3 0 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ Washington Street E. 4 t h S t r e e t Entry Sign BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 121 AC H I E V E West Entrance - Roundabout Interchange at Highways 30 & 133 The roundabout interchange located on the southwest side of Blair provides the opportunity to announce the arrival into the city to travelers coming from the west on Highway 30 and the south on Highway 133. It is a large interchange that is situated in a low area surrounded by rising topography. Entry signage should be placed on the hillside east of Highway 133 just southeast of the roundabout and oriented to be easily seen by motorists on both highway approaches. The “Blair” lettering could sit on top of a set of curvilinear retaining walls built into the existing terrain. The wall lines could be carried across the travel lanes as low, “ha-ha” walls that would turn back south along the east side of the Highway 30 approach and expand into a set of smaller terraced retaining features. Bands of native grasses could flow from these walls following natural, curving paths. In order to maintain sight lines within the roundabout and its approaches, shorter varieties of grasses would be used, with taller species placed further out and higher on the hillsides. The medians of the approaches immediately adjacent to the roundabout, along with the circular island itself, could provide opportunities to incorporate native wildflowers, perennials, or small shrubs that could introduce new textures and seasonal color to the landscape. Along the small drainage way that runs adjacent to the west side of the interchange, small native shrubs could be planted on and above the embankment to provide a low visual backdrop for the entry landscape while preserving views toward the businesses to the west. Conceptual Plan of West Entrance U.S. H w y 3 0 NE H w y 1 3 3 P1 Hack Street U.S . H w y 3 0 Entry Sign 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ 122 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE South Entrance - Highway 75 at Future Bypass The gateway location with the most dramatic topography lies at the future intersection of Highway 75 and the planned south bypass southeast of Blair. As Highway 75 approaches the area from the south, it runs along a steep, forested hillside on its west side and above low agricultural land to the east. The high ground just south of the proposed bypass intersection would provide the terrain and treestand ideal for fitting the entrance feature into the natural vegetative and landform pattern of the area. Native grasses could be utilized along the highway and around the future interchange to visually notify motorists of the approaching interchange, as well as announcing the entrance into Blair. Low native grasses and colorful bands of wildflowers or perennials could be laid out on the north and east sides of the interchange to preserve views out toward the surrounding lower areas of the landscape. This would help further preserve the continuity of the existing topography and context. 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble Ri d g e D r Entry Sign Conceptual Plan of South Entrance BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 123 AC H I E V E Washington Street Road Diet With the construction of the planned south bypass of Highways 30 and 75, the portion of Washington Street that runs through downtown Blair will experience a large decrease in heavy truck traffic. With these large vehicles directed south of downtown, traffic volumes will decrease, opening up Washington Street to a potential road diet that could provide the opportunity for the City to develop a grander and more vibrant downtown streetscape. This process will also be aided by the jurisdictional transfer of the Washington Street corridor from state to local control. The City of Blair will then be able to control the dimensions and character of the street and streetscape elements. The section of Washington Street focused on during the Design Charrette is located between the “T” intersection of Highway 75 (heading south) and Highway 30 (heading east) on the east end and the full intersection of Highway 75 (heading north) and Highway 30 (heading south/ west) on the west end. The existing cross section of the street consists of four travel lanes (two eastbound, two westbound), a center turn lane, and parallel on-street parking on both sides. The lane configuration is too large for a typical downtown “Main Street” district. Vehicle traffic has been emphasized and allowed to shape the corridor. The wide cross section reduces any sense of enclosure for pedestrians, while the number and width of the travel lanes encourage faster vehicle travel speeds, thereby creating an unpleasant pedestrian environment and negatively impacting the economic potential of the corridor. Front Street Washington Street Lincoln Street 17 t h S t r e e t 17 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble Ri d g e D r Entry Sign Washington Street Road Diet - Context North and south sides of Washington Street feel disconnected due to lane widths and configuration Heavy truck traffic and lane configuration of Washington Street eliminates the “Main Street” potential of the corridor. A Road Diet is generally described as “removing travel lanes from a roadway and utilizing the space for other uses and travel modes.” - Federal Highway Administration 124 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE The Design Team examined six alternative cross sections for the Washington Street. Each assumed a road diet to two travel lanes (one eastbound, one southbound) and a center turn lane with on-street parking provided on both sides of the street. The alternatives varied in terms of the type of parking provided (parallel or angled stalls), width of pedestrian zone and subsequent planter elements, and the provision for bicycle facilities (bike lanes). Based on feedback from the attendees, the preferred alternative consisted of the following. • Two (2) 12-foot-wide travel lanes • One (1) 12-foot-wide center turn lane • Parallel parking stalls (9-foot-wide) on both sides of the street • 2-foot-wide specialty paving bands along the curb lines • 6-foot-wide planters with trees and native plantings on the south side of the street • A 16-foot-wide programmable green space with intermittent extended paved zones on the north side of the street • 10-foot-wide sidewalks adjacent to the existing structures on both sides of the street • Traditional site amenities and fixtures appropriate of the historic aesthetic of the surrounding buildings spaced at regular intervals down the corridor The ultimate goal for this design solution was to create an appropriately-scaled streetscape flexible enough to allow for a variety of uses and events. The three-lane traffic section would be able to handle the expected traffic volume after the jurisdictional transfer and completion of the bypass. The streetscape will better highlight the corridor’s unique, historic aesthetic and make pedestrian and bicycle travel easier and more comfortable. The improvements should increase foot traffic and use of the businesses located along the corridor, and the programmable green space could be used for farmer’s markets, art vendors, and other activities scheduled throughout the year. P Turn Lane Travel Lane 12' Travel Lane 12' Parallel Parking 9' P Parallel Parking 9'12' ROW 100’ 6’2’ Planter 16’2’ Programmable Green Space 10’ SidewalkSidewalk 10’ 54’ Curb to Curb Washington Street - Blair Section (Looking East) and Plan of Proposed Washington Street Road Diet & Streetscape BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 125 AC H I E V E Downtown Pocket Park With a reclaimed downtown “Main Street” district along Washington Street a very real possibility, it will be important for the City of Blair to provide adequate public