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Blair Comprehensive Plan 1997-2005BLAIR, NEBRASKA Comprehensive Plan Economic Profile ~i Plan 2006 PLAN PARTICIPANTS MAYOR Michael'Mines CITY COUNCIL John Abbott, James Fay, T. John Shotwell, James Realph, Bernard J. Kros, .Sandra Ellis, James Ryan, Larry Betts PLANNING COMMISSION Ken Rhoades, Robert Tichota, Lloyd Scheve, Doug Cook, Vivian Kelley, Hal Colony, Gregg Ptacnik, Don Hansen, Bob Krogh, L. Stan Jensen PLANNING STEERING COMMITTEE Steve Shanahan, Roger Peterson, Duane Heffelfinger, James Olsen, Marv Doeden, Bud Oliver, Patty Plugge Mark Miller,. Carl Rennerfeldt, Keith Schuessler, Bob Sims, Jackie Grace, Mike Earleywme, JeffBryan, Bill Pemberton, Mark Lippincott; Sharon Gordon, Rick Isham, Keith Christiansen, Garol Weckmuller, Ed Talbot, Fred Aman, Pat Mallette, Tom Sternberg, Dave Hunt, I~iike Comstock, Frank Wolff, Dave Nannen, Roger Howland, Connie Custard, Patti Fitch, Tom Sick, 3an.Trippiet, Cathy Larsen, Monte Flynn, Elsie Curley, Bob Plugge, Gus Nelson, Phil Pagel, Andrew Hansen, Emmett Rogert, Dr. Les Grace, Chris Mommsen, Leslie Adams, Jeff Willis, Mark Davidson, Renee Myers, Malinda Jepsen, Gary Fanoele, Rich Hansen, John Eriksen, Faye Jones, Mark Hodson, Paula Jaworski, Jim Bensen, Jess Wright, Debbie Jacobson, Bob Blobaum, Lame Stone, Pat Nichols, Dick Wardell, Roger Andreasen, Dan Thompson, Phil Larsen CITY OF BLAIR Rodney A. Storm, Administrator; Wyman Nelson, City Attorneyy, Warren D. Whitaker, Director of Public Works;. Alice I. Diedrichsen, Clerk/Treasurer, Brenda Taylor, Administrative Assistant, Marv Doeden, Police Chief PLANNERS-IN-CHARGE •• Becky J. Hanna, Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C. Timothy M. Keehn, Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C. CONTRIBUTORS Lonnie Dickson, Shannon Davey, Matt Pillard, Rachel Herpel Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C. Kirkham, Michael and Associates HANNA:KEELAN ASSOCIATES, P.C. LINCOLN, NEBRASKA (402) 464-5383 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 i TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE TITLE PAGE .............................................................. i TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES .........................................................vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .................................'................ viii CHAPTER 1 THE BLAIR PLANNING PROCESS ............................. 1.1 -The Comprehensive Plan .................................. 1.1 -Planning Period .:....................................... 1.1 -Planning Jurisdiction ..................................... 1.1 -Authority to Plan ........................................ 1.1 -Responsible Growth and Development ........................ 1.2 -Economic Profile and Plan ................................. 1.4 -Organization of the Plan .................................. 1.5 CHAPTER 2 GOALS, POLICIES AND ACTION STRATEGIES ................. 2.1 -Introduction ............................................ 2.1 -General Community Goals ....... ~ .......................... 22 -Population ............................................. 2.3 -Community Image ....................................... 2.4 -Land Use .....................:...... ................. 2.5 -Housing .............................................. 2.7 -Infrastructure and Public Facilities ........................... 2.9 -Transportation & Circulation .............................. 2.11 -CommerciaUIndustrial Development ........................ 2.12 -Plan Maintenance and Implementation ......................... 2.15 CHAPTER 3 POPULATION AND ECONOti~1IC CHARACTERISTICS ........... 3.1 -Introduction .............. .. .................... 3.1 -General Population Trends and Projections .................... 3.1 -Population Characteristics ........................... 3.3 -Births and Deaths .................................. 3.4 Income Trends and Projections ............................. 3.5 -Household Income ................................. 3.5 -Elderly Household Income ........................... 3.6 -Social Security Recipients ........................... 3.7 -Per Capita Income ................................. 3.8 -Owner and Renter Housing Costs ........:............. 3.9 -Employment and Economic Trends ................... 3.10 -Labor Force and Employment .. ........:........... 3.10 -Employment Type ... ........................... 3.11 -Commuter Population ..... ............ ......... 3.12 -Economic Summary ............ . .................. 3.12 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS -CONTINUED PAGE CHAPTER 4 LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT .............................. 4.1 -Introduction ............................................ 4.i -Subarea Development .............................. 4.2 -Location ........................................ 4.2 -The Natural Environment ................ ................ 4.2 -Soils ............. ............................. 4.2 -Watersheds ..................... . ................ 4.7 Groundwater .. , ::...:......................: 4.9 -Climate ........................................ 4.10 -The Built Environment ................................... 4.11 -Land Use Analysis ...................................... 4.12 -Existing Land Use Profile ..:..................... .4.12 -Vacant/Agriculture ................................ 4.14 -Public/Quasi-Public ............................... 4.14 -Residential .................................... 4.14 Commercial ..................................... 4.15 -Industrial ....................................... 4.15 -Land Use Comparisons ... ........................ 4.15 -Summary Statement ..................................... 4.16 -Future Land Use Profile ................................. 4.17 -Residential ...................................... 4.19 -Parks and Recreation .............................. 4.19 -Public/Quasi-Public ............................... 4.20 -Commercial ..................................... 4.20 -Industrial ............... ....................... 4.21 -Subarea Development Concepts ............................ 4.22 -Subarea 1 -Northwest ............................. 4.22 -Subarea 2 -Blair Industries ......................... 4.25 -Downtown .. ... ........... ................. 4.25 -East Highway 30 Corridor .......................... 4.25 -Downtown ......... ......................... 4.26 -East Highway 30 .Corridor .......................... 4.26 -Overall Subarea 2 Linear Park Plan ............... . ... 4.27 ................. 4.28 -Subarea 3 -Residential Growth Areas -Area~~A~~ ................................. 4.29 -Area~~B~~ .................................. 4.29 -Area~~C~~ .................................. 4.30 -Area '~I~~~ ..................................4.30 -Overall Subarea 3 ........................... 4.30 -Environmental Assessment .......................... 4.31 -Potential Adverse Impacts . .......................... 4.32 -Beneficial Impacts ..... ............ .......:.... 4.32 -Alternatives ..................................... 4.34 -Actions to Mitigate Adverse Environmental Effects ....... 4.3 5 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS -CONTINUED CHAPTER 5 PUBLIC FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE .................. 5.1 -Introduction ............. ............................. 5.1 -Public Facilities ......... ............................... 5.1 -Parks and Recreation ............................... 5.1 -Library .....................:.................... 5.2 -Education ............ ...:............... .... 5.4 -Blair Junior-Senior High School ........ ....... 5.4 -Blair Middle School .......................... 5.5 -Arbor Park School ... `: . . .......:....:........ 5.5 ' -Blair Elementary Schools ...................... 5.5 -Dana College .......................... . . . . . 5.6 ` -Medical/Elderly Services ............................ 5.7 -Memorial Community Hospital .................. 5.7 -Crowell Memorial Home ...................... 5.7 -Good Shepard Lutheran Home/Johansen Manor ..... 5.8 -MedicaVElderly Services Conclusion ............. 5.8 -GovernmentaVPublic Safety .......................... 5.8 -Police Protection ......................... 5.8 -Fire Protection .............................. 5.9 -Civil Defense ............................ 5.10 -City Offices ................................ 5.10 -Post Offices ............................... 5.11 Infrastructure ................... ..................... 5.11 -Public Utilities .. ..... .... . ............. ... 5.11 -Water Systems .. .. 5.11 Sanitary Sewer.,System . ..:. ......... .:.... -5.17 - -Solid Waste Disposal ........................ 5.19 -Electrical System ............ .. .... ...... 5.20 -Natural Gas System .................... ... 5.20 -Telephone System ..... ..... ........... 5..20 -Cable Television ...' .:. ............:....... 5.20 -Storm Drainage ............................ 5.20 -Transportation .................. .......... 5.21 -Streets ................................... 5.21 -New Street Construction ..................... 5.23 -Major Street Reconstruction Projects ............ 5.25 -Maintenance and Asphalt Overlays .............. 5.31 -Bridges ................................... 5.33 -Railroads .....................:........... 5.33 -Air Service ................................ 5.33 -Sidewalks and Trails ......................... 5.34 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 ;., TABLE OF CONTENTS -CONTINUED CHAPTER 6 HOUSING PROFILE AND PLAN ............................... 6.1 -Introduction ............................................ 6.1 -Community Housing Conditions ........................... . 6.1 -Community Housing Profile ......................... . 6.2 -Building Trends .................................. . 6.3 -Housing Occupancy/Vacancy ....... ............... . 6.4 -Age of Housing Stock ............................. . 6.6 -Condition of Housing Stock .................:....... . 6.6 -Household. Trends. and Projections .................... , ..... . 6.7 -Future Housing Demand ............................... . 6.8 -Housing Vacancy Deficiency ....... . ................ . 6.8 -Housing Demand -New Households, Replacement, Affordable Demand .... ..................... . 6.9 -Substandard Unit ................................. . 6.9 -Vacancy Rate .................................... . 6.9 -Penetration Rate .................................. . 6.9 -Rental Housing Demand ............................ 6.10 -Proposed Rental Types ................ .:...:.. 6.11 -Owner Housing Demand ........................... 6.12 -Proposed Owner Types ...................... 6.13 -"Pent-Up" Housing Demand ......................... 6.14 -Total Housing Demand ................. ......... 6.14 -Housing Rehabilitation Needs .................. 6.14 -Household Income Limits .......................... 6. I S -Housing Implementation ................................. 6.16 -Housing Initiative ................................. 6.16 -Housing Resources ..................................... 6.19 -Local Funding Options ............................. 6.19 -Local Tax Base ............................. 6.19 -Stateside Federal Grants to the Local Limit of Government .......................... 6.20 -Other Local Options ......................... 6.20 -State Programs .......................... . . 6.21 -DED ..................................... 6.21 -NIFA .................................... 6.22 -NEO ..................................... 6.23 -FHLB .............................. .... 6.24 -Federal Funding .. , .........~ ................ 6.24 -HUD .......... ........................ 6.24 -RD .............._........................ 6.25 -Financial "Pooling" ...................... . ... 6.26 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 v TABLE OF CONTENTS -CONTINUED CHAPTER 7 ECONOMIC PROFILE AND PLAN 7 1 .................... ....... -Introduction . ............................................ 7.1 -Existing Community Development Conditions .................. 7.1 -Community Development Plan ................... 7 3 ........... -Neighborhood Development Patterns ................... . 7.3 -A Need ,for Housing Rehabilitation ............... 7.3 -Urban Design ..................................... 7.4 -Gateway Entrances ........................ 7 4 .............. .. . :: .: .: Central Business District . . ... ... ... ... ... ...::... ' -Proposed Highway 30/75 Comdor .......................... 7.5 7.6 f -Historic Preservation ...... . ...... 7 6 -"Main Street" Program .....................: 7 7 ............. -Existing Economic Conditions . .............................. -Economic Expectations ........ ............ 7.8 7 8 .............. -Housing and Economic Development ...........:....... . 7.8 -Business and Industrial Development ................... 7.9 -Job Creation .. , .... ............................. 7.9 -The Community and Economic Development Strategy ........................ 7.10 -Community and Economic Development Action Strategies ............................ 7.11 CHAPTER 8 PLAN MAINTENANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION ................ 8.1 -Introduction .....................................:...... 8.1 -Land Use Regulations .................................... 8.1 -Public Capital Investments ...........................:..... 8.2 -Private Capital .......... .............................. 8.3 -Nebraska Community Development Law ...................... 8.4 -Annual Review of the Comprehensive Plan and Plarl Almendments ............................... 8.4 -Annexation Policy .................................... . .. 8.5 APPENDIX A -COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS ........................... A.1 -Community Survey ...................................... A.1 APPENDIX B -PLAN AMENDMENTS ...................................... B.1 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 ~; LIST OF TABLES TABLE TITLE 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.~ " 3.10 3.11 4.1 4.2 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6~.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11 PAGE Population Trends and Projections ................................. 3.2 Population Age Distribution Trends and Projections .................... 3.3 Births and Deaths Trends and Projections ............................ 3.4 Household Income Trends and Projections ........................... 3.5 Household Income 65+ Years Trends and Projections .................. 3.6 Persons Receiving Social Security Income ........................... 3.7 Per Capita Income Trends and Projections ..................... .... 3 S Owner and Renter Housing Costs ....... ................... . ..... 3.9 Work Force Employment By Type ................................ 3.11 Employment in County ......................................... 3.12 ..Existing Land Use ............................................ 4.12 Existing Land Use Calculations ................................... 4.15 Budgeting Costs for Proposed Improvements to the Water System .......................................... 5.16 Budgeting Costs for Proposed Improvements to the Sanitary Sewer System ................................... 5.19 Budgeting Costs for Proposed Improvements to the Transportation Circulation System (New Street Construction) ................. 5.27 Budgeting Costs for Proposed Improvements to the Transportation Circulation System (Major Street Reconstruction) ............... 5.31 Budgeting Costs for Proposed Improvements to the Transportation Circulation System Street Maintenance & Asphalt Overlays) ...... 5.32 Housing Stock Profile . ........................................ 6.2 Housing Building Trends ........................................ 6.3 Housing Stock Occupancy/Vacancy Status ........................... 6.5 Year Structure Built ........................... .................. 6.6 Housing Stock Survey .......................................... 6.6 Tenure By House hold .................................. ........ 6.7 Renter Demand Forecasts ....................................... 6.10 Proposed Rental Types ......................................... 6.11 Owner Demand Forecasts ....................................... 6.12 Proposed Owner Types ........................................ 6.13 Households Income Limits ...................................... 6.15 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 ~;; LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ILLUSTRATION TITLE PAGE 1.1 Area Location Map ................. .................... 1.3 4.1 General Soil Map ........................................ 4.3 4.2 Sharpsburg-Marshall Soils Association ........................ 4.4 4.3 Monona-Crofton Soils Association ........................... 4.5 4.4 Luton-Volin and Albaton-Haynie Soils Association ............... 4.6 4.5 Flood Hazard Map ............................. ......... 4.8 4.6 Generalized Existing Land Use Plan ......................... 4.13 4.7 Generalized Future Land Use Plan .......................... 4.18 4.8 Subarea Map ........................................... 4.23 5.1 Public Facilities .......................................... 5.3 5.2 Public Utilities Service Area Map ........................... 5.13 5.3 Circulation Plan ........................................ 5.22 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 ~;;; CHAPTER 1 THE BLAIR PLANNING PROCESS CHAPTER 1 THE BLAIR PLANNING PROCESS THE This Blair Comprehensive Plan is designed to serve as a COMPREHENSIVE replacement to the existing Comprehensive Plan, adopted in PT,AN 1981.. The existing and projected conditions in Blair were examined and compared with those contained in this Plan. Based on these examinations and comparisons, this Plan contains information about existing conditions within the City,-including- population, land use, housing, public infrastructure and facilities and transportation, It presents projections in an attempt to examine the effect of current. economic growth in the flair and Washington County area. This planning process included the development of a general plan, which establishes specific and practical guidelines for improving existing conditions and controlling future growth. The Plan itself presents a planning program designed to identify and develop policies in the areas of land use, housing, community and economic development, public infrastructure and facilities and transportation. The Comprehensive Plan was prepared under the direction of the Blair Planning Commission, with the assistance and participation of a Planning Steering Committee, City Council, City Administration and Staff and Consultants, Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., and Kirkham, Michael Associates. PLANNING PERIOD The planning time period for achieving the goals, programs and community development activities identified in this Blair Comprehensive Plan is 10 years. PLANNING The planning jurisdiction of the City of Blair includes the City's JURISDICTION Corporate Limits and the area within two miles of these corporate limits. The City enforces planning, zoning and subdivision regulations, as well as flood plain restrictions within this two mile limit. AUTHORITY TO PLAN The Comprehensive Plan for Blair is prepared under the Authority of Section 18-1302, Nebraska State Statutes, 1943, as Amended. This document is a replacement to the Comprehensive Plan adopted by the City of Blair in 1981. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 1 1.1 RESPONSIBLE GROWTH The City of Blair is located at the intersection of Highways 30, AND DEhELOPMENT 91 and 75. Blair is located an estimated 26 miles north of Omaha and 24 miles east of Fremont, Nebraska. The eastern limit of Blair is adjacent to the Missouri River. Blair is located 11 miles west of Interstate 29 in Iowa. Blair is the county seat of Washington County and provides all pertinent employment activities and social, cultural and governmental services. Blair's unique location allows the City to be a regional center for retail commerce and industrial growth. The Blair Comprehensive Planning process promotes responsible growth. This includes a firm understanding of the growth potential within the existing built environs of Blair, as well as the support for preserving the agricultural and associated natural resources within and adjacent to the City. Undeveloped areas within the City's two-mile planning jurisdiction should eventually be given a land use and zoning classification capable of preserving the integrity of these areas, while providing controlled, well planned growth potential. Areas of residential and commercial development should complement one another and the economic potential of the Central Business District (CBD) should be realized and maintained. A concerted effort needs to be made to implement a land use and development plan complimentary to the proposed Highway 30 and 75 commercial land uses. This plan will be crucial to the future growth of the community and economics of the CBD. The CBD should strive to serve as the center for commerce and professional services for the people of the Blair market area. The redevelopment of existing neighborhood areas within Blair, as well as the continued planned development of newer residential areas, should be given priority during the planning period. Commercial and residential development can exist harmoniously if supported by an effective zoning regulatory process and the use of sound planning practices. Both future commercial and residential growth should be pursued, emphasizing long-term, shared benefits and not the immediacy of speculative development. Blair Comprehensive P1anBconomic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 1 1.2 A program for future commercial and industrial development in Blair is well in place. With the efforts of the Blair Area Chamber of Commerce and overall Blair leadership base, the City has kept pace with needed employment opportunities. The City has established a plan providing ample land area for industrial development within the community. ILLUSTRATION 1.1 AREA LOCATION MAP BLAIR, NEBRASKA I Sl ] r u~HmHl r unw ~ 3'S'!~ 1V Ci "" 9 --9-' ~ ~ ~ '~ DISTRICT 8 ~ Craig ~ / Sou ,,t ~~I r ----%--1-- ----' ti ~ ~~; --~-~-----r` Uehli~q ~---- ~ 7 ondam,n ~~ ~ r I r ..--' , ~7 7 j ' ( uognolia ~r -~•---}-- ----- • -- 9- -- ~ iierman~`, ~ ,: j ~7_ ~ ) I ~ _, I . -- ~.. Logan --~- ilooeer-_ -~'T-; '~ ~ ',~ BLAIR 30 Per p Ainsi r ~ ~ ~-.. D G E ~ 5 ~' ~A~HINGT~>. , ~ A.RRI~~N ' 1 ' ~ ,~ ~ Missouri Valley 9l BLA1 . - .~ .; , --"-'-~- Nickerson ~' I9 ~'`®a+farKxnoN _~ FREMONT ' 111' icemorG 75 151'Kµ 680 a ames~ 7Q ~ `'~rlingion ~. _.,,__ r~a~.~.. Neola .__"` ...... 30 a ro~~ , a~-~-`~ ._. } _ 5 ---L' ~I7 2 X33 Cod _ - .__. 4 ~: ~ r e3 Biu~ Ingle o 0 2 3G ~ , ; 531 ~oshington ,~5 g 68 Urdervooa 80 I 5 ~`--- - 36- - ~ -- 109 leshara .6 1~ I q 8T Ingt 1~ ~' Crescent ~ 7 R ~ ---- 175 DValiey 51~G A S ~ ~1~ NA 19i fnlnn ---~j 64G ~1 ]•• EI~F4 ~ ~~QI r(1 / ~- Responsible growth and development activities will include the ongoing planning and implementation of needed public facilities in Blair. The community is cognizant of its social and recreational needs, but will need to upgrade and develop modern, accessible public facilities and infrastructure. A local policy and management plan, capable of serving the public facility/infrastructure needs of the entire community and not just the population residing within the corporate limits of the City, will need to be created. Public facilities/ infrastructure having the ability to address county- and region wide needs should be considered. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 1 1.3 ECONOMIC The City of Blair Comprehensive Planning process has been- PROFILEAND PLAN designed to enhance economic development, which will promote stability within the community and the local economy. ` To accomplish this, community leaders will need to react to changing economic conditions and access programs available to meet these changes. Local decisions will need to enhance economic opportunities as well as preserve local values. Citizen input will be needed to assist and enhance this political decision making process. The use of a Community Redevelopment Authority as a vehicle to plan and implement commercial, industrial and residential development in Blair is strongly encouraged. This comprehensive plan includes an economic profile and plan, designed to address the current economic conditions and future potentials of Blair. This Chapter of the Plan addresses issues associated with neighborhood development, urban design, historic preservation, housing as economic development, business and industrial development, job retention and creation and business district redevelopment concepts. This chapter recommends specific actions for increased economic development activities in Blair. Providing new and modern housing in Blair during the next 10 years will ensure a population base capable of supporting new business in the area. All types of housing are needed, including that for elderly as well as younger families. The City should support the housing development efforts of both profit and not- for-profit entities, as they strive to meet the housing needs of Blair. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 1 1.4 ORGANIZATION OF THE The City of Blair Comprehensive Planning process utilized PLAN both a qualitative and quantitative approach to gathering pertinent information. The qualitative approach included a comprehensive citizen participation process consisting of the organization of a Planning Steering Committee, Community Congress, interviews and presentations to local "key" leadership and aoounity-wide opinion survey. In all, an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 local citizens gave their input into the Blair Comprehensive Planning process. The quantitative approach included the analysis of the various components of the Comprehensive Plan utilizing numerous statistical data bases provided by the U.S. Census and other pertinent local, state and federal agencies. This quantitative approach included numerous field research activities to determine the present condition and profiles of local land use, housing, public infrastructure and facilities and environmental issues. Combining the results of these two important approaches produced a Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan. This Comprehensive Plan includes the following eight elements. • THE BLAIR PLANNING PROCESS ® GOALS, POLICIES AND ACTION STRATEGIES • POPULATION AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS • LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT • PUBLIC FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE • HOUSING PROFILE AND PLAN • ECONOMIC PROFILE AND PLAN • PLAN MAINTENANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION The system embodied in this framework is a process which relies upon continuous feedback as goals change and policies become more clearly defined. Planning is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and revision throughout the proposed planning period. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 1 1.~ This Comprehensive Plan document is organized in three elements. The first element of the Comprehensive Plan is the Goals, Policies and Action Strategies. The Goals and Policies represent the foundation for which planning components are designed and eventually implemented. The Goals and Policies identified in the Blair Comprehensive Plan address each component of the Plan itself. Action Strategies identify specific activities or events which should occur during the planning period. The second element is the Background Analysis which presents the research, both quantitative and qualitative, necessary for the development of the Plan's goals, policies and action strategies. This research included the investigation of demographic, economic, land use, housing, transportation and public facility and utility data for the City of Blair. The careful research of past and present data allowed for the projection of future population and development needs. The third element of the Comprehensive Plan is the Planning Components which present general background analysis and future plans for Land Use, Public Facilities and Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development. Also included in this element are proposed program development concepts to assist in the implementation of these planning components. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Econorpic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 1 1.6 CHAPTER 2 PLANNING GOALS, POLICIES' AN E CHAPTER 2 GOALS, POLICIES AND ACTION .STRATEGIES INTRODUCTION A Comprehensive Plan is an essential tool to properly guide the development of a modern community. An important aspect of this planning process is the development of appropriate and specific planning goals, policies and action strategies to provide local planners direction in the administration and overall implementation-of the-Comprehensive--Plan. Inessence,-the goals and policies are the most fundamental elements of the Plan; the premises upon which all other elements of the Plan must relate. Goals are broad statements, identifying the state or condition the citizenry wishes the primary components of the planning area to be or evolve into within a given length of time. Primary components include Population, Community Image, Land Use, Housing, Infrastructure and Public Facilities, Transportation and Circulation, Commercial/Industrial and Plan Maintenance and Implementation. Goals are long-term in nature and, in the case of those identified for this Comprehensive Plan, will be active throughout the planning period 1996 to 2006. Policies help to further define the meaning of goals. In essence, Policies are a specific statement or achievement to be accomplished as a step toward fulfilling a goal. Policies, or often referred to as objectives, are sub-parts of a Goal and are accomplished in a much shorter time space. Action Strategies represent very specific activities to accomplish a particular Goal. In many cases, specific time lines are attached to Action Strategies. Action Strategies are the most measurable component of a Comprehensive Plan. The specific goals, policies and action strategies of this Comprehensive Plan are included with the discussion of each respective Plan component. The goals, policies and action strategies identified in this Plan have been reviewed, discussed and modified on many occasions to result in a consensus of understanding and vision for the future of Blair by all groups and individuals involved in the Blair Comprehensive Planning process. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.1 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. Continue to improve the quality of life and sense of community for all residents of Blair. 2. Foster the value of the community and encourage the development of local action to preserve and strengthen the City of Blair. 3. Implement appropriate community and economic developments to enable an increase in the population of Blair by an estimated 1.2 percent per year for the next 10 years, or 900 people and 370 households by 2006. 4. Provide all residents with access to a variety of safe, decent, sanitary housing types, including elderly and persons with disabilities. 5. Stabilize and broaden the economic base to create and expand employment opportunities for all age categories. 6. Preserve and improve the physical appearance and character of the community, including the Central Business District and Highway 30 and 75 commercial and industrial corridors. Blair- Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.2 7. Maximize the opportunities to provide for the many needs, desires and activities of all segments of the population and maintain and improve those qualities which make Blair a - -desirable place in which to live, work and pursue leisure time activities. 8. 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. POPULATION Policies 1. Stabilize and increase the population within the community of Blair by developing housing and economic opportunities, coupled with appropriately planned annexation practices. 2. Promote modem services, business and industry, in an effort to create a greater population base. 3. .Create aesthetic and quality built environments in which to live. Action Strategies 1. Promote social and economic opportunities during the planning period to increase the population. 2. Couple new housing developments with additional job creation. 3. Promote Blair as a great place to retire. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.3 COMMUNITY IMAGE Policies 1: Publicly promote the image of Blair, in an effort to attract workers in surrounding communities to reside in Blair. Z. Encourage an ongoing forum for citizen participation to maintain and improve the economic and social quality of life in the community. Action. Strategies 1. Implement a planned program of historic preservation in the Central Business District and selected residential neighborhood areas. 2. Create and implement a downtown revitalization plan, including greenery, landscape and facade improvements. 3. Establish an on-going program of community beautification. 4. Develop programs to encourage youth retention and recruitment. 5. Maintain and continue to improve the Public Education System. 6. Support and develop public/private partnerships for the development and redevelopment of residential and commercial/industrial areas of Blair. 7. Maintain a program or process of actively pursuing federal, state and local funds to preserve and improve the community. 8. Systematically remove dilapidated stnrctures and excessive debris within targeted neighborhood areas of the City. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.4 LAND USE Policies 1. Provide opportunities for community development in an orderly and efficient manner in both the old and new areas of Blair. 2. Establish and maintain land use development patterns and densities in the community, that best conform with the desires and needs of-the residents-and-emphasize improved quality of development and livability for the residents of the community. Existing developed areas of Blair, however, should be designated for a high density development patterns to enable optimum use of existing infrastructure systems. 3. Continue to encourage compatible adjacent land uses during the planning and implementation of development activities. 4. Encourage land use patterns which preserve and protect the unique natural features and resources of the community from adverse development. 5. Promote land uses which maintain and provide a safe and sanitary environment, free. of air, water and noise pollution. 6. Future development should be encouraged to locate in areas which are relatively free of environmental problems related to ground water soil, slope and the 100 year floodplain and floodway zones. Action Strategies 1. Redevelop and improve older areas of the community, develop vacant parcels and utilize the existing public services and facilities. 2. Develop areas in the northwest, north and south portions of Blair for residential subdivisions. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.5 3. Future commercial development activities should be concentrated in the Central Business District and along the Highway 30 corridor. 4. Industrial developments in Blair should occur primarily in the east and southeast areas of the City, primarily in the region bettiveen highways 30 and 75. 5. Combinations of highway commercial and industrial land uses should be limited to the east Highway 30 area. 6. Future land uses along the southern Highway 30 corridor should remain commercial in nature. 7. Future land uses along the Highway 75 corridor, north of Nebraska Street, should remain residential in character in order to be compatible with existing residential neighborhoods. The results of the community wide survey indicated that this area should be targeted for future residential growth. 8. Blair should maintain zoning regulations which are compatible to current development trends and community attitudes. 9. Develop subdivision regulations tivhich complement the Zoning Ordinance and Municipal Codes. 10. Establish a comprehensive program of eliminating substandard or dilapidated housing and commercial structures which pose eminent threats to the health, safety and welfare of the community. 11. Adopt both voluntary and involuntary annexation policies in conformance with state statutes. 12. Implement the process of blight and substandard determination and redevelopment planning, as per the Nebraska Community Development Lativ. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.6 13. Utilize. the enabling powers of the Blair Community Development Agency to secure and improve lands for future residential, commercial and industrial developments. 14. City Council needs to facilitate and oversee public/private partnerships, to ensure the proper development of land. HOUSING Policies 1. Provide-all residents with access to a variety of safe, decent, sanitary housing types. 2. Promote development of residential options for residents of all income levels. 3. Provide additional housing in Blair to both attract future residents and eliminate the "pent-up" demand for housing for the current citizens of the City. 4. Develop housing programs and projects to deplete the current housing vacancy deficiency in Blair. 5. Protect and preserve existing residential areas and housing units, through continued planned rehabilitation programs. 6. Encourage future residential development which is compatible and complements existing neighborhoods. 7. Actively access affordable housing programs available from local, state and federal agencies/departments. Action Strategies 1. Develop up to 233 rental horsing units and 310 owner housing units in Blair by 2006. 2. Rehabilitate up to X33 housing units in Blair by 2006. 3. Remove and replace up to 4S units of housing by 2006. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter. 2 2.7 4. Maintain a minimum community housing vacancy rate of S percent for modern, marketable housing stock. 5. City needs to create a housing code committee to investigate the feasibility of and need for a local housing code to ensure minimum housing conditions are being met within the community. 6. Enforce building, plumbing, electrical, and fire codes for all residential housing. 7. Maximize ducal public and private resources, organizations and, if needed, create a community based entity, to assist in the promotion andlor development of affordable housing opportunities. 8. Coordinate the development of affordable housing needs of Blair with related educational, health and social services programs, both public and private. 9. Support and utilize the State of Nebraska Consolidated Housing Plan to create affordable housing opportunities in Blair. 10. Promote horsing opportunities in and around the Central Business District, by either replacing the old strrsctures or converting second~loor of commercial buildings to residential use. 11. Encourage the development of additional owner and renter occupied housing types, including single family, multiple family for low- to moderate income families, persons with disabilities and the elderly, to meet existing and fixture needs of all Blair residents. 12. Continue to secure grants/financial assistance to develop both owner and renter housing rehabilitation/repair programs for low and moderate income households to upgrade their homes to minimum housing quality standards. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.8 13. Establish a "home modification"program for persons with disabilities and the elderly. INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES 14. Continue grants/financial assistance to develop a frrst- time homebuyer assistance program. 15. Develop and adopt regulations which encourage development of affordable housing subdivisions. 16.. Coordinate community housing needs with local economic development activities. 17. Promote maximum energy efficient housing standards and provide incentives for implementation. 18. Designate areas for high density residential development which have access to adequate infrastructure and public services. 19. All new residential development should be served by adequate City utilities and services. 20. Develop a program for systematic removal of dilapidated structures. 21. Adopt and enforce a housing code and occupancy permit program for existing housing units. Policies 1. Provide adequate, efficient and appropriate utilities and services throughout the community of Blair to existing and future residential, recreational, commercial and industrial areas. 2. Maintain an adequate supply of potable water and expanded distribution system suitable for present and future consumption and fire protection within Blair. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.9 3. Maintain the provision of facilities and services necessary to prevent pollution of the environment. Provide sewage treatment, refuse collection and disposal, street cleaning, flood control and .similar environmental-control processes. 4. Maintain and improve the existing public facilities and services in Blair and develop, as needed, new facilities and services to reflect resident's needs and demands. 5. Educate developers and the general public on solid waste management and recycling of materials. E~CtiOil ~Ji~Yd~e~ie$ 1. Provide adequate law enforcement and fire protection services, with increased emphasis on community relations as well as adequate civil defense and emergency service, including facilities necessary to support such services throughout the community and promote the coordination of these services among the various governmental and quasi-governmental entities. 2. Continue to maintain and improve school facilities to encourage and support excellence in education. 3. Ensure public services be expanded to keep pace with growth. 4. Provide public services in an efficient and economic manner in order to protect and enhance the safety and welfare of the residents of Blair through the provision of medical facilities, human services, library and supportive services for the elderly. 5. Improve public transportation services, especially for the elderly. 6. Continue to provide and improve recreation programs for the youth, elderly, persons with disabilities and families. 7. Develop and improve recreational, educational and cultural facilities. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.10 8. Encourage/promote the provision of additional senior citizen services and facilities. TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION Policies 1. Provide a transportation system throughout Blair for the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services. 2. Concentrate efforts within the Central Business District to alleviate conflicts between pedestrians and motorized vehicles, particularly along Washington Street (Highway 30). 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. Action Strategies 1. Maintain and adopt a coordinated plan for maintenance, improvement and future locations of all streets, roads, hightivays and bridges in the community, including paving, curbs, gutters, street lighting, curb cuts, replacements, etc. 2. Monitor and control traffic through town. 3. Implement measures to protect pedestrians within the Central Business District. Types of potential programs to be considered are: longer intervals for "tivalk"signals, coordinate traffic lights to slow the flotiv of traffic, add a turn lane to Washington Street, or ultimately, by pass Highways 30 and 75 around the perimeter of Blair. 4. Develop and maintain acommunity-tivide sidewalks program to provide a safe and efficient system for pedestrian movement including handicap accessibility within the community. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.11 5. New residential developments in Blair will require appropriate and adequate streets, curbs, gutters and sidewalk needs. 6. Encourage efficient parking facilities for the commercial and industrial developments. 7. Maintain parking standards for residential areas. 8. Develop frontage roads along the southern Highway 30 Corridor to improve safety and access to commercial and industrial businesses and where needed, install tra~c control lights. , COMMERCIAL/ INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT Policies 1. Utilize the Blair Comprehensive Plan as a community and economic development resource guide for future commercial developments. 2. Utilize the Blair land use plan, zoning and subdivision regulations as a guide for both business and industrial developments. 3. Utilize the potential of the Blair Chamber of Commerce, Blair industries, State and City Government, local public power companies and other existing and potential organizations or special committees for technical and financial assistance for securing new economic development activities. 4. Maximize economic opportunities for all residents by fostering increased employment and investment. 5. Utilize local, state and federal funding sources to strengthen existing and assist in the creation of new business/industry, including the use of tax increment financing. 6. Expand economic opportunities of the local agricultural community. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.12 Action Strategies 1. Create 460 to S00 new jobs in Blair by 2006. 2. Develop incentives to encourage former residents of the community to move back to Blair to start their own businesses in order to provide a broader selection of services and employment options to the citizens of Blair. 3. Encourage local reinvestment in the community. 4. Encourage the revitalization and 102 removal of vacant and substantially deteriorated commercial/industrial buildings in Blair. 5. Promote the implementation of "historic designation" to the Register of Historic Places for all commercial, industrial, residential and public buildings having significant historic value. 6. Develop an efficient parking plan within commercial areas, for both on- and off-street vehicular parking. 7. Enhance the attractiveness of the business and industrial areas of Blair through revitalization and beautification efforts. 8. Expand shopping facilities, thus opportunities, to attract non-local businesses. 9. Promote the existence and development of commercial/ business types that will maximize the opportunity for job creation and future job quantity and quality. 10. Continue and improve current special events within commercial areas. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.13 11. Encourage street-scope improvements in Blair's Central Business District, i. e., lighting to enhance architectural features, landscaping, signage and public seating areas. 12. Implement Zoning Regulations which are compatible to the characteristics of commercial and industrial areas. 13. Allow housing opportunities in appropriate commercial areas. 14. Utilize local technical and financial resources to assist existing and future businesses and industries to exist and grow. , 15. Promote the existence and development of industrial type businesses that are "light manufacturing" in nature, and/or do not produce products and pollutants detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the community. 16. Encourage the development of industries that will utilize local industrial and agricultural resources. 17. Promote economic growth and development activities on a county basis with adjacent communities. 18. Continue and improve working relationships tivith regional and state offices to promote economic development. 19. Use local organizations to promote and facilitate residential and commercial projects. 20. Provide infrastructure and needed amenities to support future growth of commercial, industrial and residential tracts. 21. Utilize federal, state and local incentives to recruit and retain job opportunities. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.14 PLAN MAINTENANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION Policies 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. Action Strategies 1. Establish an annual review process of the Comprehensive Plan and associated zoning and subdivision regulations. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 2 2.15 CHAPTER 3 POPULATION AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS INTRODUCTION Population trends in Blair and its respective planning jurisdiction serve as valuable indicators of future development needs and patterns for the community and provide a basis for the realistic projection of the future population. The quantity, location and density of demographic features play an important role in shaping --the details of various-development plans to-meet the-needs of the community. The population trends and projections for the years 1980 through 2006 were studied and forecasted, utilizing a process of both trend analysis and popular consent. The Blair Planning Steering Committee established a population growth goal for the City of 1.2 percent annually. To meet this goal, the City of Blair would need to ensure the annexation of future developed land areas adjacent to and outside the present corporate limits of the community. This population goal would also require the creation of additional jobs and housing stock for the City. GENERAL POPULATION TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS The analysis and projection of population are at the center of all planning decisions. This process assists in understanding important changes which have and will occur throughout the community's planning period. Estimating population size is critical to a community planning process. Further, projecting a community's population is extremely complex. Since projections are based on various asswnptions about the future, they must be carefully analyzed and continually reevaluated due to the community's dynamic economic and social structure. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.1 Table 3.1 identifies population trends and projections for the City of Blair and Washington County from 1980 through 2006. It is . estimated that the population of both the City and Washington County have reached current (1996) estimated populations of 7,500 and 18,100 respectively. TABLE 3.1 POPULATION TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS BLAIR/WASHINGTON COUNTY 1980 - 2006 Total Annual Year Population Chanue Percent Chance Percent Blair: 1980 6,418 -- -- -- -- 1990 6,860 +442 +6.9% +44 0.70% 1996 7,500 +640 +9.3% +106 I.SS% 2006 8,400 +900 +12.0% +90 1.20% Washington 1980 15,508 -- -- -- -- County: 1990 .16,607 +1099 +7.1% +110 +0.7% 1996 18,100 +1493 +8.9% +248 +1.4% 2006 19,400 +1300 +7.2% +130 +.07% Source: Census of Population and Housing 1980, STF-lA 1990, 1996 Census Estimates Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Utilizing the 1.2 percent annual growth goal, the City ofBlair would experience an increase of 900 persons during the period 1996 to 2006, to produce a total population base of 8,400. Washington County would also increase in population; an estimated 7.2 percent, or 1,300 persons, by 2006, to 19,400. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.2 POPULATION For planning purposes, the various cohorts of population are CHARACTERISTICS important indicators of the special needs of a community. The cohorts of age, sex and family structure can assist in determining potential labor force and the need for housing, public facilities and other important local services. An analysis of age characteristics can be used to identify the potential need for public school, recreational areas and short- and long-term health care facilities. - - - -Table 3.2-provides-age_distribution trends and projections for__ _ _ the City of Blair. Between 1996 and 2006, each age category is expected to increase in population. The largest estimated increase will occur in the older age groups. The median age increased from 30.2 years in 1980, to 34.4 years in 1990. By 2006, the median age in Blair is expected to increase to 36.4 years. TABLE 3.2 POPULATION AGE DISTRIBUTION TRENDS AND PROJE CTIONS Blair, NEBRASKA 1980-2006 Aye Group 1980 1990 Change 1996 2006 Change 19 & Under 2,043 1,999 -44 2,121 2,244 +123 20-34 1,583 1,488 -95 1,591 1,730 +139 35-54 1,196 1,588 +392 1,758 1,860 +102 55-64 546 568 +22 723 895 +172 65-74 478 545 +67 578 735 +157 75+ 572 672 +100 729 936 +207 TOTAL 6,418 6,860 +442 7,500 8,400 +900 Median Age 30.2 34.4 +4.2 34.3 36.4 +2.1 Source: Census of Population, 1980, 1990 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 During the next 10 years, an increase in persons should occur in each elderly age category (55+ years). The largest increase should occur in the 75+ years of age group. Overall, persons age 55 and over are expected to increase 536 persons by 2006. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.3 BIRTHSAND DEATHS Table 3.3 provides an analysis of birth and death trends in Blair from 1985 to 2006. During the first 10 year period, Blair experienced a net loss, with deaths exceeding births by 8 persons. This trend of net change is expected to reverse during the next 10 years to produce a net gain of approximately 250 persons. TABLE 3.3 BIIZTHS AND DEATHS TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS BLAIR, NEBRASKA 1985-2006 Year Births Deaths Net Change 1985 82 101 -19 1986 85 98 -13 1987 59 80 -21 1988 87 75 +12 1989 73 87 -14 1990 79 93 -14 '~ 1991 99 89 +10 1992 82 72 +10 1993 102 93 +9 1994 109 77 +32 TOTAL 857 865 -8 Annual Avg. 86 87 -1 i 1996- 2006 TOTAL 960 710 +250 Annual Avg. 96 71 +25 Source: Nebraska Department of Health, Division of Health Data Systems, 1993 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.4 INCOME TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS HOUSEHOLD INCOME Despite this increase in median income, by 2006 an estimated 38 percent of all households in Blair will have an annual income of 80 percent or less of the County's median income, or officially classified as "love- to moderate income". TABLE 3.4 HOUSEHOLD INCOME TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS BLAIlt, NEBRASKA 1990-2006 of Change Income Group 1990 1996 2006 1996-2006 Less than $10,000 410 310 241 -22.2% $10,000 - $19,999 608 476 381 -19.9% $20,000 - $34,999 595 774 946 +22.2% $35,000 - $49,999 518 738 966 +30.9% $50,000 or more 456 560 694 +23.9% TOTAL (specified) 2,587 2,858 3,228 +12.9% Median Income: $26,288 $32,460 $36,700 +13.1% Source: Census of Population, STF-3A, 1990 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Table 3.4 identifies household income trends and projections in Blair, Nebraska. In 1990, an estimated 52.8 percent of the Blair households earned an annual income of $25,000 or more. By 2006, over 70 percent of all households are projected to earn annual incomes of $25,000+. The median household income is expected to increase from $29,000 in 1996 to $32,250 in 2006. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.5 ELDERLYHOUSEHOLD Table 3.5 presents household income trends and projections INCOME for persons 65 years of age and over in Blair, Nebraska. All household income categories of more than $15,000 are expected to increase during the next 10 years. The largest percentage increases anticipated to occur during this planning period will be the $35,000 to $49,999 and over income category, with an overall expected increase of 100.4 percent. Despite an increase in annual income levels, by 2006, an estimated 48 percent of the, senior households are expected to have an annual income of less than 80 percent of the County's median income, or officially classified as °°low- to moderate income'°. TABLE 3.5 HOUSEHOLD INCOME, 65+ YEARS TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS BLAIl2, NEBRASKA 1990-2006 of Change Income Group 1990 1996 2006 1996-2006 Less than $10,000 279 227 177 -22.0% $10,000 - $14,999 143 131 100 -23.6% $15,000 - $34,999 302 386 582 +20.6% $35,000 - $49,999 37 60 146 +50.7% $50,000 or more 30 39 53 +100.4% TOTAL (specified) 791 843 1,058 +25.5% Median Income: $14,355 $18,300 $23,660 +29.3% Source: Census of Popul ation, STF-3A, 1990 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & ;Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.6 SOCIAL SECURITY Table 3.6 identifies the number of persons receiving Social RECIPIENTS Security Income (SSI) (1994) and/or Supplemental Social Security Income (SSSI) (1994) in Washington County. A total of 2,790 persons received SSI in 1994. Of this total, 65.2 percent were retired workers, while 20.9 percent were under 65 - years of age. In 1994, the total persons receiving social security income equalled an estimated 17 percent of the County population. TABLE 3.6 PERSONS RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME... WASHINGTON COUNTY Social Securit-~ Income December 1994 Retirement Benefits Wives and Husbands Retired Workers Children Survivor Benefits Widows and Widowers Children Disability Benefits Disabled Workers Wives and Husbands Children Total (Dec. 1994) Aaed 65 or Older Men Women Total Supplemental Security Income (1994) Aged (65+) Blind Disabled Total Source: Department of Health and Human Services Social Security Administration Hanna:Keelan Associates P.C., 1996 Number of Beneficiaries 245 1,820 15 395 80 160 10 65 2,790 910 1295 2205 Number of Beneficiaries 16 2 61 79 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.7 A total of 79 people received Supplemental Social Security Income in 1994. This equalled about 0.4 percent of the total persons in Washington County. A total of 63, or 79.7 percent of the recipients were blind or disabled. This number identifies a special consumer group in the County in need of special services. PER CAPITA INCOME Table 3.7 identifies per capita income trends and projections for Washington County. The 1996 per capita income is estimated to be $25,311. By 2006, per capita income is expected to increase 47 percent, to $37,207. TABLE 3.7 PER CAPITA INCOME TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS WASHINGTON COUNTY 1988-2006 Income % Chance 1988 $14,536 -- 1989 $15,933 +9.6% 1990 $17,907 +12.4% 1991 $18,487 +3 2% 1992 $19, 703 +6.6% 1988-1992 $14,536-19,703 +35.5% 1996-2006 $25,311-37,207 +47.0% Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1992 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.8 OWNER AND RENTER Table 3.8 identifies housing costs as a percentage of household HOUSING COSTS income in Blair, in 1990, for both owner and renter households. A total of 40.7 percent of the renter households, 12.3 percent of .the owner households and 21.9 percent of all households paid more than 30 percent. of their annual income for housing costs. TABLE 3.8 OWNER AND RENTER HOUSING COSTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME BLAIR, AtEBRASKA 1990 Income Owner Renter All tegories Households Households Households Less than $10,000 Less than 30 percent 59 61 120 30 percent or more 67 216 283 $10,000 to $19,999 Less than 30 percent 236 124 360 30 percent or more 99 103 202 $20,000 to $34,999 Less than 30 percent 334 191 525 30 percent or more 29 0 29 $35,000 to $49,999 Less than 30 percent 388 61 449 30 percent or more 0 8 0 $50,000 or more Less than 30 percent 367 39 406 30 percent or more 0 0 0 TOTAL 1,597 803 2,382 All Incomes Less than 30 percent 1,384 (87.7%) 476 (59.3%) 1,860 (78.1%) percent or more 195 (12.3%1 327 (40.7°/Q) 522.