space along the corridor. The streetscape on either side of Washington Street will accommodate the majority of pedestrian travel and use, in particular the programmable green space on the north side of the corridor. However, the downtown district currently lacks a larger activity space that could accommodate midsize public events and small gatherings. The small green space on the west edge of the corridor, lying adjacent to the Vincent Corner building and recessed below the street grade, is too small, does not attract activity, and does not follow many of the urban design principles that typically ensure a successful public space. Front Street Washington Street Pocket Park Lincoln Street 17 t h S t r e e t 17 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 16 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t 15 t h S t r e e t Downtown Pocket Park - Context View toward vacant lot from Washington Street 0’ 30’ 60’ 120’240’ U.S. H w y 7 5 Futu r e B y p a s s P 3 5 Ramble R i d g e D r Entry Sign To preserve as much of the urban fabric as possible (i.e. renovating existing vacant buildings rather than demolishing them to make way for the new open space), should be the City’s main objective. A vacant lot currently exists near the center of the corridor on the south side of the street between Washington County Bank on the east and a small, two- story building on the west. The lot is currently comprised of a flat, manicured lawn space, small shrubs surrounding the base of a flag pole, three trees adjacent to the bank building, and a security light pole toward the south (rear) end of the site. The lot has the enclosure and orientation that could accommodate the installation of a pocket park for a limited financial and infrastructure cost. 126 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Any design for the park should include the following elements. • An open northern edge along Washington Street to accommodate easy access and views into and out of the space • A central open lawn gathering space • Low-to-medium native plantings, shrubs, grasses, or perennials, around the perimeter of the lawn • A “green screen” of small trees or tall shrubs along the south edge of the space to screen the alley • A small paved “porch” space near the south end of the park with seating (table- and-chair sets or benches) provided • A canopy structure with a perforated cover over the porch seating that would allow dappled light to penetrate the paved area • A water walk, which is a water feature comprised of a thin veneer of water along the ground plane, that would create opportunities for interactive play • Adequate lighting for both security and accent requirements Washington Street Washington County Bank Blair Pocket Park Plan Canopy Structure Seating Open lawn Native Planting Water Walk Paved “Porch” Green Screen to Alley Ornamental Planting Existing Flagpole Existing Trees Conceptual Plan of Pocket Park Examples of Water Walks BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 127 AC H I E V E Blair Pocket Park Perspective - Looking Southeast Conceptual Perspective looking into pocket park from Washington Street 128 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 129 5.1 VISION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 5.2 IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS 5.3 ANNEXATION 5.4 PLAN MAINTENANCE 5.5 RECOMMENDATIONS 5[IMPLEMENT BLAIR] 130 148 150 150 154 130 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 5[IMPLEMENT BLAIR] [section 5.1] VISION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Implementation refers to the objectives, policies, and actions that have been identified to carry out the vision of this comprehensive plan update. It includes actions designed to improve the long-range planning process, strengthen links between the plan and capital improvement budgeting, establish a process reporting system to monitor the progress and schedule for updating and amending the plan in the future. The success of this comprehensive plan update is contingent on the implementation of the goals and objectives identified in this section. While the role of the Planning Commission is to ensure the orderly growth of the community by adherence to the Comprehensive Plan, it is up to the community stakeholders in Blair to champion the projects envisioned to the implementation of it. What happens with the plan, how it is used in day-to-day decision making, and the extent to which it is followed over time will all influence the success of the plan. This plan is a living guidance document meant to reflect the current and future vision of the community as it evolves. It is not the end of the planning process, but the beginning of a coordinated effort to direct growth and development in ways that are important to the citizens of Blair. 1. Population and Housing Boasting an independent economy, high quality of life, good schools, and a short commute to the Omaha area; Blair is an attractive community for population growth. The location along key transit corridors is expected to be a major draw to a commuting population and the community could see rapid growth in the same way the Gretna community has experienced growth in the early 2000’s. The challenge for the Blair community will be to balance any anticipated growth with its ability to maintain the high quality of life and services to its residents. Any growth will also be dependent on the ability to provide adequate housing options. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 131 IM P L E M E N T Goal 1.1: Maintain and support an annual population growth of over 1% and to achieve a population of 10,000 by the year 2035. Objective 1.1.1 Encourage housing development and investment by identifying and promoting opportunities in and around Blair to realtors, developers and home builders. Action Steps 1.1.1a Maintain an up-to-date Housing Study that expands on the results of the Comprehensive Plan data to further define potential market needs and opportunities 1.1.1b In conjunction with the school district, prepare marketing materials that highlight the strengths and opportunities of the community and attractiveness to potential residents 1.1.1c Meet with various realty companies from the Omaha metro to market and educate about the opportunities and high quality of life in Blair 1.1.1d Hold a Housing Developers/Builders Summit and Familiarization Tour to discuss housing demand opportunities and local policies 1.1.1e Prepare an inventory database of available infill properties and the desired housing types and sizes for each Responsible Group/Agency City Administration, City Council, Gateway Development Corp., Chamber of Commerce, Metro Area Planning Association (MAPA) Potential Resources Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), U.S. Dept. of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD), Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development (DED), LB840, General Funds Objective 1.1.2 Facilitate population growth with infill development Action Steps 1.1.2a Review existing zoning and building code and analyze based on the potential for redevelopment and reuse of individual properties 1.1.2b Conduct a downtown housing study that analyzes existing opportunities for upper-story housing and provides recommendations for implementation 1.1.2c Review and package financing incentives for housing affordability, i.e. down-payment assistance; prioritize older and blighted segments of the community for implementation Responsible Group/Agency Planning Commission, Building Department, City Council, Housing Authority, City Administration, MAPA 132 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Potential Resources DED, USDA-RD, NIFA, General Funds, LB840 Objective 1.1.3 Improve neighborhoods and provide housing opportunities by expanding efforts to acquire and demolish dilapidated housing and promote vacated property for redevelopment Action Steps 1.1.3a During an annual stakeholder meeting set a yearly goal for demolitions. Goals should equate approximately 0.1% of the total housing stock. 1.1.3b Explore funding opportunities to identify external resources to assist in voluntary acquisition and redevelopment construction 1.1.3c Build condemnation guidelines into programming for third-party nuisance abatement review to identify prioritized properties Responsible Group/Agency Housing Authority, City Administration, City Council, Building Department, MAPA Potential Resources DED, USDA-RD, NIFA, Special Assessments, General Funds Objective 1.1.4 Facilitate population growth with a higher quality housing stock by renovating and repairing the existing housing stock Action Steps 1.1.4a Utilizing numerous methods, including self-reporting, nuisance complaints, surveys, and foreclosures, identify the number of units needing rehabilitation 1.1.4b Package available funding including; state and federal resources, lending funds, and property owners’ equity 1.1.4c Implement systematic improvements according to funding agencies’ guidelines 1.1.4d Establish a volunteer-labor pool to assist in voluntary home improvements for low-income, elderly, or handicapped homeowners 1.1.4e Develop and implement nuisance abatement and property maintenance programs that include a third-party review of properties and assesses property owners for cleanup and improvements 1.1.4f Continue to secure grants/financial assistance to develop both owner and renter housing rehabilitations/repair programs for low and moderate income households to upgrade their homes to minimum housing quality standards BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 133 IM P L E M E N T 1.1.4g Promote maximum energy efficient housing standards and provide/ promote incentives for implementation 1.1.4h Amend the zoning regulations to allow more housing flexibility/ options for housing immediately surrounding the Central Business District. This may include adding a transitional/flex zone buffering commercial and residential districts, allowing more by-right uses Responsible Group/Agency Building Department, MAPA, Housing Authority, Washington County Habitat for Humanity, Churches and Faith Community, City Administration, Planning Commission Potential Resources DED, USDA-RD, NIFA, Nebraska Energy Office, General Funds, LB840 Objective 1.1.5 Diversify the housing stock in Blair to provide housing options at multiple price points to serve families of all economic backgrounds. Action Steps 1.1.5a Review existing zoning and building code to ensure flexibility to develop diverse housing options, including; townhome, accessory- use dwelling, condominiums, ADA accessible, corporate housing, etc. 1.1.5b Market opportunities in Blair to developers specializing in special- needs, and affordable housing, i.e. Habitat for Humanity, elderly, disabled veterans, modular, etc. 1.1.5c Review and package financial incentives for housing rehabilitation, i.e. owner-occupied rehabilitation, rental rehabilitation; prioritize older and blighted housing stock for implementation 1.1.5d Consider utilizing tax increment financing (TIF) to incentivize and stimulate housing development, prioritizing affordability and special needs housing (senior, ADA accessible, etc.) Responsible Group/Agency Planning Commission, Building Department, Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, City Council, City Administration Potential Resources DED, USDA-RD, NIFA, TIF Objective 1.1.6 Create a continual dialogue of housing challenges and opportunities in the community Action Steps 1.1.6a Facilitate an annual meeting of housing stakeholders and political leaders to discuss housing issues, including policies, incentives, and 134 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE constraints 1.1.6b On a regular basis, visit with peripheral landowners and discuss the ability to obtain purchase options on their property that can be shared with potential developers 1.1.6c During the City Council’s annual retreat, invite housing developers to attend for a dialogue on the city’s subdivision and annexation requirements. Align regulations and policies in a manner that will facilitate new development while minimizing the city’s risk and investment in public improvements and services Responsible Group/Agency City Council, Building Department, Residents 2. Community Image Blair’s high quality of life is valued across the community – from businesses to residents. By investing in soft (marketing) and hard (built environment) costs, an improved community image can make other goals (population growth, economic development) more achievable. A community image that reflects the high quality of life in Blair reinforces the community’s perception; both internally and externally. Goal 2.1: Publicly promote Blair as a great place to live and work. Objective 2.1.1 Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy targeting the existing area workforce, Omaha Metro, and the business community showcasing the high quality of life and economic opportunities of the Blair community. Action Steps 2.1.1a Engage key stakeholders in the discussion of a shared branded identity including a logo, message, and vision. Key stakeholders should include the city, Chamber of Commerce, Gateway Development Corp., existing businesses, community organizations and the school 2.1.1b Survey key stakeholders to determine existing attitudes, perceptions, opportunities, and challenges regarding the city’s image 2.1.1c Provide opportunities for public input through various meeting forums, and/or surveys 2.1.1d Select a community branding message that best represents a unified message that reflects the community’s identity and past experiences that distinguishes it from other communities in the area 2.1.1e Use community branding in all printed advertising, web design, media placement, public relations and civic events Responsible Group/Agency Chamber of Commerce, Blair Public Schools, Gateway Development Corp. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 135 IM P L E M E N T Potential Resources Business Sponsorships, Chamber of Commerce, Gateway Development Corp. Goal 2.2: Preserve and improve the physical appearance and character of the community, prioritizing the downtown district, and the community points of entry along the Highway 30 and 75 corridors. Objective 2.2.1 Develop and promote businesses and activities that will complement downtown revitalization efforts Action Steps 2.2.1a Create a marketing plan for the downtown area 2.2.1b Recruit businesses that are consistent with the marketing plan 2.2.1c Identify and package incentive programs for entrepreneurship and business startups consistent with the needs of downtown Blair 2.2.1d Encourage civic events and programming to locate in the downtown district Responsible Group/Agency Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Businesses, Downtown Revitalization Committee Potential Resources Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District, Community Redevelopment Authority Objective 2.2.2 Design and implement directional welcome signs along the Highway 75 and 30/133 entrances into the Blair Action Steps 2.2.2a Identify the most appropriate location for community signs and landscaping 2.2.2b Contact the Nebraska Department of Roads and Washington County Highway Superintendent about necessary permits to implement improvements 2.2.2c Acquire rights to utilize property (acquisition/easement) 2.2.2d Incorporate any community branding efforts and logo into the design and site plan 2.2.2e Contract, or utilize local talent, for the site design 2.2.2f Develop cost opinions for sites 2.2.2g Obtain all necessary permits 2.2.2h Secure necessary resources (funds, materials, in-kind, etc.) to implement designs 136 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2.2.2i Install signs and landscaping improvements 2.2.2j Dedicate sufficient resources for ongoing operation and maintenance of grounds Responsible Group/Agency City Administration, Public Works, Property Owners, Chamber of Commerce Potential Resources General Funds, Private Donations, Business Sponsorship Objective 2.2.3 Develop and implement a mixture of design guidelines and development incentives to promote aesthetic development within overlay districts including highway entry corridors and the downtown district. Action Steps 2.2.3a Establish a committee of council members and planning commissioners to explore and oversee the implementation of design guidelines in the prioritized areas 2.2.3b Study the implementation of design guidelines in comparable communities with a report on various standards, implementation vehicles, and lessons learned 2.2.3c Present findings to a roundtable of businesses, developers, and builders in the community to receive input on feasibility and implementation. Amend recommendations based on input received. 2.2.3d Procure a professional planning consultant for codification of design guidelines as an overlay district in the downtown district and highway entry corridors. 2.2.3e Facilitate public hearings on the addition of the design overlay districts to the zoning code 2.2.3f Adopt design overlay districts Objective 2.2.4 Improve the appearance and long-term viability of the Washington Street corridor. Action Steps 2.2.4a Identify and appoint local stakeholders to serve on a downtown revitalization committee. This committee will oversee and coordinate revitalization efforts while providing recommendations to city leadership for consultant contracting and implementation 2.2.4b Meet with business-owners to evaluate the future needs of the downtown area, including parking, public infrastructure, patron and delivery accessibility, landscaping, and street lighting 2.2.4c Explore and identify outside funding and grants to leverage local investments 2.2.4d Procure the services of a professional engineering and architecture BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 137 IM P L E M E N T firm to inspect the physical condition and capacity of the area, including, but not limited to building conditions, streets, sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, grade changes, parking, surface drainage, and underground utilities 2.2.4e Facilitate a public meeting, including key stakeholders, to foster cooperation and communication. Gather information of the needs, thoughts, and desires for downtown Blair. 2.2.4f Identify and package local programs and measure to incentivize downtown property-owners to renovate storefront facades, demolish dilapidated structures, and/or structural improvements to properties 2.2.4g Develop general cost opinions for implementing long-term capital improvements 2.2.4h Develop a Downtown Revitalization Master Plan that reflects public and stakeholders’ vision and guides future investment for the area. Responsible Group/Agency Gateway Development Corp., Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Businesses, City Engineer, City Administration, Downtown Revitalization Committee Potential Resources DED, General Funds, Special Assessment, Business Improvement District, Business Community, Chamber of Commerce 3. Land Use The foundation of a successful and sustainable community is the efficient use of land. When neighboring land uses complement, instead of conflict, from another, communities will thrive. The sentiment from the Blair community centers on maximizing developable land, while protecting natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas. The geographic area Blair finds itself in is one that is unique from neighboring communities with rolling hills on the western periphery of the community and hydrologic features to the east. The community wishes to exploit those feature as an asset, instead of a liability. Goal 3.1: Develop a land use plan which embodies the identified goals and policies and adopt a zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations to implement the land use plan and policies. Objective 3.1.1 Encourage land use patterns which preserve and protect the unique natural features and resources around Blair from adverse development. New developments shall not significantly affect the unique topography and sensitive environments valued by Blair citizens. 138 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Action Steps 3.1.1a Analyze and amend zoning regulations to reflect additional density requirements that facilitate population growth capacity with minimal land utilization 3.1.1b Amend Subdivision Regulations to minimize grading where possible to protect the unique and valued topography around Blair 3.1.1c Promote housing opportunities in and around the Central Business District, by either replacing the old structures or converting second floor of commercial buildings to residential use 3.1.1d Create an environmental preservation zoning district to protect sensitive and prioritized lands within the Blair zoning jurisdiction. Communicate with Washington County to explore extending these districts into County jurisdiction. Responsible Group/Agency Planning Commission, City Administration, City Council, Building Department Objective 3.1.2 Protect and preserve existing areas of Blair by encouraging future development which is compatible and complements existing developments Action Steps 3.1.2a To enhance emergency service and transit circulation, update Subdivision Regulations to require multiple ingress/egress streets from a minimum residential collector classification, or equivalent 3.1.2b Update Subdivision Regulations to reflect standards that require all stormwater draining offsite be diverted into existing improved stormwater facilities. All other stormwater must be contained onsite. Responsible Group/Agency Planning Commission, City Administration, City Council, Building Department Goal 3.2: Establish and maintain land use development patterns and densities in the community that maximize the utilization of limited developable land on the periphery of the community. Existing areas of Blair, however should be designated for higher density development patterns to enable optimal use of existing infrastructure systems. Objective 3.2.1 Protect and preserve existing residential areas and housing units, through continued planned rehabilitation programs. Action Steps 3.2.1a Remove and replace .1% of the housing stock annually BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 139 IM P L E M E N T 3.2.1b Maintain a minimum community housing vacancy rate of 5% for move-in ready housing stock 3.2.1c Amend and enforce housing codes and an occupancy permit program for existing housing units. Programs should be amended to include regular, third-party inspection and enforcement. Responsible Group/Agency City Administration, Housing Authority, City Council, Building Department, MAPA Responsible Group/Agency DED, NIFA, USDA-RD, General Funds, LB840 4. Infrastructure and Public Facilities Blair has thrived in providing a high quality of life partly because of the community’s foresight in investing in its infrastructure. Constructing and maintaining quality utilities in a manner that is manageable and scalable has served Blair’s current growth. In order to continue to provide this excellent service, the community must continue to make these investments to serve future growth. Key interviews with Public Works staff have identified potential barriers and investments for serving the growth goals of the communities. Goal 4.1: Provide adequate, efficient, and appropriate utilities and services throughout the community of Blair to existing and future residential, recreational, commercial, and industrial areas. Objective 4.1.1 Analyze the current infrastructure system’s capacity to support population and job growth; prioritizing the growth areas established in the Future Land Use Map Action Steps 4.1.1a Enter into a professional service contract to conduct a study of the water hydraulic system to identify condition and capacity concerns 4.1.1b Complete televising analysis of the sewer system to identify condition and maintenance issues and improvements 4.1.1c Conduct a Facilities Plan to analyze and prioritize known intake limitations at the Water Treatment Plant 4.1.1d Incorporate the recommendations of all infrastructure studies into the Capital Improvements Plan Responsible Group/Agency Public Works, City Engineer 140 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Potential Resources USDA-RD, DED, General Funds, Capital Improvement Funds, G.O. Bonds, Utility rates Goal 4.2: Explore the demand and viability for a new aquatic center or renovations to the existing pool. Objective 4.2.1 Identify potential resources for the construction of a splash pad Action Steps 4.2.1a Explore the long-term debt capacity of the community 4.2.1b Identify local, regional, state, federal, and in-kind resources for the construction of the splash pad 4.2.1c Commence fund-raising efforts to solicit public and private contributions for the construction of the aquatic option. Consider sponsors for specific amenities 4.2.1d Achieve maximum project impact by leveraging local funds with outside resources 4.2.1e Package all financial resources for the construction of the aquatic option Objective 4.2.2 Construction of the approved aquatic option Action Steps 4.2.2a Conduct an environmental review process, if required by the project’s public funding agencies 4.2.2b Enter into a professional services contract with a professional engineering firm to develop plans and specifications for the project 4.2.2c Develop plans and specifications pursuant to the responses offered by regulatory agencies and requirements of funding sources 4.2.2d Submit plans for review and approval 4.2.2e Secure necessary permits and approvals 4.2.2f Bid phase to include advertising, letting and contract award to lowest responsible/responsive bidder 4.2.2g Construction related activities Responsible Group/Agency Identified Steering Committee, City Staff, Parks and Recreation Department, Public Works Department, YMCA, City Council Potential Resources City Funds, Capital Improvement Budget, Local Option Sales Tax, Municipal BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 141 IM P L E M E N T Bonds, Fundraising, NE Dept. of Economic Development Goal 4.3: Reduce energy use per capita in Blair Objective 4.3.1 Ensure efficient use of land resources Action Steps 4.3.1a Encourage new development adjacent to existing development 4.3.1b Encourage infill development 4.3.1c Encourage mixed use development Objective 4.3.2 Utilize programs and incentives offered by state agencies and OPPD Objective 4.3.3 Increase the energy efficiency of buildings within Blair Action Steps 4.3.3a Educate homeowners regarding practical energy efficiency measures 4.3.3b Partner with OPPD to enhance Blair’s understanding of energy use patterns, rates, programs, and incentives 4.3.3c Encourage residential and commercial energy upgrades 4.3.3d Encourage energy conservation through the siting of development and landscaping Objective 4.3.4 Continue to encourage recycling in Blair Action Steps 4.3.4a Design and incorporate an informational web page on the official city city site that informs citizens of local recycling options; including the services and acceptable material of the Washington County Recycling Association 4.3.4b Examine the costs of partnerships to expand the city-wide fall and spring cleanup days to include drop off points for electronic and hazardous waste Objective 4.3.5 Educate citizen regarding the energy element Action Steps 4.3.5a Use the city webpage to inform citizens of its energy related efforts, as well as provide energy saving tips 4.3.5b Develop a demonstration garden at a highly visible public facility 142 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 4.3.5c Recognize local projects that support the goals and strategies of the energy element Objective 4.3.6 Reduce energy consumption within the city of Blair’s operations Action Steps 4.3.6a Conduct building energy audits on priority city building to identify energy retrofit and improvement opportunities 4.3.6b Educate city staff regarding energy consumption 4.3.6c Educate city staff on latest trends, energy codes, and systems 4.3.6d Undertake a cost-benefit analysis to determine the appropriateness of converting the city fleet to eletric or compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles including an inventory of available grants and funding sources. 4.3.6e As city vehicles are decommissioned, replace them with alternative fuel or fuel efficient vehicles when financially feasible 4.3.6f Continue to research funding opportunities to finance energy efficiency improvements 4.3.6g Meet with OPPD officials annually to review and evaluate distribution systems and other energy infrastructure investments Responsible Group/Agency City Administration, Planning Commission, Public Works, Goal 4.4: Facilitate family and youth-oriented cultural and recreation opportunities throughout the community. Objective 4.4.1 Dedicate Lions Park as a arts and entertainment venue and implement the recommendations of the 2015 Blair Parks Master Plan and Trails Update to improve facilities as a potential venue for community cultural events Action Steps 4.4.1a Package the necessary funding for engineering and construction of the recommended improvements to Lions Park 4.4.1b Procure for the engineering specifications of the recommended improvements to Lions Park 4.4.1c Procure for the construction implementation steps for park improvements 4.4.1d Create an online reservation system and park calendar to appropriate the use of park facilities for community organizations and festivals BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 143 IM P L E M E N T Responsible Group/Agency City Administration, City Council, Parks Department, Public Works Department, Blair Public Schools, Chamber of Commerce Potential Resources Capital Improvements Budget, Municipal Bonds, Nebraska Arts Council, Community Development Assistance Act, Civic and Community Center Financing Fund, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Objective 4.4.2 Facilitate the collaboration of community arts organizations with potential facilities for practice and public events Action Steps 4.4.2a Meet with appropriate community facility owners to discuss the availability of theatre/music stages, performance areas, and meeting spaces for rent or free-of-of charge 4.4.2b List all available facilities and appropriate reservation contact individuals on the city’s web site linked from the Parks Department and Resident Information pages Responsible Group/Agency City Administration, Parks Department, Blair Public Schools, Blair Public Library, Local Churches Potential Resources Nebraska Arts Council 5. Transportation and Circulation The effective circulation of various methods of transport is vital to a community’s economic success and quality of life. Through citizen and stakeholder input, Blair wishes to promote a variety of transportation options. Creating a well-connected, safe, and walkable community is a high priority for Blair citizens and leaders. Goal 5.1: Provide a transportation system throughout Blair for the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services. Objective 5.1.1 Maintain a coordinated plan for maintenance, improvement, and future locations of all streets, roads, highways, trails, sidewalks, and bridges in the community; including paving, curbs, gutters, street lighting, curb cuts, replacement, etc. 144 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Action Steps 5.1.1a Maintain design standards and policies for various classes of streets, roads, highways, and bridges to enhance the function and safety of the roadway and street system in Blair. 5.1.1b Continually monitor traffic throughout the community, and include traffic counts and figures in any updates to the Comprehensive Plan Responsible Group/Agency Public Works Objective 5.1.2 Utilize the trail network as an asset to the quality of life in Blair as a viable resource for both transportation and recreation Action Steps 5.1.2a Incorporate the recommendations of the Parks and Trails Master Plan into the Capital Improvements Plan budget 5.1.2b Assemble land required to implement trails by necessary rights-of- way, easements, or acquisition as funds allow 5.1.2c Incorporate trails as a requirement in subdivision regulations to assure trails are programmed into developments as a continuance of the existing trail system Responsible Group/Agency Public Works, City Council, City Administration Goal 5.2: Continually dedicate the appropriate resources and due diligence to fulfill the complete implementation of the highway bypass project. Objective 5.2.1 Maintain continual correspondence with state and federal highway agencies to maintain the Blair highway bypass as a priority. Action Steps 5.2.1a Establish an annual meeting or conference call with appropriate authorities at the Nebraska Department of Roads and Federal Highway Administration discussing the requirements and local actions required to access appropriated funds 5.2.1b Implement required action steps into appropriate planning and implementation measures such as the city budget, capital improvements plan, and maintenance plans BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 145 IM P L E M E N T Objective 5.2.2 Develop political allies that can help advocate and allocate funding at the state and federal congressional levels Action Steps 5.2.2a Establish an annual meeting or conference call with the state representative and federal congressional representatives to discuss project importance, updates, and funding requirements Responsible Group/Agency City Administration, Public Works, State/Federal Legislators, NDOR, FHA 6. Commercial/Industrial Development Blair’s recent successes in Industrial Development has transformed the entire community from a physical and economic standpoint. Blair’s economy is one that is independent and unique to that of its peers. In order to sustain its growth, the community makes economic development a priority. Workforce development is a priority for the community. A thriving Blair economy will be dependent on an educated and skilled local workforce. Quality of life and housing investments are necessary to attract and retain a working citizenry. Goal 6.1: Broaden the economic base to create and expand employment opportunities for all age categories. Objective 6.1.1 Utilize the Blair Comprehensive Plan as a community and economic development resource guide for future commercial developments. Action Steps 6.1.1a Provide copies of the Comprehensive Plan to the board members of Gateway Development Corporation and the Blair Area Chamber of Commerce. The Comprehensive Plan should be available as a resource at all meetings. 6.1.1b Representatives from the Gateway Development Corporation and Blair Area Chamber of Commerce shall be included in all updates to the Comprehensive Plan Responsible Group/Agency Gateway Development Corporation, Planning Commission 146 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Goal 6.2: Expand the workforce population of Blair to increase the availability of skilled labor in the local market as well as facilitate job and skills training to expand the abilities of the local labor force. Objective 6.2.1 Increase the population of young adults/families to expand the local labor force. Action Steps 6.2.1a Create a marketing and outreach campaign to reach out to Blair alumni informing them of major news/events, job openings and housing opportunities to increase awareness and connection Responsible Group/Agency Chamber of Commerce, Gateway Development Corporation, Business Community Potential Resources Chamber of Commerce, Gateway Development Corporation, LB840, Business donations Objective 6.2.2 Expand the career academy in the Blair Public School System Action Steps 6.2.2a Create a working committee of local employers to identify needed academic and technical skills 6.2.2b Discuss findings with Metropolitan Community College (MCC) to identify potential curriculum and faculty offerings that can be integrated into academy 6.2.2c Conduct meetings and work sessions with employers, MCC, and Blair Public Schools of potential expenses, and current curriculum adjustments required for the academy 6.2.2d Conduct a public meeting with students and parents to discuss findings and potential vocational curriculum for academy 6.2.2e Identify and package funding resources for needed investments and operating budget of academy. Seek business sponsorships and scholarships 6.2.2f Encourage enrollment by promoting advantages of vocational training and careers to students and parents Responsible Group/Agency Gateway Development Corp., Chamber of Commerce, Blair Public Schools, Business Community, Chamber of Commerce, MCC Potential Resources DED, MCC, Business Sponsorships, Private Donations BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 147 IM P L E M E N T 7. Plan Maintenance and Implementation The Comprehensive Plan is most effective when it’s a living document that is continually reflective of the community and its vision. The Planning Commission’s role is the oversight and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission should ensure the document’s currency and relevancy through regular review. Goal 7.1: Maintain and utilize the Comprehensive Plan as the primary tool for making community decisions regarding the physical and social development of the City of Blair and its respective planning jurisdiction Objective 7.1.1 Establish an annual review process of the Comprehensive Plan and associated zoning and subdivision regulations. Action Steps 7.1.1a Establish the Blair Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) utilized in the formulation of the Blair Comprehensive Plan as an ongoing commission of the City Council 7.1.1b Schedule an annual meeting of the CPAC to review progress of the implementation of the goals and objectives set forth in the Comprehensive Plan and update the Planning Commission and City Council on its findings. This meeting should occur prior to and coincide with the City Council’s annual budget meeting. The CPAC shall also recommend to the Planning Commission and City Council on the need for updates to the Comprehensive Plan. Responsible Group/Agency CPAC, Planning Commission, City Council, City Administration 148 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 5.2] IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS A single tool or category of tools is not sufficient to achieve the goals in a comprehensive plan. The steps toward each goal require the use of several tools and mechanisms in order to be obtained, realized, and sustained. The city of Blair will need to continually develop its own set of implementation tools and strategies, recognizing that each has unique strengths and weaknesses. Implementation strategies can be separated into several distinct tool categories and programs, each with its distinct characteristics that make it suitable for specific goals and circumstances. Support Programs Three programs will play a vital role in the success of the comprehensive plan implementation. These programs are: Capital Improvements Financing A capital improvements plan provides an annual predictable investment plan that uses a one to six year horizon to schedule and fund projects integral to the plan’s implementation. Zoning Regulations Zoning regulations update zoning districts and corresponding textual descriptions. Regulations may include design guidelines, and reflect the development goals of the comprehensive plan update to allow the city to provide direction for future growth. Subdivision Regulations Subdivision regulations establish criteria for environmental impact regulations and the division of land into building areas and public improvements. Implementing infrastructure investments is a primary function of subdivision regulations. Public Education In addition to the identified programs, broad public support and involvement is crucial to the successful development and implementation of any broad-based policy or program. If adequate public support is to be developed, a program including and educating Blair residents and stakeholders is paramount. Political leadership of Blair should strive to implement an active public participation process by creating an educational process on land use and development issues. The city should continue to use it website and make the comprehensive plan and development regulations available online. Ongoing education and promotion will be an important factor in sustaining interest and motivation from community members. Some of the objectives of the comprehensive plan cannot be achieved unless the actions of public private partnerships can be leveraged. Frequently, constraints prevent organizations from collaborating effectively (i.e. financial resources, legal authority, excess regulation, etc.). Efforts should be made to identify and bridge these gaps with open communication, cooperation, and realization that issues at hand could benefit the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents and business community of Blair. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 149 IM P L E M E N T Special Studies and Plans Additional studies and plans can be helpful to further explore and define a vision of a certain area, corridor, or development site. Conducting studies and corresponding decisions as opportunities and challenges arise can ensure that investments are made in accordance with the comprehensive plan. Some examples of additional planning efforts that can further develop ideas expressed in the plan include: • Housing Master Plan • Facilities Management Plan • Site Development Plans • Blight and Substandard Determination Studies Land Use Suitability One over-arching goal of the comprehensive plan is to guide development and the development community by: • Describing the relationship between land uses • Minimizing land use conflicts between neighboring parcels and neighborhoods • Establishing criteria or design standards new development must meet • Create consistent characteristics within each land use district Land Use Transition Development projects should provide, if needed, screening, buffers, or additional setback requirements when located next to existing uses. Screening or buffers may be plant material, earthen berms, fencing, or a combination of the listed. Boundaries between land uses are done along streets, alleys, natural features (streams, railroads, etc.) and lot lines whenever possible. Community Entrances First impressions of the community are made at the entrance corridors. These impressions are critical to a community’s overall image. Redevelopment should have higher landscaping standards when located at any of the boundaries or entrances to the city. Entryway design was a major feature identified as a priority in the Envision chapter. These improvements along with appropriate sign regulations along the highway corridors into the community will promote design that reflects the high quality of life in Blair. 150 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 5.3] ANNEXATION Typically, communities grow their size, area, and population by annexing areas that are urban in nature and adjacent and contiguous to the corporate limits of the city. Blair is unique in that easily developed land is scarce on the periphery of current corporate limits. [section 5.4] PLAN MAINTENANCE The Comprehensive Plan Update is the community’s collective vision, yet change is inevitable. Major technologies and new community needs will arise during the planning period, which were not foreseen during the plan’s development. Jobs, housing, transportation, goods and services will evolve over time. The amendment process to the Comprehensive Plan must accommodate and help manage the inevitable change in a way that best promotes, and does not compromise, the community’s core values, health and well-being. The plan amendment process must be an open and fair process, utilizing sound planning, economic, social and ecological principals. If new, significant development opportunities arise which impact several elements of the plan, and are determined to be of importance, a plan amendment may be proposed and considered separately from the annual review and other proposed plan amendments. The City Council or Planning Commission shall compile a list of proposed amendments received during a year in preparation for a report to provide pertinent information on each proposal, and recommend action on the proposed amendments. The comprehensive plan amendment process should adhere to the adoption process specified by the Nebraska State Statutes and should provide for organized participation and involvement of interested citizens and stakeholders. Since this plan is a living, breathing document, it needs to be monitored for continued relevancy. Although the plan uses a 20-year planning time period, intervening time points should be utilized to measure progress toward long term goals, to make adjustments based on changed conditions or preferences, and to provide short and mid-term guidance for land use decisions. In doing so, the ultimate planning time period will move as well, constantly evolving to keep the plan current and relevant. Approximately every five years, the Comprehensive Plan should undergo a major update. Five years is recommended as the appropriate time interval for major updates for several reasons. More frequent updates creates a burden on city staff and resources. Less frequent updates risks the relevancy of the plan. Finally, federal census data is available every decade, making a five-year review period the midpoint between census updates. The common elements of a five-year update include reviewing and extending growth projections, reviewing community goals, and analyzing amendments. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 151 IM P L E M E N T 152 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Annual Review of the Plan A relevant, up to date plan is critical to its on-going planning success. To maintain the confidence and buy-in of both the public and private sectors, and to incorporate updates, the plan must stay current. An annual review should occur where the Comprehensive Plan Citizen Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, City Council, residents, and city staff are able to review the plan and recommend necessary changes. After adoption of the comprehensive plan, opportunities should be provided to identify any changes in conditions that would impact elements or policies of the plan. The annual review process needs to involve regularly monitoring trends and changes in the local, regional, state, and federal landscape. Such trends and changes may include changes in development activity and use, trends in development regulation amendments, and changes in planning and zoning law. At the beginning of each year at the annual review, a report should be prepared by the Comprehensive Plan Citizen Advisory Committee and/or the Planning Commission that provides information and recommendations on whether the plan is current in respect to population and economic changes, and if the recommended policies are still valid for the city and its long-term growth. The Planning Commission should hold a public hearing on this report to: • Provide citizens or developers with an opportunity to comment and/or present possible changes to the plan • Identify any changes in the status of projects or action items called for in the plan • Bring forth any issues, or identify any changes in conditions which may impact the validity of the plan If the Commission finds major policy issues or major changes in basic assumptions or conditions have arisen which could necessitate revisions to the plan, they should recommend changes or further study of those changes. Conditions of Plan Amendment Comprehensive Plan amendment procedures are necessary to determine what constitutes conformity or non-conformity with the plan. It is impossible to set hard and fast rules for such decisions but consistent criteria should be used when making this determination. The following criteria are recommended: • A request for increases in residential density or non-residential floor area in excess of the guidelines established in the plan, depending upon the degree of increase, may require a plan amendment. • Land use request involving minor differences from those shown in the plan should be considered in conformity with the plan unless precedent would best for more extensive and non-conforming changes in adjacent areas. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 153 IM P L E M E N T • Requests for variations or changes in the alignment of designated roadways should be considered in conformity if the continuity of the roadway is maintained, the alignment does not result in traffic safety issues or reductions in needed capacity, does not constrain the proper development of contiguous properties, and does not conflict with or preempt other planned uses or facilities. • Requests to deviate from plan-specific requirements such as open space and traffic reduction measures generally should not be permitted in order to ensure equitable treatment of all property owners and to avoid arbitrary decisions which would undermine the legal foundation of the plan. If changes are to be made, they should be done through a plan amendment process. • The final criteria must always be whether the request, whatever its nature, will set a precedent for cumulative changes which are not consistent with the plan. Therefore, in those instances where the implications of the request are not easily observed or detected a request for a plan amendment should be required. Evaluating Land Developments The interpretation of the plan should be comprised of a continuous and related series of analyses, with references to the goals and objectives/policies, the overall land use plan, and specific land use policies. Moreover, when considering specific proposed developments, interpretation of the plan should include a thorough review of all sections of the plan. If a development proposal is not consistently supported by the Comprehensive Plan, serious consideration should be given to making modifications to the proposal, or the following criteria should be used to determine if a comprehensive plan amendment would be justified: • The character of the adjacent parcels or neighborhoods • The zoning and uses on nearby properties • The suitability of the property for the uses allowed under the current zoning designation • The type and extent of positive or negative impact that may affect adjacent properties, or the city at large, if the request is approved • The impact of the proposal on public utilities and facilities • The length of time that the subject and adjacent properties have been utilized for their current uses • The benefits of the proposal to the public health, safety, and welfare compared to the hardship imposed on the applicant if the request is not allowed. • Comparison between the existing land use plan and the proposed change regarding the relative conformance to the goals and objectives/policies • Consideration of professional staff recommendations 154 | BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE [section 5.5] CRITICAL ISSUES As part of the implementation process for Blair, various recommendations or actions are suggested. These recommendations are based upon public input, staff input, observations, and experience. These high level issues have been determined to be critical to the success of the community with respect to achieving the goals identified in this comprehensive plan. Further detail on obtaining these goals are found in the Vision Implementation Plan section of this chapter. Housing Starts Based on statistics discussed in the Profile chapter and feedback cited in the Envision chapter, the need for new housing starts in Blair are paramount to the community’s growth. The economic success and sustained high quality of life will both be determined by the community’s ability to add new housing opportunities. In order to mutually benefit existing and new residents to Blair, housing starts should occur in both the existing city limits and on the community’s periphery. City Action City government can effectively promote housing development with a number of strategies. While investment economies in the private sector will likely trend towards subdivision development on the periphery of the community, the city should take measures to enhance the existing neighborhoods by promoting infill development. Enhancing the city’s efforts for the acquisition and demolition will protect neighborhoods against blight caused by dilapidated properties while simultaneously freeing up property for redevelopment. Developable Land The biggest challenge Blair phases in promoting housing development in the community is the assembly of available land. Flat land capable of supporting large subdivisions is both scarce and expensive on the periphery of Blair’s city limits. The prevalence of environmental issues like topography and floodplain reduces the capacity of surrounding parcels to support housing subdivisions. Land that does contain the capacity for development is typically utilized as productive agriculture and would be sold at a premium. The city and Gateway Development Corporation should work to continually monitor land within the growth areas identified in the Future Land Use Map. Regular meetings and correspondence will be necessitated to broker property for development. BLAIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE | 155 IM P L E M E N T Economic Diversity Economic diversity was also discussed by the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee as a critical need in Blair. While Blair’s local economy has performed strongly in recent decades, the committee feels it is inter-dependent on the external influences of the agricultural commodity markets. The Cargill campus dominates the economic landscape in terms of both real estate and jobs held within industries located their. Blair can broaden its employment base and offer high-wage jobs with corresponding investments in technology- based industries. Existing telecommunications businesses and infrastructure, combined with the great workforce of the nearby Omaha metro area, provide a great opportunity for technology and communication-based industries. Highway Bypass Throughout the planning process, the desire to improve the downtown area was discussed. The heavy traffic of vehicles and truck traffic along the Washington Street, Highway 75, route disrupts any pedestrian connectivity and access throughout the downtown area. The desire for a vibrant entertainment district will be nearly impossible to implement while heavy truck traffic is directed downtown. City officials have actively planned a comprehensive, three-phase, truck bypass of the majority of the current Blair city limits. The first phase is nearing construction activity. While the completion of all three phases of the potential bypass would likely exceed the planning period of this update to the comprehensive plan, the advisory committee wanted to stress the importance of continually working to achieve this vision.