(,21.9%1 TOTAL (specified) 1,597 (100%) 803 (100%) 2,382 (100%) Source: Census of Population, STF-3A, 1990 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.9 EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC TRENDS LABOR FORCEAND Table 3.9 depicts the labor force and employment for EMPLOYMENT Washington County from 1980 to 2006. To accomplish the proposed 1.2 percent annual growth goal for Blair, the County labor force would need to increase almost 6 percent, to a total of 10,774 workers by the end of the planning period and an additional, estimated 531 jobs would need to be provided for County residents during the next 10 years. TABLE 3.9 CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE AND EMPLOYMENT TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS WASHINGTON COUNTY 1980-2006 1980 1990 1996 2006 Civilian Labor Force 7,339 8.997 10,144 10,774 Unemployment 341 183 189 188 Rate of Unemployment 4.7% 2.0% 1.86% 1.75% Employment 6,998 8,814 9,955 10,486 Change in Total Employment Number Annual % Change % Annual 1980 - 1990 +1,816 +25.9 +4.5% +0.5% 1990 - 1996 +1,141 +190.1 +12,9% +2.1% 1996 - 2006 +531 +53.1 +5.3% +0.5% Source: Nebraska Department of Labor, Labor Market Information, 1991 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 The most recent and comprehensive employment data available for Washington County was obtained from the Nebraska Department of Labor. Since these figures are only available on a county-wide basis, a review and analysis of Washington County labor force statistics will need to provide an understanding of the economic activity occurring in and around the City of Blair. Since the City of Blair comprises such a large percentage of the total County labor force (estimated 48%), it can be assumed the economic pattern of Washington County reflects the economic pattern of Blair. However, some variation due to differences in rural and urban may not be truly identified based upon this assumption. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.10. EMPLOYMENT TYPE Table 3.10 identifies that from 1984 to 1994 Washington County experienced an overall increase of 38.8 percent in non-farm employed persons. From 1996 to 2006, the number of non-farm employed persons is expected to continue to increase as new jobs are created and small businesses expand and additional retail, industrial and construction jobs are added to the area's employment market. TABLE 3.10 WORK FORCE EMPLOYMENT BY TYPE WASHINGTON COUNTY 1984-1994 Change % Change Work Force 1984 1989 1994 1984-1989 1989-1994 Non-Farm Employment Wage and Salary 3,911 4,407 5,430 +12.7% +23.2% Manufacturing 395 436 543 +10.4% +24.5% Durable 308 351 47S +13.9% +35.3°!° Non-Durable 86 85 68 -1.2% +20.0% Non-Manufacturing 3,516 3,971 4,887 +12.9% +23.1% Construction & Mining 213 269 419 +16.5% +55.8% Trans., Comm., Utilities* 210 156 197 +25.7% +26.3% Trade 1,007 1,046 1,184 +3.9% +13.2% Retail 729 895 976 +22.8% +9.1 Wholesale 215 151 208 +29.8% +37.7% Fin, Ins. & Real Estate** 118 138 172 +16.9% +24.6% Services 1,056 1,144 1,428 +8.3% +21.8% Government 895 1,220 1,486 +36.3% +21.8% Federal 44 47 48 +6.8% +2.1% State 31 27 27 +12.9% +0.0% Local 819 1,145 1,412 +39.8% +23.3% * Transportation, Communication & Public Utilities ** Financial, Insurance & Real Estate Source: Nebraska Department of Labor, Labor Market, Information, 1994 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.11 COMMUTER POPULATION Table 3.11 identifies the commuter population of Blair and Washington County. The 1990 Census identified that percent of Blair's employed population and 60.5 percent of the County's employed population worked outside the City or County. TABLE 3.11 EMPLOYMENT IN COUNTY BLAIR/WASHINGTON COUNTY 1990 Blair Residents Place of Emploxment Number Percent City of Blair Outside of Blair TOTAL County of Washington Outside of Washington County TOTAL Travel Time to Work 9 minutes or less 10-19 minutes 20-29 minutes 30-39 minutes 40 minutes or more 1,940 1,402 3,342 58.0% 42, 0% 100% Washington County Residents 2,215 39.5% 3,398 60,5% 5,613 100% Number 1,682 500 247 468 353 Source: Census of Population and Housing, STF-3A, 1990 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 ECONOMIC SUMMARY Overall, the economic outlook for Blair could be considered "excellent" for the planning period (1996 to 2006). Economic opportunities will expand with the development of the Highway 30 corridor. Both commercial and industrial development opportunities will exist. Blair is the county seat of Washington County and provides many area-wide and regional services. The stable economy and improved business development, coupled with a renewed interest in rural communities, makes Blair a very attractive community in which to work and live. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 3 3.12 CHAPTER 4 LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT INTRODUCTION The Land Use and Development Chapter of this Comprehensive Plan identifies the land use development patterns which have occurred in Blair since the adoption of the last Comprehensive Plan and examine future land use development opportunities and requirements and the utilization of and in_and-around the community. Chapter 2 identified the goals and policies associated with land use development, to provide guidance to the City with its future land use administration and practices. In this Chapter, a discussion of the environmental and physical characteristics of the community of Blair precedes a description and analyses of existing and future land use conditions in the City. The final section of this Chapter discuss proposed "subarea" development recommendations and the environmental impact of future development activities in Blair. Proper land use practices can protect the natural resources and be a complement to the built environment. The natural environment of the community provides both opportunities and constraints for existing and future developments. As humans strive to create a sustainable living environment, they must work and live in harmony with their natural surroundings. This can occur by designing with nature, conserving unique features, protecting watersheds and using sensitive development practices. In Blair, the major development constraints and opportunities are associated with the existing soils/conditions and the Missouri River environs. The proposed future land use concentrates on the use of land in Blair and its respective two-mile planning jurisdiction during the 1996 to 2006 planning period. Special attention is given to the identification of future residential, public, parks and recreational, commercial and industrial land uses. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.1 SUBAREA A detailed discussion of Subarea development is provided to DEVELOPMENT assist the City in identifying areas within and adjacent to the City of Blair as having the greatest needs and potential for development and redevelopment during the planning period. Each of the Subareas are discussed regarding existing conditions, proposed general land use and needed public improvements. LOCATION The City of Blair is located in east central Nebraska along the Missouri River Valley. The community is-connected with the major transportation corridors of the region; U.S. Highways 30 and 75 and State Highways 91 and 133. This geographic setting directly links Blair to the major hading centers in the Midwest and points beyond, as it creates a viable and prosperous community. Blair's location is a direct result of the Missouri River transportation corridor. The correlation between accessible transportation and economic viability is not a new concept to Blair. The community has prospered since the first settlers as a result of the trade commerce and service industry resulting from the transportation of goods and people in 1870. Located 677 miles from Denver and 26 miles from Omaha, Blair's railroad and highway con•idors are considered the lifeline of the community and the basis of its location. THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT SOILS The soils in and around Blair are classified into four soil groups, or associations and have a broad range of characteristics. Illustration 4.1.,graphically displays the soil types super- imposed over an image of Blair. The US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service conducted the field soils survey and developed the boundaries of the soil types found on the illustration. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.2 I ~` +' 1 1{ ~ '. 9 i ~ F- ~ ' A~ ~'I '~ ~ --r-.. 1' ~ _ ~ , y, i . ~~,..., ~- . ~__ _, , ~, ~ 8 9 ,_~ ~ ~ ~, r ~, I , ~~ 1 1 1 ~ /, ~, ~~ 1 _ '' ~~~- 1 .. ' , ~ ~ ~, 1 , " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 1 i ~~ - ~ ~'f ~ ~} 1 1 `1 M - ~,~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ,~~ ~ ~; ~ i• ~~ ~ ~ j' ~ `' ~ I ~ ~ f ~~ ~~. t _ ~ ~ ER ~,.r j r~ ~ ~, ~ . ~ _~ ,; , . ~ fJ ~ t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t ,~ , ~ ~ , ~'~ ~ ~ = ~ ~ LEGEND r ~ = ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ , f . ~`~ ' ~ ~,., , ~ ~ ~ SHARPSBURG-MARSHALL ASSOCIATIO~~ The four soil associations depicted in Illustration 4.1 are the Sharpsburg-Marshall, Monona-Crofton, Luton-Volin and Albaton-Haynie Associations. Each of these associations are discussed in detail in the following paragraphs. SFIARPSBURGMARSHALL ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION 4.2 SHARPSBURG-MARSHALL ASSOCIATION: The Sharpsburg-Marshall soils association includes approximately 35 percent of Washington County's total area. However, within Blair's extra-territorial planning jurisdiction, only the southwest portion is comprised of this soils type. Generally, this association is located in the uplands and its corresponding slopes in the central third of the county (see Illustration 4.2). Soils in this association are silty to clayey in consistency and range from nearly level to rolling hills. Level upland soils are deep, dark and moderately fine in texture, but soils on the steep or eroded slopes have lost much of the surface soil. Nearly all of areas of the uplands are cultivated and are some of the most productive farm crop grounds in Washington County.' Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.4 MONONA-CROFTON ASSOCIATION 4a.oa>, ~,v Ww 1.1., 1W.\. 4091D ~~t~~ ~ l~l. ~~~11`1 i lip 1~~It~ ~~~1; ~ l \ \ j ~ .L {r \~ tcot~ 1 \ ~~tJ ~;~ ~ \\ ~ \ !! MOMON>-CPOCTON ~ ~~•.~~ ~~~ _ i ~', - I •' ` ~OROiV f•Qt I~O~[. (ROOt ~~. 4ewc~a ~.•,..xv 1..21 \~0....:%.t~ I { ~, \~ ~ 11 ~+. ~ .~ 1 - • ;~ roN ~ (.4,,,~ 'r (' 1, YlS W~ - C// i t = :.. Vii: ~ ,_ ~`---~~i~ N F ( ' _ (,\ rte` _, ~ ~ `\ \ CR _ ~ ~ <i t~l.l ~ S . ~~ __. -_ t 42 fl~e,1pp,,, f~`!~G '*"ro ~'a~ -'4 ~_ ~ ,5 ~a -~ -' ~ ~- PrJR~IN (OCSS - '~' y fOV(.INO ~lOCft _` - _ ~ ~ ~ ~ Il(VnVk- • ~ - _ l..~ - ~ - UNSIN• riff -~ :\:i~! ~ ~ ~ :~L • •l ( • I . ' - I cu,(Or. tRNasiavr~ ILLUSTRATION 4.3 MONONA-CROFTON ASSOCIATION: The community of Blair and the majority of its planning jw-isdiction is comprised of the Monona-Crofton Soils Association. This association is made up of rolling to hilly terrain that is dissected by numerous streams which drain into the Missouri River (see Illustration 4.3). Soils developed in loess cover the ridgetops, high terraced lands and the majority of the sloped areas. Crop lands comprise most of areas of this association. However, this region contains more trees and grasslands than any of the other soil association types throughout the County.Z LUTON-VOLIN ASSOCIATION: Within Blair's planning jurisdiction, this association is located in the eastern portion in close proximity to the Missouri River. Soils in this association are nearly level and have developed in older clayey and silty alluvium at the base of the terraced and sloped lands of the Monona-Crofton Association (see Illustration 4.4). The Luton-Volin soils are located 10 to 30 feet above the frequently flooded bottom lands along the river channel. Only eight percent of the county is comprised of this soils association type. For the most part all areas of this association are cultivated, with cash-grain farming being most common.3 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.5 ILLUSTRATION 4.4 ALBATON-HAYNIE ASSOCIATION: The Luton-Volin Association are considered high bottom lands, while Albaton-Haynie Associations are located below the high bank in direct contact with the Missouri River. Seasonal flooding and channel changes continually impact this soils association. After several dam projects were completed in the Dakotas, the threat of frequent flooding of the river was reduced to the extent where much of this soils association has been cleared and conditioned for farming. However, fewer farmsteads are located in this region as compared to the other soils association types.4 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.6 LUTON-VOLIN AND ALBATON-HAYNIE .ASSOCIATIONS WATERSHEDS The topography and terrain of Blair and its immediate vicinity are varied The natural landscape has been formed by wind and water erosion and deposits creating areas of rolling hills and bluffs along the southern and western perimeter of Blair. However, the terrain levels off abruptly east of Twenty-first Street and north of Grant Street. The natural surface water flows to the Missouri River and has sculpted the terrain, creating tributaries and drainage basins generally from a southwest to northeast axis. While Blair's terrain is predominately level throughout most of the original-town and early additions, surface drainage generally flows from west to east towards the Missouri River. Subsequent additions west of Twenty-first Street and south of Grant Street gradually increased in elevation to the crest of the bluffs over looking the community. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Insurance Administration commissioned the "Flood Insurance Study" for the City of Blair "to investigate the existence and severity of flood hazards."S The Study consists of detailed engineering graphics, tables and text. The City should refer to the Study for official hydraulic analysis. The Study outlined the flood plain management applications to guide future land use and the City's flood plain ordinance, which prohibits building in areas declared as the 100 Year Flood Hazard Zone. Flood plain and flood hazard areas are delineated in the City's official flood plain map. Illustration 4.5 depicts the 100 Year Flood Hazard Zone. No flood protection structures exist or are planned for the subject watershed. As the community continues to grow, future development within the floodway and flood plain should be discouraged and only allowed through the supervision of local regulations. The citizen's protection against natural hazards is the responsibility of the local govemment and its officials. The effect of high water or flooding can be lessened by planned open space within the designated flood plain, maintenance of the floodway and the application of design standards to reduce run-off. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.7 GROUNDWATER Surface drainage and streams account for a small percentage of Blair's extra-temtorial planning jurisdiction's water resources. The City of Blair relies upon the Missouri River as the source of water. The Blair water treatment plant began operation in 1980. A complete description of the facility is provided in Chapter 5. Although the City of Blair does not have municipal water wells, many private rural residences, farnls and a mobile home park rely on private wells. The underground water supply is vital to the region. It is the source of water for numerous private and irrigation wells. Any endangerment to the supply threatens the public's health, as well as the local farm economics. Therefore, this natural resource must be protected. The underground water supply for. the County is part of an abundant aquifer which flows across the majority of the state. Since World War II, a large increase in irrigation has lowered the water table in Washington County. Today, the wells must be 50 to 80 feet deep in the valleys and 100 to 150 feet deep in the uplands to supply water. The surface water in drainage ways and depressions seeps into the aquifer to recharge it. Thus, the surface and ground water are part of one interactive system which can not be separated. Securing the quality of drinking water from private wells in the rural areas within Blair's two-mile extra-territorial planning jurisdiction is vitally important. A minimum lot size of 3 acres is recommended for residences in agriculturally zoned areas. Lot sizes less than 3 acres would allow rural residences to locate too close to one another. Rural dwellings typically have septic tanks and, or leech fields. If located to close to each other contamination might occur. Adequate residential lot sizes are the means by which residents health, safety and welfare are ensured into the future. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.9 CLIMATE The climate of the Blair area is continental and characterized by widely ranging seasonal temperatures and rapidly changing ~. weather patterns. The temperature ranges from an average daily minimum of 12.3° F in January and maximum of 88.6° F in July. Blair's average annual precipitation consists of 26.52 inches of rain and 29.5 inches of snowfall. These climatic characteristics and fertile soils create an environment for a productive agricultural industry." Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.10 THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT The built environment of Blair is characterized by its districts, paths, edges, nodes and landmarks. The combination of these items create a sense of place and image for the citizens and patrons of Blair.. The natural terrain enhances the built environment by providing a varying and aesthetic base for urban development. The districts and neighborhoods are defined by their edges or boundaries. The major transportation comdors and the physical barriers of the terrain generally create the edge of each district with the paths, thus, giving the neighborhoods distinct boundaries. Designating the proper land use adjacent to the Highway 30, 75, 91 and 133 transportation corridors is essential. The general trend is to guide commercial development along both sides of Highway 30 to the east of downtown Blair with industrial development behind the commercial areas to the south of Highway 30 and to the east of Highway 75. Industrial growth is also targeted in the northeast portion of the city east of the Cameron Ditch and north of the Union Pacific Railroad. Commercial development is encouraged to continue along Highway 30 south of Blair and along south Highway 75 to buffer residential growth areas from industrial areas to the east. The community should take advantage of the development opportunities associated with each of these transportation comdors, to achieve the goals, policies and action strategies in this Plan. Land use is important within the neighborhood districts, as well. Transportation systems in each neighborhood should meet the residents' daily needs. Some neighborhoods lack needed amenities, have conflicting land uses and need to be redeveloped to improve the quality of life for the residents. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.11 LAND USE ANALYSES Existing Land Use in and around Blair is identified in Table 4.1 and Illustration 4.6. Table 4.2 compares the results of the EXISTING LAND USE 1968 and 1980 Comprehensive Plan updates with the 1996 Plan PROFILE update. Table 4.1 identifies the existing land use in Blair, per land use type and acres per 100 people. As a reference, the planning standard-for acres per 100 people per land use category is also shown. The total area within the City of Blair is approximately 2,650 acres. TABLE 4.1 EXISTING LAND USE BLAIR, NEBRASKA 1996 Acres per Planning Land Usc Acreage Percent 100 Pcoale Standard Vacant/Agriculture 560.23 21.14% 7.47 NA Parks/Recreation 184.58 6.97% 2.46 2.0 Public/Quasi-Public 253.44 9.56% 3.38 2.8 Streets/Alleys 537.48 20.28% 7.17 4.5 Residential 885.97 33.43% 11.81 10.0 ^Single Family 840.4 31.72% 11.21 7.5 OMultifamily 32.92 1.24% 0.44 2.0 OMobile Home 12.60 0.48% 0.17 0.5 Commercial 92.13 3.48% 1.23 2.4 Industrial 86.72 3.27% 1.16 2.3 Railroad R.O.W. 49.45 1.87% 0.66 NA TOTAL 2,650.00 100% 35.33 34.0 Source: Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.12 The following provides a profile of existing land use in Blair: ` VACANT/ Vacant and/or Agricultural land in Blair equals an estimated AGRICULTURAL 560 acres, or more than 21 percent of the total platted City area. No planning standards exist for this land use classification. An estimated 20 percent of the vacant land in Blair is undevelopable due to steep slopes, flood plains or unsuitable soils. PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC PublidQuasi-Public land acreage in Blair totals an estimated 253 acres, or 9.5 percent of the total platted community area. This land classification includes parks, Dana College, various community buildings and the Municipal Airport.. This land use classification equals an estimated 3.38 acres per 100 people, roughly 20 percent more than the required planning standard. RESIDENTIAL Residential land usage consists of an estimated 33 percent of the total platted area. The 11.8 acres of residential land per 100 persons in Blair is slightly higher than the plarming standard of 10 acres. Single Family land usage calculates to an estimated 32 percent of the total City land area. This total is approximately 50 percent higher than the planning standard per 100 people. Multifamily land usage in Blair equals an estimated 33 acres, or 1.2 percent of the Community's total land area. This total is 75 percent less than the acres needed per 100 people, based on current planning standards. Mobile Homes comprise an estimated 0.48 percent of the total platted land within Blair's corporate limits. An estimated 12.6 acres of mobile home park area equals 0.17 acres per 100 persons. This total is 150 percent less than the planning standard of 0.5 acres per 100 persons. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.14 COMMERCIAL Commercial land usage in Blair totals an estimated 92 acres. This-amount is nearly 50 percent less than the planning standard for commercial land area; 2.4 acres per 100 people. INDUSTRIAL Industrial~Land Use The total acreage of classified industrial land is 86.72 acres, within the corporate limits. Industrial acres per 100 people total :1.16, which is 50 percent less than today's planning standard requirement of 2.3 acres, per 100 persons. Table 4.2 compares the results of the 19961and use field analysis with that of the two previous comprehensive plans for Blair. LAND USE COMPARISONS TABLE 4.2 EXISTING LAND USE CALCULATIONS BLAIR, NEBRASKA 1996 Land UseTwe . 1968 1980 1996 Residential 280.2 458.9 885.0 Commercial 21.7 77.1 92.1 IndustriaUTCU* 16.0 79.0 86.7 Public/Quasi-Public 52.8 310.9 438.0 Streets and Alleys & RR 318.0 410.6 586.9 Total Developed Area 860.5 1,336.5 Vacant/Agsiculture 495.5 1.063.5 560.3 Total Platted Land 1,356.0 2,400.0 2,650.0 Source: 1980, 1988 Comprehensive Plan Hanna:Keelan Associates, Field Survey 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 . 4.]5 SUMMARY The City of Blair has'developed in a manner acceptable to the STATEMENT majority of local residents. The primary new land use developments, in recent years, have included residential and industrial development.. ,Additional commercial development has recently been concentrated in close proximity to south Highway 30. Planning- and land use development in Blair is somewhat of a difficult task, due to several factors. These factors include the physical man-made barriers, such as highways, expressways and railroads, the social and aesthetic impediments of the sewage treatment plant and industrial development and the natural hazards of the topography, like steep slopes and the Missouri River and its associated flood plain. These impediments to land use development can only be addressed by a commitment of the community to (1) reinvest in existing land uses and prepare redevelopment plans to produce more efficient land uses and (2) expand community efforts to mitigate natural hazards by providing growth in non- sensitive areas. This analysis of the existing land use situations in Blair revealed a deficiency of multifamily, mobile home, commercial and .industrial acreage. These deficiencies should be corrected in the development of a new and balanced future land use plan for the City and its respective planning jurisdiction. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.16 FUTURE LAND The City of Blair, has proposed a goal of at least a 1.2 USE PROFILE percent annual growth in population during the planning period 1996 to 2006. This goal will produce a total estimated increase of 900 persons. If met, this growth will require the creation of jobs, housing and the availability of developable land area. This growth will require special consideration be given to the identification of potential residential, commercial, .planned open space and industrial land use acres. Future annexation should take place in the non-agricultural land use districts identified in Illustration 4.6, Generalized Existing Land Use Map. These tracts could be annexed at a point-in-time when in conformance with and meeting the criteria of Nebraska's State Statues that address annexation. A certain amount of vacant land will also be needed in each district to provide an overall functional community land use system. To develop the community in the most efficient and orderly manner possible, the focus should be placed on the development of suitable (developable) vacant land within the corporate limits of Blair. There presently exists an estimated 560.3 acres of vacant land within the corporate limits. An estimated 390 acres are developable. The strategic development of infill lots and other vacant land areas within the corporate limits would allow for managed growth and the utilization of the existing infrastructure, including streets, electrical, gas, water and sewer systems. Illustration 4.7 identifies the proposed Generalized Future Land Plan for the City's existing corporate limits and the extra territorial planning jurisdiction. The following describes the future land use needs of these areas. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.17 RESIDENTIAL Future residential development in and around the City of Blair should be of a high priority to the community during the planning period. An estimated 160 acres will be needed for housing development, if the City makes a conscious effort to provide additional affordable housing options to all income sectors.. The Generalized Future Land Use Map identifies the newly designated residential areas in and around Blair as low- and medium- to high density. These designations will allow developers the option of providing a variety of housing for families, singles, older adults and special populations. The following narrative provides a description of the future residential land use compositions for the community. 0 Single family development should occur in established neighborhood and new subdivision areas, both within and in close proximity to the City. Development and redevelopment efforts should focus on infill and the proposed Subareas in the eastern and northeastern section of Blair. ^ Multifamily development should be pursued during the planning period. The development of additional units in higher densities allow for more affordable housing and greater efficiency of resources. Both illustrations (4.6 and 4.7) identify areas for development or redevelopment of multifamily housing. PARKS AND An estimated 184.58 acres of land in the City of Blair is RECREATION currently used for parks and recreation. This acreage represents 2.46 acres of park land per 100 people in the community and is 23 percent more than the planning standard of 2 acres per 100 people. Blair has been very successful in providing its citizens with more than adequate park lands. In fact, the City contains a wide range of park types from natural reserves to dedicated parks with playground equipment and ball fields. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.19 Future land uses in terms of park and recreation has devised a concept by which existing park and recreation lands are to be linked by a linear trails system. As the community grows and expands its corporate limits, areas containing low floodplains (100 year flood plan) are recommended to be developed as hiker/biker recreational trails. (See Illustration 5.1 and 4.7). PUBLIC/QUASI- Future public/quasi-public land uses in Blair will be primarily PUBLIC comprised of additional acreage,to accommodate the Highway 30, 75 and 133 corridor and existing public/quasi-public uses. While a future expressway corridor location is yet to be determined, existing land use configurations will occupy their present land area with possible expansion to meet the service requirements of the new transportational comdor. COMMERCIAL Blair's future commercial land use areas are anticipated to include the existing facilities in the Central Business District, as well as along the Highway 30/75 corridors. Expansion of commercial areas are provided for in the Future Land Use Plan, Illustration 4.7. Primary growth areas are focused on Highway 30, from the downtown east to the Missouri River, along { Highway 75 from approximately Tenth Street southeast nearly one and a quarter miles and, lastly, along the Highway 30 and Highway 133 corridor between South Street and the City's corporate limits. Secondary commercial areas are located generally along Thirteenth Street between the downtown and South Creek and on north Highway 75 from County Road 29 southeast to Twenty- first Street. These secondary commercial areas are intended to be a transitional commercial/residential land use which allows both land use types. The Subarea concept discussed in this Chapter will identify and prioritize the future commercial development and redevelopment areas. Although local and state economic incentives are available for several commercial districts, future development will proceed as the market dictates. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.20 INVZISTRL4L The need for additional industrial land exists in Blair. Illustration 4.6 identifies approximately 87 acres of existing industrial land use. Additionally, industrial lands located outside of Blair's corporate limits, to the southeast of the community, should be considered. The Cargill facility owns a large amount of land, but occupies an estimated 60 to 70 acres for its current plant. While the combined total acreage is approaching planning standard levels, several Nebraska communities of similar size to the City of Blair. have .industrial acreages that exceed the planning standard by 50 to 60 percent. In order for Blair to provide jobs for an increasing population base and attract additional business and industry to the community, it is the recommendation of the Consultant that additional industrial land be identified. The City must maintain enough industrial land for growth and development. Local economic development organizations are encouraged to promote and continue their support for additional industrial land development. The future land use map, Illustration 4.7, identifies the proposed future industrial land areas. Areas both outside and adjacent to the existing corporate limits are proposed. Additional vacant areas within the City limits are also proposed for industrial land use. These areas are discussed in detail in the Subarea section of this Chapter. Desirable transportation corridors are adjacent to the majority of present and future industrial districts, however those areas outside the corporate limits (currently on vacant lands) would require. an extension of appropriate infrastructure to facilitate future developments. The northern areas of the potential Highway 30/75 corridor will create an opportunity for additional industrial development with access to the transportational comdors of the Missouri River and Interstate 29. The current industrial tracts within the corporate limits that are in a state of transition or possessing vacant parcels in close proximity to residential development, are encouraged to develop as "light" industry. This use is twofold: one, it creates a more compatible land use with adjacent commercial and residential properties; and two, it satisfies a need in the community. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.21 SUBAREA The potential implementation of the proposed Future Land Use DEVELOPMENT Plan can best be achieved by the identification and CONCEPTS development of specific Subareas. The identification of Subareas will allow for detailed concept land use planning and implementation and the eventual development of required infrastructure. A total of Three Subareas have been identified in the City (see Illustration 4.8). The Subareas are located throughout Blair. These Subareas include regions both within and outside the existing corporate limits. Illustration 4.8 and the following narrative provide a graphic description and discussion of existing conditions, future general land use and needed public improvements for each proposed Subarea. SUB,4REA l - Existing Conditions: Subarea 1 is located in western Blair and is generally bounded by Wright Street on the north, Nineteenth Street on the east, South and Washington Streets on the south and Fontanelle Boulevard and Cauble Creek on the west. The transportation corridors that serve this region are Highways 30 and 75 (Nineteenth Street), Highway 91 (Fontanelle Boulevard and Washington Street) and the main l` line of the Union Pacific Railroad, which bisects the subarea. Single family residences are the predominant land use type with relatively few commercial properties located along the west side of Nineteenth Street. West Elementary School and several churches comprise public/quasi-public land uses in the subarea. Vacant parcels are located between Twenty-fourth Street and Cauble Creek. These parcels lack public infrastructure. The areas of this subarea close to downtown, has an advanced age of the housing stock, generally built between 1890 and 1925. Residential neighborhoods in the northern and southwest portions of Subarea 1 are of more recent vintage; 1950's to 70's. Maintenance and rehabilitation of much of the older housing stock will be of prime importance throughout the 10 year planning period. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.22 ~~ ~ -~ ,a0 ~ 29 ~ ~~~ 1 ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ 6 5 30 ~ ~ 29 ~ ~ll.SS71J1~ l~! Jl.~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~, ~.-~J ~-- ~ ~ GOLF- ~~ ~~ ~ ( ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ __ ®'®~ ~ _ ,~~;000R ~~ / ~ I I I j ~, ~I ~\, - I _ I /~ / ~ t 1 ~l ~ , `~ ~ f' ~' i ~~ i ~ ~. 31 4 32 / 3 ~ 35 ~, 6 ' 31 ~ ~ ' ~ . ~~~ ~ 33 I ( ~ I 1 ~ ~~ i~~~ ) i - ~. _ r ~ _ 'c I ~ ~ ' '' '~' - --- -- -- ---- I ~ ---- - -' -- - -- ~i --- . , /~\ -- - ~-- -- ~l ~/ /y _ ~ ~~ -- 0 200u 4000 _ ~ ~ ,~ _ I ~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ A ~ - - ~,,- y~-f 7 ~ ------ ~--~. f /' 1 i i i~ ~ r ~ l ! ~~ a~l,+'~i kl~` ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ' ,_ ~ ~~ - ~ ~ ~ ,~~ ~ 1 ~ ~~~ _ ~ ,_ ~ ~DkMS- ~, _ ~l~ -; , ~: ' ~ 1 r ~~ - - __ -.) A,~RtCu-STR ~T' i `~ ~ r~;,h~ _- ~' a-- ~ ~ ~ ; ~~~ ' ( - ~ -~ - - TATS ~I~W A~!_ `91 _ ~ 4 ~ ~ ~ ~. ;4~ r~ ~ _ ~ `i ~ , f ~ '~~ ~ ~,, __ ~,4SNINeTON ~ R~T /~ ~~~~ `~ ~ j ~ '~ ~ ~,, l e ~`II ~ ~ ~ ~ _ ~~ ~~~ ~._ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~" ,~ _ ~~ ,~ I r ~~ i ~. i ~ 7 /, ,~, , - ~ ~ ~_;~ . ~ $bUTt~ S~R~EET I ,~~~ , ~ ~ ~~~Er` w ~ ' rl ~ ~ ~ 1 .,~ Y ~ ~, -- -- , ~~ - ` - --- - - i~ E ~ `-i - -- ~ ~T--- , ~ - -~-------- ~ --~---- ---~---- / ~ ~~ ~: ~ ~ ~, ~I 1 l 1 1 I i i . __ 18 ~ =11 i 16 ~ ~ '' ~ 15 ~~i , ~~ ~. 4 ~ ~ ~~ •S ~ 18 ~ ~~ ~~~ 16~ ~. l~'~i ~ , ~ ~~ ' ~ t,' ~~~ "~ ~ i ~~~ "~ wad ~ ~ ~~~I ~'~i - _ •~ .- ,, I~ / 4 I I '' ~; q~ ', ~ ~. a: ~ - ~ i ~ ~ I '~ I ~ -~ ~ , =~ - - -t_, - --- - -- --- _ ~ .,. ~` ~ " - ~ `~ ~ ~ ,i, , .; - n~ ~ ~ t ~ ' ~ q I ~~ ~ ~ ` ~ I' _. ~s , r .~ . _- __ ~, ~~-- ~~ 11 f. - I 1 -~' ~I. ~ y' ~~ ~~ ~ ~~ - ,~ ~~ LEGEND .,~, ~~~. ,~, ~ v ' ~ ~ ~ 1~ ~ (~~ SUBAREA /REDEVELOPMENT AREAS ~ - - -`~ _- ~~~ - ~ "- --~ ~:' , fi ~' °-` ~ ~ ~~~. ~ 8411' ~OOlpi'2f1211SIVB P~QfiIECOf10f01C PI'Of1~8 d P~QI ' 206 1 ~ s® mug . v ~ ..~ ~ ~ ) ~ -_= ~ -: J~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ i I , ~ i ~ ~ ' ~. ~\ ~~G~ ~I i + 1 , i ". tT ~. i' ~, ~ n+ 1 - ~3 ~ ~ ~ ~. ~, 35 :~ 3fi 1 ~~ .~' `~ 1 ~ ,t ' 1 1 6 1 j ~ ~ - k , , ~-~`' j ~ I,~ ~ ,.~~ 111 ~ ~ ! ~ I AIoTN~; EELAAI AS TES, P.C. ~ , , ,~ ! i T~s I II.LUS `fI0A1 ~~ Proposed General Land Use: Future land uses in Subarea 1 should remain primarily residential. Vacant lands currently located north of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and west of Twenty-fourth Street are recommended for multi-family residential uses. Recreational opportunities of the proposed hiker/biker trials system along Cauble Creek would allow;. direct access to this site. Dana College located just west of Cauble Creek would potentially supply future tenants desiring close walking distance to the campus. Parcels located along the west side of Nineteenth Street are identified as future locations of transitional-commercial land uses. Professional offices and small scale commercial business that relate in size and character to the adjoining single family residences are encouraged to be used to buffer the residential neighborhoods from the traffic and noise of Nineteenth Street (Highways 30 and 75). Substantially deteriorated houses that are no longer cost effective to rehabilitate should be .targeted for replacement along the traffic corridor. _Planned Public Improvements Needed: Vacant parcels west of Twenty-fourth Street will require full utility development to accommodate future multifamily uses. The advanced age of the majority of single family residences throughout Subarea 1 will require continuing preventative maintenance and repair. Incentives such as low interest housing rehabilitation loans, tax increment financing and neighborhood improvement projects may serve to assist these residential areas in maintaining decent, affordable housing to the citizens of Blair. A preponderance of narrow streets in this Subarea force vehicular traffic to slow down and thus provide a level of safety to pedestrian and localized vehicular traffic. Street conditions are generally quite good, however continued maintenance and repair will be necessary to ensure these streets are maintained throughout the 10 year planning period. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.24 SuaA~A2- Existing Conditions: This Subarea is located in central and eastern Blair, generally bound by Jackson Street on the north, the corporate limit line along the east, South Street on the southern boundary and Nineteenth Street on the west. Transportational comdors that bisect Subarea 2 from east to west include the Union Pacific Railroad and Highways 30 and 75, (Thirteenth Street). Dowrvrowly The Central Business District is the focal point of this Subarea, located along Washington Street between Nineteenth and Tenth Streets. Commercial land uses continue along the highway corridors from the downtown east on Highway 30 and south on Thirteenth and Nineteenth Streets. Industrial uses are concentrated on either side of the railway comdor which are buffered from residential uses to the south by the downtown. However, neighborhoods to the north along Nebraska Street are adversely impacted by industrial uses on the north side of the railway. Multifamily land uses are located throughout Subarea 2, but are concentrated at Tenth and Iowa Streets and at Sixteenth and South Streets. Lastly, two mobile home areas are located at Thirteenth and Washington Streets and Eleventh and Lincoln Streets, these areas are both in poor condition. Public/Quasi- Public uses include the Washington County Courthouse, the Blair City HalUFire Hall and various churches. EASrHrcxwAY30 The eastern half of Subarea 2 is comprised of the Highway 30 CORRIDOR commercial corridor from Tenth Street east to the Missouri River. Commercial and industrial land uses are scattered along the highway, but vacant agricultural land is the dominant land use type. As with the western half of Subarea 2, the eastern half is bisected by the Union Pacific Railroad and Highway 30. Residential land use types include. a small amount of single family land area and an existing mobile home park at the Missouri River south of Highway 30. Public/quasi-public land uses are comprised of the Blair Senior High School and future Middle School at Tenth and Jackson Streets and the City water and waste water treatment facilities. Recreational land uses include the Optimist River Front Park. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.25 Proposed General Land Use: The proposed future land uses for Subarea 2 consists of all the previously mentioned uses, but with particular attention to an increased amount of multifamily residential uses. The future land use plan, Illustration 4.7, DOwnrrOWN advocates increasing the density of residential uses in close proximity to the Central Business District. Concentrating higher densities in the central portion of the community is cost effective in terms of adequately using existing public infrastructure, i.e. underground utilities, streets and sidewalks. The plan recommends infilling available vacant lots and replacing substantially deteriorated homes, which are cost prohibitive in terms of rehabilitation, with multifamily uses. Industrial land uses are identified in the future land use plan to be located only to the north side of the railway corridor. These industrial land uses are buffered from single family residences to the north by multifamily land uses located south of Nebraska Street and north of the .existing industrial properties. Commercial land uses are planned.. to be located to the south of the railway corridor in order to provide for potential expansion of downtown retail businesses and to eliminate current conflicting land uses. The transportational corridors of Highway 30/75 (Nineteenth Street) and south Highway 75 (Thirteenth Street) are targeted for expansion of neighborhood commercial land uses. Small scale retail and professional offices that blend in with single family residences are recommended in these locations... EASTHIGHWAY30 Commencing at Tenth Street and proceeding east one half mile, Coxrunox light industrial land uses are recommended on the north side of the railway corridor and commercial on the southern side to buffer Highway 30 from heavy industrial areas to the south. Highway commercial uses are also shown on the future land use map, Illustration 4.7, continuing on both sides of Highway 30 approximately an additional three quarters of a mile. Multifamily uses are recommended to be located in the area south of Jackson Street and east of approximately Fourth Street. This area has recently been annexed into the corporate limits of Blair and is ideally located to the east of the middle/senior high school grounds. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.26 The remainder of the eastern half of Subarea 2 is targeted for future industrial land uses both within and outside of the current corporate limits. Industrial lands are to continue south to the northern line of the Cargill industrial plant. An additional future industrial development area is located to the north of the current northern corporate limit line between Fish Creek and the Missouri River. A fraction of this industrial acreage will actually be required for industrial growth in the 10 year planning period. However, these-industrial growth areas are intended to provide 'any potential developers with a variety of locations and transportational comdor options. wEnaLL SUBAREA 2 - The open space corridor, or linear park proposed along South LIIVEARPARKPLAIV Creek is one of the components of the Back to the River trails plan within Subarea 2. The South Creek trail provides a connecting link for central Blair, see Illustration 4.7, as a tributary continues west from Tenth Street to Nineteenth Street (Highway 30). Connections are provided to the Missouri River at the northeast extremity of South Creek where it intersects Fish Creek, turns north along Fish Creek and crosses the Union Pacific Railroad where it turns east to the River. In addition to providing a buffer, the linear park would provide an aesthetic atmosphere that would reduce density, create pockets of vegetation and provide an opportunity to develop anon-vehicular transportation route. The South Creek trail is also connected to the entire trails system which is designed to connect all areas of Blair with anon- vehicular transportational system. Blair-Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.27 Planned Public Improvements Needed: A small amount of vacant parcels exist in Subarea 2 and as a result will require an accumulation of parcels for any new construction. A BlighdSubstandard Determination Study and Redevelopment Plan would be beneficial for this Subarea as it identifies building conditions and targets specific areas for redevelopment. This process would be ideal for assisting downtown area businesses in rehabilitating buildings and improving public open spaces throughout the commercial area. The advanced age of the majority of single family residences throughout Subarea 2 will ,require a continued process of preventative maintenance and repair. Incentives such as low interest housing rehabilitation .loans, tax increment fmancing and neighborhood improvement projects may serve to assist these residential areas in maintaining decent, affordable housing for the citizens of Blair. Street improvement projects in Subarea 2 range from asphalt overlay projects, to major reconstruction of Washington Street to alleviate excess traffic congestion. Long range plans include the possibility of a Highway 30/75 by-pass to route highway traffic around the perimeter of the community. The infrastructure plan in Chapter 6 fully details recommended utility and street improvement projects throughout the 10 year planning period for Subarea 2 and the entire community. SUBAREA 3 Existing Conditions: Each of the four separate residential RESIDENTIAL GROWTHAREAS growth areas are- currently located on vacant agricultural or range lands that are directly adjacent to the corporate limits of Blair. The Housing Profile and Plan, Chapter 6, fully documents Blair's housing market and determined that in the next 10 years the community can support 312 units of owner housing and 235 units of renter housing. These housing projections will require approximately 160 acres of developable vacant land. As part of the comprehensive plan, citizen participation opportunities have allowed the residents of Blair to voice their opinions about which directions residential growth should occur. Subarea 3 delineates each of the growth areas and makes recommendations in regard to a development process. The community wide survey, community congress (Town hall meeting), planning steering committee, Planning Commission and City Council all affirmed that residential growth should occur to the north, northwest and southern directions from the current corporate limits. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4:28 Ax~,~ "A" Subarea 3A: This Subarea is situated between Cauble and South Creeks and north of the current northern corporate limit line approximately three quarters of a mile (see Illustration 4.8). Future land use types are to be primarily single and multifamily residential.. The highway bisects the Subarea from the northwest to the southeast and will serve as the main transportational corridor into central Blair. Individual building lots, as a result of the terrain and views to the Missouri River Valley below, are anticipated to be fairly expensive. Selling prices for homes in this region are expected to be targeted to people with moderate to upper income levels. This type of housing development is in conformance with the Stone Creek Estates, Westridge Addition and College Heights areas to the south. AAA "B" Subarea 3B: Located between Cauble and Fish Creeks and continuing south to the current northern corporate limit line, this residential growth .area is located approximately 80 feet below the elevation of Subarea 3A, in the Missouri River valley low lands. Along Fish Creek, a Linear recreational trail serves to buffer future multifamily land uses west of the creek from future industrial land uses to the east of the creek. Likewise the multifamily areas west of Fish Creek and south along Tenth Street further buffer single family areas from potential industrial uses. The availability of level developable land will potentially provide affordable residential lots that may allow this future residential area o be targeted to "affordable" average cost homes in the area of $75,000 to $95,000: These types of housing subdivisions are currently -not being constructed in Blair, although - there is a definite need. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 .Chapter 4 4.29 AREA "C" Subarea 3C: This Subarea is located approximately between Tenth and Nineteenth Streets, from the current southern corporate limit line to a point south nearly three quarters of a mile. Future land uses in this region are recommended to develop as multifamily between Sixteenth and Nineteenth Street with the remainder of the subarea reserved for single family uses. The multifamily uses are intended to buffer the southern Highway 30 commercial comdor from future single family development. As __ _with_Subarea 3A,_the terrain_of this. subarea may dictate higher housing costs due to installing infrastructure in areas with rolling hills and steep slopes. AREA "D" Subarea 3D: Located entirely within the current corporate limits, this area is intended to develop as single family residential land use. The boundaries are Twenty-first Street on the east, the current corporate limits on the south and west and Highway 91 on the north. Generally, this area contains some of the highest elevations overlooking the City of Blair. Vacant land is abundant in this subarea, although a large percentage is occupied by very steep slopes and would thus only allow limited high cost single family development. OVERALL SUBAREA 3 Planned Public ImQrovements Needed: Each of the individual regions of Subarea 3 will require an extension of all appropriate infrastructure to accommodate these residential growth areas. However, these areas in total exceed the necessary acreage required to support residential development in Blair through the year 2006. As these areas develop, it is recommended to begin development adjacent the corporate limits and radiate outward in a concentric growth pattern. This process would provide a cost effective means of providing infrastructural connections to new subdivisions. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.30 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This land use plan should serve as a guide to the development of the City and its surrounding area. The Plan is not intended to dictate .changes to the community, but rather evaluate existing conditions and recognize ongoing changes. In addition, the Plan is designed to allow change to occur in an orderly manner which will ensure the best interests of Blair will be achieved. Before_the_implementation of thisland use_plan,_two_steps should be undertaken.. First, the possible effects of the Plan should be explored. Identification of the possible results of any action, program or policy and the determination of the intensity of the results will be the most significant factors ensuring successful Plan implementation, with a minimum of negative effects. Second, the positive impacts of a Plan must be weighed against the negative impacts resulting from implementation activities. Alternative strategies should be considered to select the implementation activities that achieve the most benefits with the least problems. The following environmental assessment will review the basic scope of the land use plan and then identify any significant environmental impacts, both social and physical, of the Plan's proposed development and redevelopment actions. Precautionary measures will be noted, as well as unavoidable adverse effects. Actions which will lead to in•eversible commitments of resources will be recognized as well as other long-team effects fi•om immediate programs. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.31 POTENTIAL ADVERSE The Blair land use plan anticipates a continued growth and IMPACTS expansion community-wide, in response to the needs of a potential expanding local population; up to 900 people by 2006. If the community continues to grow as hoped, nearly all of the land use activities envisioned will have the potential for some type of adverse impact to the natural environment. Continued growth will require additional commitment of ...construction materials,..financial resources, fossil fuels andland. resources which represent deductions from the total reservoir of resources. Additionally, continued economic and physical growth will mean increased depletion of groundwater resources. Aside from the impacts possible from commitment of resources toward the realization of community growth, there will also be a continuing requirement for resources necessary for operation and maintenance of existing homes, industries, businesses and utility systems. Commitment of land resources, in many cases, will mean the conversion of agricultural land from the production of food and fiber to developed uses which also represent an adverse impact, but one which is basically unavoidable if the community continues to prosper and grow. Among the by-products of continued community growth, which will contribute to environmental degradation, are increased storm water runoff, additional amounts of air, water and noise pollution and increased vehicular traffic on area streets. No potential adverse effects to the natural environment are expected during the planning period. None are expected to become especially significant, due to the implementation of the future land use plan. The implementation of the Blair land use plan includes a BENEFICIAL IMPACTS potential for diverse and far reaching beneficial impacts to both the man-made and natural environments during the planning period. One of the primary functions of the Plan will be to minimize negative impacts. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.32 The overall effect of Plan implementation will be to either benefit the environment or lower the incidence and severity of adverse .effects. Sound local development standards and zoning regulations will provide a significant beneficial influence towards partial mitigation of the potential for environmental damages due to continued land use development. The most significant positive or beneficial environmental .....effects should be_as_follows:__ • .Recognition of local. environmental characteristics; • The encouragement of growth in areas contiguous to existing development and the maximum use of existing utilities and streets; • The implementation of a coordinated and comprehen- sive housing initiative and development program will ensure the preservation of existing housing resources, - combined with the provision of new housing; • The appropriate locating and provision of housing, commercial, educational, recreational and employment opportunities will act to positively reinforce the social structure of existing and fuhu•e populations of the City; The provision of sufficient and efficient utility services will minimize the possible pollution associated with growth; and The proper mixing and separation of land uses and appropriate classification of the sheet system will minimize adverse effects of noise, odor, and air pollution. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Protile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.33 The presence of land use or zoning regulations should continue to ensure an efficient and appropriate development pattern through; density control to prevent overcrowding, prevention of mixing of incompatible land uses and prevention of further improper development'in sensitive or hazardous natural areas, such as steep slope, floodplain areas and lakes, rivers or streams. ALTERNATIVES Within the full scope of possible community actions, there are basically three alternatives. The first is to continue a planned___ approach to future community expansion. A second alternative would be a more rigidly controlled and intensely monitored regulation which would essentially restrict a high percentage of anticipated future growth. The third possible choice is a less intense regulation, which in terms of municipal planning, represents the "do nothing" alternative. The last alternative has most often been typical of many communities, large and small, and has often resulted in the maximum adverse impact to both the man-made and natural environments. The alternative of a more rigid control would avoid many of these potentially adverse impacts, but would be so restrictive as to hamper economic expansion, and thus, the ultimate growth and development of the entire community. The most beneficial alternative is to guide future community growth and expansion through a land use plan; in combination with realistic land use control regulations. The land use plan prepared for Blair, coupled with the revisions to the existing zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations, will provide a means by which the community may achieve proper development practices. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.34 ACTIDNS TO MITIGATE AVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Adverse impacts resulting from continued growth and expansion of Blair can be substantially mitigated through adoption and application of the land use regulations and design standards. These measures will provide a positive influence for conservation and proper use of land, materials and energy. As such, these measures will help to mitigate the adverse impacts of development upon the allocation of resources. The land use plan recognizes the character of the natural environ- ment and charts a course for future growth, which will allow maximum efficient use of available resources without serious pei7nanent alteration or depletion. The future development of the City of Blair, as outlined in this land use plan, is expected to provide a beneficial impact on the man-made environment with few, if any, adverse impacts upon man-made and natural environments. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan -2006 Chapter 4 4.3~ CHAPTER 5 PUBLIC FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE CHAPTER 5 PUBLIC FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE INTRODUCTION Chapter 5 of this Comprehensive Plan discusses the existing conditions and planned future improvements to Blair's public facilities and infrastructure. These services are categorized as public facilities, public utilities and transportation. Public facilities are provided to ensure a quality of life for-all residents of Blair. Public facilities provide citizens with social, cultural, educational, health care, law enforcement, fire protection and recreational facilities. Public infrastructure provides water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and solid waste disposal for residents of Blair, as well as gas and electricity. Transportation allows for the movement of people, goods and services, via routes of vehicular and non-vehicular traffic patterns. The location of present and future public facilities in Blair is identified in Illustration 5.1 of this Comprehensive plan. PUBLIC FACILITIES PARKS AND RECREATION An integral part of the, quality of life in a City is the park system and recreation opportunities provided to its residents. and visitors. Recreational opportunities and the availability of open space plays an important role in enhancing the quality of life in Blair. The community's role in adequately planning for open space and providing a full range of recreational opportunities directly impacts community and economic development activities. The Blair park system is comprised of nine primary park areas, totaling an estimated 185 acres. These park areas offer a wide variety of passive and active recreational activities. The primary park system includes Steyer Park, Rhoades Park, Bob Hardy R.V., Black Elk/Neihart Park, Lion's Park, Stemmerman Park, Vets Field and Optimist Park. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.1 All of these Parks have restroom facilities available except for Rhoades Park. Bob Hardy R.V. Park is also equipped with shower facilities. Playground equipment is included at all locations except for Vets Field and Optimist Park. Stemmerman Park has tennis courts, while Lion's Park has basketball courts. Vets Field has ballfields available. Picnic shelters are present at Steyer Park, Black Elk, Lion's Park and Stemmerman Park. There is a swimming pool at Steyer Park. Many of the parks contain additional features unique to that particular park. Extensive flower beds, botanical gardens and an arboretum is a highlight at Black Elk Park. Optimist River Park provides boating access to the Missouri River. Blair has one full time Parks Director and four part-time employees. The City parks were identified as a top rated service on the Community Survey. Future considerations for the Blair park system include general upgrading of equipment and facilities and the addition of a new park. Specific projects to be worked on include more picnic shelters, upgrade of water systems, increased bathroom facilities and a new maintenance facility. LIBRARY The Blair Library is located at 210 S. Seventeenth Street and is fully ADA accessible. The library was established in 1887. The first library building was built in the summer of 1916. The present library is approximately 20 years ago. The Blair library is open Monday through Sunday for a total of 49 hours per week. During the summer months, the library is closed on Wednesday night. The library currently has a staff of five employees. The library maintains 32,144 total resources available including books, magazines and video and audio tapes. Additionally, resources such as newspapers, micro film and micro fiche and public records are also available. There are 2,134 registered patrons and an average annual circulation of 65,953 resources. The library was a top rated service on the Community Survey. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.2 o ~ / N •y I 1 'r ° l\ / l , ~ .ra ----- =-~ ~ c ~ ~1 i~ ~ ~ .`- -° ~ \ ` ' °- ' ~' ~, ~ /~ - °~ F ~~ ~~ 0 k~ ~ ~ ~V ~~ ~ V ~ ~ o " °~ a~ ~ ~~ ~ U ~ ~ i -- ~ I ~ T ~ i I ~ r~a L ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ f ~ ~ °~ ~--I-- - -------~------- --- 'i----~' ------~~~--r-------~=- ` /. b ~ ~''~. I~ I I I ~ J, / / I ~ /I ~ i ~. / I / i" /~~ !sue %~ ~ 'I~ j '~ - :n ~ ~ - ~' _ ~ ~,~-,_ ~~ ~ ~ I, -.- I ~ i ,~ ~.J _ ~ _ - _ ~~ -- T ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 it ~ _ -- _ _ _ - II ~T ~ ++ 1 ,. ~ 1 I r. , , I r, ~ r~~ v` 6 .. 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Q Q W 2 J~ W W I ~ N J~ O .O+ ~ Q W~ .._. ~~ i. ~. _... .. _- ..~--~-~~. -_ ~ w¢~w~W ~ Zvl o ~www d ~p~ZOQ 3 a3 V w 2 I ~~.. ~ _ _ _ ~ U ZF Jam} W d Q F-F-F- O ~ ¢~21-~ W W 1-~O -_ - ~_. ~_Jr_________~ __~,.-`~._.~.~-_.. -- -~- -_ ----'-- - d Q m O H 2 W W I- O Z !- K O N m Z Z Q V1 N r F F N Q I- J O. -... F- F- W S Q d O O W ~ O Q J Q O Q Q Q J O C 7 p~ m J J (.7 N N>~ O O Z l n 3 ¢~ O m 3 d U 3 3 3 D o W __-1 ~- II ~ ~ I~ _ I I - :~ Z I I I I I I I i I I i I I I I I I i i I I I i i i i . __ - _/ `,~ N ~ N M c V7 tD N N O: O .- N M v tf1 t0 N a0 T O .- N f•7 P N"~ l0 -- ~~ ANN N N NNN -.. -. / x Future considerations for the library include applying for funding to receive computer resources and increasing staff to meet demand. EDUCATION Education is becoming increasingly important as the need for a broader-based education with emphasis on technical and human relation skills increases in today's society. Standards developed by educators and planners can provide guidance in the creation of and additions to the community's educational facilities. Schools in Blair should meet the following standards/guidelines: ^ Schools should be centrally located; ^ Schools should not be located near high traffic or heavily concentrated areas with high noise levels; ^ Land acquisition should be made with future expansion in mind; and ^ Adequate open space should be available to students. The present educational system in Blair consists of an organizational pattern of grades kindergarten through 3rd, 4th through 6th grade and 7th through 12th. Public educational facilities consist of the Blair Junior-Senior High School, Blair Middle School, Arbor Park Middle School, and the North, South and West Elementary Schools. According to the Community Survey, public education rated "good". The location of these schools are presented in the Public Facilities Plan. GLAIR TUMOR SENIOR The Blair Junior-Senior High School is located at 440 N. Tenth HIGH SCHOOL Street. Currently grades 7-12 attend classes here. However, starting in the 1997- 98 school year, grades 9-12 will attend this school. The High School was built in 1969 and currently has 1,020 students enrolled. The student to teacher ratio is 25:1. There are 67 total employees, 55 being certified teachers. In the 1995-96 school year, the average years of experience of the facility was 17.5 years. There are 44 classrooms in the building. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.4 The school offers a variety of classes and special services. Included are a homework hotline, and courses in Japanese, English, Math, Social Studies and Science. Computer access at the school includes three Apple computer labs, one IBM computer lab, Internet resources and in building a-mail. One half of the classrooms have computers in them. BLAIR MIDDLE ,SCHOOL The Blair School District is currently in the process of building a new middle school. It will be located adjacent to the existing junior/senior high. It is scheduled for completion before the start of the 1997-98 school year. The new facility will have grade levels 6-8 and will have a capacity of 600 students. There will be 30 certified teachers on staff and the building will have 22 ~° classrooms. Special activities at the school will include exploratory and new technology classes, fine arts, family and consumer science. There will be computer access in each classroom as well as multiple computer labs. ARBOR PARK SCHOOL Arbor Park Middle School is the current middle school for the District. It is located at 1717 Adams. In the 1995-96 school year, enrollment was 512 students. There are 20 certified classroom teachers and a student to teacher ratio of approximately 25: 1. Some extra curricular activities that are offered are the "Odessy of the Mind" program for gifted 5th and 6th grade students and band. When the new middle school is completed, Arbor Park will have grades 4-6. BLAIR ELEMENTARY Blair currently has three elementary schools for students in SCHOOLS grades K-3. North School, located at Fourteenth and Park, is approximately 50 years old. There was an addition to the school in the early 1950's. North School has 17 staff positions with seven certified teachers. The school has seven classrooms. The school is currently being remodeled and expanded. It is anticipated that by the 1996-97 school year, there will be four additional classrooms and one additional all purpose room. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.5 South School was constructed in the 1950's, with additions in the 1970's: It is located at Sixteenth & Butler. There are 10 classrooms with one certified staff member per classroom. There are approximately 11 additional staff members. Enrollment during the 1996-97 school year was 253. The West School was originally built in the 1920's. The building currently has seven classrooms. There were additions to the building in the early 1970's, the facility is currently receiving major renovations. Remodeling is in process and four new classrooms are scheduled to open by the 1996-97 school year. The enrollment was 200 for the 1995e96 school year. There are 17 employees at the school, 9 of which are certified teachers. In addition, there are seven rotating certified teachers that provide services for each school. These services include art, music, reading, and a counselor. Each school offers the same core curriculum and special services such as music, physical education, special education (title reading, resource program, etc.) and apre-school program. The student to teacher ratio in each school averages approximately 20:1. There are currently 2.5 computers for student use per classroom. The new addition at the North School will include a mini computer lab. Future considerations for the elementary schools include the increased need for space and services. The Blair School District has witnessed a 3 percent annual growth rate in enrollment for the past 5 years. The projected 1996-97 kindergarten class is one of the biggest in history. The current remodeling and expansion efforts will aid in the anticipated demand in future years. DANA COLLEGE Dana College was founded in 1884 and is located at 2848 College Drive. A total of 150 people are employed by the College. They have 39 full-time certified staff members and 25 part-time certified staff members. Enrollment is typically between 550 and 575 students. Dana College offers a variety of educational opportunities. Bachelor degrees are available in several areas. Among these choices include business, education, liberal arts, graphic arts and social work. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.6 MEDICAL/ELDERLY SERVICES MEMORIAL COMMUNIT HOSPITAL emergency care room. The hospital was constructed in 1956 and has a current professional staff size of 225, all of which are certified. Memorial Community Hospital also owns clinics in Tekamah and Fort Calhoun. Future plans for Memorial Community will involve decreasing the number of in patient beds to 28 and expanding the out patient services. CROWELL MEMORIAL , HOME The Crowell Memorial Home, located at 245 S. Twenty-second, .provides health residential and care services for older citizens. The Home itself was established in 1905. The current facilities were built in the 1950's, added onto in 1960, and was recently renovated in 1994-95. Residential services meeting the needs of senior citizens in the area include a nursing home and eight independent living apartments. The Crowell Memorial Home employs 13 registered nurses, 12 licensed practical nurses and 55 certified nursing assistants. There are approximately 40 other staff members, with 50 total part-time staff. The Home has 119 beds and is near capacity. facilities, clinics and private offices. The City of Blair presently has all the necessary modern health and hospital services within the City to meet the needs of its existing and projected (10 years) population. Local health services include a hospital, nursing care facility, retirement Y The primary health delivery facility in Blair is the Memorial Community Hospital located at 810 N. Twenty-second. The hospital has a 46 bed capacity and provides acute in-patient and skilled care. Services provided at the hospital include cardiac rehabilitation, home health care, diabetes education, community education, physical therapy, outpatient clinics and a 24 hour Future considerations for Crowell Memorial Home includes renovation of the independent living apartments. In addition, the continued evaluation of need, changes in Medicaid funding and continued strategic planning will take place to better serve the community. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter S 5.7 GOOD SHEPHERD The Good Shepherd Lutheran Home/Johansen Manor is located LUTHERAN at 2242 Wright and employs 135 people. There are 6 registered HOME/JOHANSEN nurses, 10 licensed practical nurses, and 40 certified nursing MANOR assistants. Good Shepherd Lutheran Home is a nursing home facility which was established in 1945. It has a bedding capacity of 84 and currently has no vacancies. Johansen Manor is an independent living facility which has 24 apartment units and was built in 1987. The two facilities are adjoining. There. are several services that are provided to residents of both facilities. These services include transportation, congregate meals, social activities, telephone reassurance, maintenance and housekeeping in Good Shepherd and maintenance in Johansen Manor, an outreach program, information and referral and child and adult day services. Future plans for this facility include the construction of a chapel and planning for growth to better serve the elderly of the community. MEDICAL/ELDERLY To remain viable, every hospital needs to continue to evaluate its ,SERVICES CONCLUSION market and consider potential means of expanding services. Memorial Community Hospital continues to develop cooperative arrangements with local communities and physicians and appears not to have distinct changes during the planning period. GOVERNMENT/ PUBLIC SAFETY Public administration facilities are facilities which serve the citizens of the community and conduct the business of government and carry out its operations. Therefore, it is essential these services are centrally located and convenient to the majority of the community's citizens. POLICE PROTECTION The Police Department for the City of Blair is located at 1535 Colfax. The Department rents space from the Washington County Sheriff s office, which is at the same location. There are 12 sworn officers, 2 of which are part-time, 5 rescue workers, 1 full-time and 1 part-time animal control officer and 1 full and 1 part-time secretary. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.8 The Police Department currently operates with 3 marked and 2 unmarked cruisers, 1 marked van, 1 animal control van, and 1 "DARE" vehicle for promotional purposes. Equipment includes radios, scanners, radar, radio. communications with the State Patrol, and other equipment common with city police departments. Holding cells are provided by the Washington County Sheriffs office. The Sheriff s office provides law enforcement services within the Blair 2 mile planning .....jurisdiction. Future considerations for the police department include expansion of current facilities or relocation into a new facility. Additionally, the concept of community policing by increasing community and police interaction will be strengthened and utilized. FIRE PROTECTION The Volunteer. Fire Department of Blair has 65 volunteer fire fighters with a capacity for 70. The fire station is located at the city offices at Sixteenth and Lincoln. The fire department averages between 800 and 1000 calls a year with an average response time of 3 minutes. The Department's service area is 100 square miles of both urban and rural territory. Several of the volunteer fire fighters are cross-trained as certified emergency medical technicians and members of the volunteer rescue squad assist at all fire emergencies. The fire insurance classification for Blair is "5" within the corporate city limits and "7" outside corporate limits. The fire department owns the following equipment: 1993 Smea175 foot aerial ladder pumper 1996 Emergency One Pumper 1995 Rescue Squad 1994 Central States Tanker 1989 Smeal Quick Attack Vehicle (mini pumper) 1989 Collins Rescue Squad 1985 Smeal Tanker 1985 Equipment Van 2 Chevy Suburban Chief Vehicles 1 17 1/2 foot aluminum rescue boat with a 75 hp Mercury outboazd Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.9 The Blair Volunteer Fire Department received top ranking in the community survey. Future considerations for fire/rescue protection include the implication of protection with the Blair Airport and considerations of having paid career fire fighters. The Volunteer Fire Department will continue to work in cooperation with the City to meet demands created by growth. CIVIL DEFENSE The present Civil Defense is provided by the Nebraska Civil Defense/Emergency Management Program. Blair is in Region 5- b. The City employs one full-time staff member. Civil defense works with local fire and police departments in planning for public safety. The planning for natural disaster and man-made emergencies consists of: 1) Preparation 3) Recovery 2) Response 4) Mitigation Future considerations for Blair Civil Defense include the need for afull-time City Emergency Management Planner. With major industry such as Cargill, local ammonia storage and railroad truck traffic transporting hazardous waste, afull- time position would be a benefit for the safety of the community. CITY OFFICES The Blair City Office is located at 218 S. Sixteenth Street. The facility houses the city administrator, clerk, building inspector, director of public works and staff. The Washington County Planning Department is also located in the City Office. The building is utilized pertinent government committee meetings and occasional public use. The building was remodeled two years ago and meets all ADA requirements. Any future considerations for the City Office Building will depend on demand caused by future population growth. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.10 The U.S. Post Office of Blair is located at 201 N. Sixteenth POST OFFICE Street. The Post Office provides postal boxes, house-to-house delivery and rural routes delivery. The Post Office employs over 20 people. The community survey indicated that the Post Office was a top ranking service. There are no future considerations for the Post Office during the planning period. INFRASTRUCTURE PUBLIC UTILITIES WATER SYSTEM The Blair Water. Treatment Plant was designed in 1978, and constructed in 1979 and placed in operation in 1980. Plant upgrades were completed in 1995 and 1996. The plant draws water from the Missouri River through an intake structure located on the bank of the river. The intake structure and plant are located north of Highway 30 on the eastern edge of the City. Flow is delivered to the conventional treatment plant through a 1,000 foot long 20" pipeline from the intake structure to the plant. The plant consists of a presedimentation basin, an upflow basin, flash mixing basin, a coagulation chamber, sedimentation tank and gravity filters. Lime is added at the upflow basin for hardness reduction. Following the lime softening process, the flow is directed to the new recarbonation basin installed in 1996 for pH adjustment and then through to flash mix, coagulation, and settling basins and finally to the filters and the clearwell. Chlorine and fluorine are added to the water. High-service pumps deliver the water to the City and Cargill through a single transmission line which was constructed at the time the plant was built and through a new 24" main that was completed in 1995. The plant is operated by a plant supervisor and four certified operators and is in good operating condition. Routine maintenance of the electronic equipment is carried out by a maintenance contract. The plant is currently producing approximately 7-1/2 mgd during the summer months. This is the plant's maximum production capacity and additional capacity will be needed to meet the expected growth in the City and the expected increased demands by Cargill. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.11 There are no significant. problem areas in the existing water system for the City of Blair. The City of Blair has a continuing improvement program to upgrade distribution pipes to a minimum 6" diameter. The City of Blair replaces much of the older water main piping whenever street reconstruction projects are undertaken. The soils and water conditions in Blair are not acidic; therefore, water main breaks are very infrequent because the pipe seems to last a long time. The City of Blair has budgeted through the rate study approximately $100,000 per year for water-main-replacement program. When streets are reconstructed, both the sewer and water mains are investigated and replaced when necessary. North Water Main Loop. To serve the proposed development area on the north side of Blair, it is proposed to run a north water main loop to open this area up for development. The north water main loop is identified on Illustration 5.2, Public Utilities Service Area Map. The north water main loop will follow in the corridor of the proposed north bypass street corridor. The north water main loop will connect to the existing 10" water main located at the intersection of West Ridge Drive and Twenty- eighth Avenue. The north water main loop will then continue north on Twenty-eighth Avenue to the intersection with Highway 75 where it will run east in the corridor of the north bypass street to its intersection with Tenth Street. The north water main loop will then continue on following the north bypass street to its connection with the existing 24" water main located in the street right-of--way accessing the water treatment plant to the east. Tenth Street Water Main Tie. A water main connection exist between the proposed north water main loop and the existing 16" water main in Jackson Street at Tenth Street. This water main tie will fortify the existing water system on the north side of the City of Blair. In addition, this water main tie will allow the north water main loop to be phased in by construction of the loop west of 10th Street independently of the water main loop east of Tenth Street. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.12 ~~ ~ - -~~ ~ ~ , . ~~,~ ~ i ~ ~~~ ~~~ !.~~ ~!; l~tT~]LI~ ~J°~I~LI~CIIE~ ~; - _ ~ ~ ~ ~. ~IEI~~I~~ A~1EA ~Al~ ~ }.., _ _ I J ~ ~, _ ~ 4' 30 2~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I~ ®~'Ai i, i i ~ i 5 30 ~ its ~.~ ~~ ~ , ~]LAII$g I~T1E1~I~~~I~~ __. ~ r, I ~, AIRPOR ~ ~ ~ (~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~' ~ / . ~ COUR ~, ~ I /~ ~ 1 ~ ~ ~r ~ ~`32" ~ , I ._ 3 5 ~. ~ 6 (WEST ~~ 3i ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 33 ~ ~~~~ 1~ ~ I ~ `~ / Nt~RTNWEST (I ~ , ~ ,' ~~ r ® ~ ~ ~ ~;~ ~~ INTER~E~TOR FI CRC~K RIORTH' WAT ~ ~ ~ ( ~ ~ ~~ ~(%}'~I I ~ ~ ~ ~_ ~ -( - - IN ERCEPT R MAIPV I~OO ~ / I ~~ v' ~ SEINER -- _ -- - -- - - .. --' I i --- ~, ~-- - TE ER ---\ (EAST) ~ , ~~ "~ ,~ 0 2ob0 4000 ' ~~ ~ ~. 1- ~ -~ ~ -~ ~- - ~ --'' -------- -,~.~-- ~ _ I I U' ~ \ NTH STREET `~',_y ,/~ /~® ~ ---T __ ~ ~ ~ ~ .~ ~ W~T MAIN E ~ ~~~~~ ~ ~ ~, ~. ~ ~, ..,~.~~ ~._ ER TI ,~--a• - ~ ~ i ~ `, ~" ~ ( . ~~ ~ . , ~ ~ ~ ~ / . _ ~ ~ r , ~. ~ ®~ ~~ G ~ ~~ TRIAD NORTH ~ q ~ , I ~ ~ ~ I . ~ © ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ;! ~!~-~_ ~~ ttNN~E~CEPTOR SEWS ~ ' ( I ~~ ~ ~ ~ "~ L I -- ~ ADAMS ~ r _ >,~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -------- - ~------- --- ~ I ,. _ ~I ~ ~~ r. ' ., W~ShIIN@~TORJ RY ~`~ ~ i. t '~ I ~'~~l a ~r~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ,,..._ '. ` ' ~ _ - °~~ ~'~ ~' ~ ' I 1 I ' I -~, - , ~' ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ - ~' ,. ~. -- -- -J-' - - - -- r ''~ ~ /~ - _ I I ~~ ~ ~ ~~~- - - 1 --- -- ~ J I ~i ~, ~ ~~~~' ~ ~.wES ~ E TER ~ ~: ~ ~1 C ~~ I ~ f' ,,.I ~ ~~ FEE ~R (TB''~f ' ~ ~ '.~ ~ ~--,"" INDUSTR AL SO iH ~ ~I ~' I ~ +'~ ,~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~'j' ~ ~ ~ r-- ~~~ INTERCE{~OR SEER ~~ A ( \ ~ '~ ~~ ~ ). ,, ~ ~ I IR ~ 18 ~` ;17 ~ 16` ~~~ ~ 15 ~ ~ 4 ~~„° ~ ,~ ~ ~'~ ~ 18 ~ ~~~~ 16~ ~ ~~~ ' I ` i I ~~ s°L- ~ ~ ~~ H ~,' 1 _ ,, ,~~; -,~ ~ ---~ ~'4y-~~~~---~~--- ~l'~- ~- - ---i-- ~ ,i ~ ~- --- ~ L ~ ` ~ _ -, _ ,~~ . - ~~ 7~ ' , ~ ,~~ ouTH ~ f,_ j~~ ~'~ ~' q I ,~ ,i l ( _ / '~ _ . - su n ~ /, ~~ I ~~ I ~. ~'~ _ ~ ,;~` ~ ,~~ ~ W~rER, - _ ~, ,~~_ , i" r ~ i ~, _ - :~, I h ~'° ~' '~ ,~, ~. ~ ~ ,~ .~ ~° ~ fVTER~EP RJR T ~ F . ~ ~ ~,, ~. ~o 2t, ~~ 2 ', ~ ~~l3, .Sp >HIGW.P ESSURE ~ 20 / _ _ (~ ~ .,9 , ~ ~ - ~. - - ~__ ~ ~ R R i ~ , .~ ,. ~ I ._ z~ ~ :~ ~ - ~ ' ~- ~ I ,' ~ ~, I ANN .\ ~~ ~ - _ ' ~ ~; --- --- - ---- ~ -- ~ ~ ~` ~'~~ ~I~ E~I.TH STR T'CROUNO ~ ''_ ~ _,-\ ---- \'\ ~\ ~~~ 11 'r' ~ ~~ I~ ~~.~ I ~.~W~,~ R~~STb~A ~~ESERV~i \~~ { ~ ~ ~ ~~ .. ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~' ~OUT~~~PII WAY aOd~ mow,... ~ , ~ '\ } ~.. ~ DATE ~1 N TIE ~ ~ ~ I ~° ; ._ LEGEND ) _ .. -•. ~ I, ~ ,"~ ~ ~ ~ 1 ~~'~ i ~ f r'~- ~~ i II i -J AREA SERVI ED B t~ C Y EXIST]NG I _ 'r _ _~ _ - _ ~. _ _ - ~, - _ _ I - - - - --~' - - SANITARY AND WATER SYSTEM ~ ~ ~ = ~ `~ - ~ ~ ~ ~1 ~~ - ~y r ~~'~ ~ BIQIC ComprehenSWe PI4t1~ECOfI01111C PrOflle d Ph ' 2~O6 a ter I Ch 5 _ ~ i, D FUTURE INTERCEPTOR SEWER ~ .~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ,. ~ ~ I .% ~ , ~ L, t ~ ~ `~' ~ : '. ~5 ~ '` \ 5~~3 i i ~ ~ r~ ~- ~ J ,. ~ FUTURE WATER MAIN ~~ - ti' - ~ ~: ~~ ~ ~ ~ ..,' ~'~ ~ ` ~~ ~ ` ^i 33 ~ ~ ~ ~ 35 ~ 3~ ,~ ~~ . J t , , ' 'sz ~ . ~, ~ ~ ~ ~iA1VNA:gEEI,.4rT ASSOCIAI°ES P,C, ~ ~ I. ~ ~ ~ k~ ~ - - k t.-- ' f ~ ~`I ~ ~` I I 5 '~ ~~ ., - ~ i 11 ._. .~ ~ -. t11 ~~~~ i~./~. ~~ - raaua ILLU3TItATI01~i b.4 .Southeast Water Main Loop. The southeast water main loop is proposed to serve the industrial area east of Tenth Street between Highway 75 on the south and Highway 30 on the north. This southeast water main loop will connect the existing 12" water line at Third and Grant Streets to the existing 6" water line located in Highway 30 at the south corporate limits. Westside Water Feeder~Main (16" Diameter). It is proposed to construct a new 16" water main to reinforce and boost ........pressures..and..flow..volumes in-western Blair.--The westside feeder main will tie into the existing 14" water main located just south of the intersection of Nebraska and Sixteenth Street. The .water main will run north to Park Street where it will turn and head west down Park Street. The water main will turn and head north from Park Street in Twenty-first Street. The water main will run north in Twenty-first Street to the intersection of Wright where it will turn and head west in Wright Street and College Drive to its connection with an existing 10" water main at Twenty-seventh and College Drive. Construction of this new 16" water main will enhance the water system in western Blair. South High Pressure Zone Water Main and Sixteenth Street Ground Water Storage Reservoir. In order to serve the proposed future development area located between Tenth Street and Highway 30 south of the existing corporate limits, it is proposed to construct a new high pressure zone water main along the north-south ridge line from the existing south reservoirs. This new water main would extend south and terminate at a new Sixteenth Street ground water storage reservoir located on the high ridge immediately south of the development area. This water main would then open up this area for residential development. . South Highway 3~Q Water Main Tie. It is proposed to connect a new water main from the proposed water main at the proposed Sixteenth Street water storage reservoir west to tie in with an existing 8" water main located on the east side of Highway 30 near the south corporate limits. The existing water main in Highway 30 is a long dead-end water main. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.14 Construction of this water main tie will eliminate the existing dead-end water main situation and increase flows and pressures the Highway 30 south area. It is recommended that this water main tie be constructed as soon as funding becomes available after the proposed reservoir has been constructed and placed in service. A water procurement study was recently completed by Kirkham, Michael for Kennard, Nebraska. The recommended water main - - - -source for-the Village of Kennard is the City of Blair's water main system. This connection would be made at the end of the existing 8" water main in Highway 30 south. The proposed improvements consist of a new booster pump station including .two .100 gpm pumps. This would require 25,000 feet of 6" water transmission main to connect to the Village of Kennard's water main system. Kennard would construct a new 115,000 gallon water tower in order to provide water storage for fire fighting purposes. Please refer to the Water Procurement Study for Kennard, Nebraska dated July 1996 for additional information. In conjunction with the design of the south high pressure zone water main and the proposed Sixteenth Street water storage reservoir, a booster pump station and connector main to the 8" water main in Highway 75 south should be investigated for feasibility and effectiveness. This pump station and connector main will regulate pressures for delivery of water in the Highway 75 corridor. In addition, the booster pump station maybe used to regulate pressures in the Highway 30 west corridor as well. The previously mentioned improvements required to serve the proposed development areas in the City of Blair are shown on Illustration 5.2. The actual size and routing of these water main facilities will be determined during a design, once development is warranted. At this time, other than the new Sixteenth Street ground water storage reservoir identified to serve a new high pressure zone on the south end of Blair, no additional water storage reservoirs are needed to support the existing water main system. Blair Comprehensive P1anBconomic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.15 The growth of industries in southeastern Blair is projected to .require periodic expansions of the water treatment plant by 5,000,000 gallons per day, approximately every four years. The total anticipated need for the water treatment plant is 20;000,000 gallons per day. -- TABLE 5.1 BUDGETING COSTS FOR PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS - TO THE WATER SYSTEM. BLAIR, NEBRASKA Project Cost (1996 $) $460,000 $280,000 $100,000 $300,000 $100, 000 $220,000 Sixteenth Street Ground Water Storage Reservoir - (200,000 gallon ground water reservoir) N/A $200;000 __- Westside Water Feeder Main (16" Diameter) 6,500 LF $400,000 Approximate Improvement Description Quantities - - Linear Feet North Water Main Loop (West of 10th Street) l 1,500 LF North Water Main Loop (East of 10th Street) 7,000 LF 10th Street Water Main Tie 2,500 LF Southeast Water Main Loop 7,500 LF I, South Highway 30 Water Main Tie 2,000 LF South High Pressure Zone Water Main 5,500 LF - ~ _._~ _, Blair_Comprehe~sive Plan/Econe~nic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.16 SANITARYSEWER The. existing sanitary sewer system serves the majority of the SYSTEM - developed area within the existing corporate limits of the City of - Blair. The sanitary sewer system in Blair is reported to be in relatively good condition. The entire City of Blair is served by a .gravity. sanitary sewer system, therefore, there are no lift stations. The majority of sewer lines are 8" diameter -pipes with larger - lines serving the lower reaches of the sewer system. Construction materials for sewer mains generally include vitrified clay, ductile iron and plastic .sewer pipe.. The. City of-Blair owns _ - -and maintains asecondary-wastewater treatmentplant located - - adjacent to the water main plant in eastern Blair:: This secondary .wastewater treatment plant includes activated sludge treatment. ._ ..The City recently completed a new sludge stabilization project_to bring the City in _compliance with -:new sludge_ regulations ~, promulgated by regulatory agencies. The existing wastewater- ~ - - treatment is adequately sized to handle the current.Gity_needs. _ - However, the City should implement a program to plan for the eventual expansion of the wastewater treatment plant to handle anticipated future needs. - Fish Creek Interceptor Sewer. There is an existing north interceptor sewer that parallels Fish Creek in northern Blair to approximately the north corporate limits in the City of Blair. The future -land.-use plan shows the area to the north of the existing - ~- - corporate limits to be an area of future expansion_for the City of Blair. The-area northeast ofFish Creek is designated as a future - industrial growth area. The area to the wesfiof-:Fish-Creek is designated to be residential.. In .order to open up this area for development, it is proposed to extend the Fish Creek interceptor sewer from the existing north interceptor sewer. northwesterly.. _. parallel to Fish Creek to Cauble Creek. This interceptor sewer will serve the western portion of the industrial area and the eastern portion of the future residential areas. Northwest Interceptor Sewer. The northwest interceptor sewer will connect with the previously described Fish Creek interceptor sewer at Cauble Creek and will head in a westerly direction to Highway 75. This interceptor sewer will serve the western residential future development area. Combined with the Fish Creek interceptor sewer, the northwest interceptor sewer will allow for full development of the growth area identified on the future land use plan. Blair Comprehensive PlanBconomic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 .5.17 Industrial North Interceptor Sewer. It is proposed to construct anew interceptor north from the wastewater treatment plant area on the eastern side of the future industrial growth area identified on the future land use plan. This interceptor sewer will serve the eastern portion of this industrial growth area. Industrial South Interceptor Sewer. The industrial south interceptor sewer is proposed to connect to the existing south interceptor sewer where it turns and heads westerly approximately one-fourth mile-south of Grant Street.- The ~ industrial south interceptor sewer will be extended south to Highway 75. Construction of this interceptor sewer will open up the proposed industrial growth area located east of Tenth Street and south of Highway 30 as well as ultimately serving the existing and proposed residential developments located along the south side of Highway 75. 10th Street Interceptor Sewer. In order to open up the proposed residential growth area south of the existing corporate limits of Blair, between Tenth Street and Highway 30, it is proposed to extend an interceptor sewer in Tenth Street. This interceptor sewer would start at the existing south interceptor sewer located approximately 1,000 feet north of Prospect Avenue. The interceptor would continue south in the Tenth Street corridor across Highway 75. When the sewer crosses Highway 75 it would angle southwesterly up the existing valley into the residential growth area as shown on the future land use plan. Highway 30 Outfall Sewer. The existing outfall sewer located in the Highway 30 corridor on the east side of Blair, that is the primary tributary to the wastewater treatment plant, is currently at full capacity of the pipe. It is advisable for the City to plan and program for a parallel line that would be adequately sized to replace the line in the event that a structural problem should occur in the older sewer line. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.18 Sanitary Sewer System Comprehensive Analysis. It is recommended that the. City update and automate the sanitary sewer map showing the size, location and other pertinent data of the entire sanitary sewer system. In addition, it is further recommended that the City undertake a comprehensive sanitary sewer system study analysis to identify potential problem areas, determine sizes of future interceptor sewers required to serve growth areas and to set up a capital improvement program for updating the sanitary sewer system. The cost of such a study .....would range between $35,000 to $45,000. TABLE 5.2 BUDGETING COSTS FOR PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM BLAIR, NEBRASKA Approximate Project Co! Improvement Description Quantities (1996 9 Fish Creek Interceptor Sewer 5,000 LF $300,00 Northwest Interceptor Sewer 8,500 LF $500,00 Industrial North Interceptor Sewer 3,000 LF $180,00 Industrial South Interceptor Sewer 4,500 LF $270,00 10th Street Interceptor Sewer 6,000 LF $360,00 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL The City of Blair does not publicly provide for solid waste collection. Solid waste collection within the City is completely private. The City licenses solid waste collection companies. Companies compete for customers and privately bill and collect payment for services. Blair does not grant an exclusive license for solid waste collection. All solid waste collected in the City of Blair is required to be disposed of at the Douglas County Landfill. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.19 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NATURAL GAS SYSTEM TELEPHONE SYSTEM Electric power for the City of Blair is provided by the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). The electric distribution system is owned and operated by OPPD as well. OPPD continually monitors the system and maintains, upgrades and expands the electrical system, as necessary to provide adequate service to the consumers of the City of Blair. People's Natural Gas Company provides the supply and delivery __of natural_gas to_the_consumers of the City of Blair through ts_gas__ transmission and distribution pipeline facilities. People's Natural Gas Company maintains and upgrades its system on a continuing basis to meet the demands of the consumers of the City of Blair. Huntel Telephone Company is the local provider of telephone services. Huntel maintains and upgrades its system on a continuing basis to meet the demands of the consumers of the City of Blair. CABLE TELEVISION Cable television service within the City of Blair is provided by Cable USA, Inc. dba Cable TV Company. Cable USA, Inc. dba Cable TV, maintains and upgrades its system on a continuing basis to meet the demands of the consumers of the City of Blair. STORMDRAINAGE Storm Water Management. An overall plan for storm water management in the City of Blair should be undertaken to investigate the overall, existing drainage system and to determine the impact of future development on downstream facilities. The comprehensive drainage analysis should be used to focus future major public investments in storm sewers and drainageway improvements to alleviate flooding within the corporate limits of Blair and alleviate downstream impacts. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.20 A comprehensive drainage system study would analyze existing storm sewers, culverts, drainageways, and other drainage facilities. The study would identify specific improvements required to correct any identified problem areas. In addition, the study would identify drainageway and specific storm sewer improvements needed to handle run off from areas to be developed in the future. Drainage study can be completed on a basin-by-basin basis if desired. Cost of such a study for each basin would range between $10,000 to $20,000 with the total cost - - -to analyze the entire City being approximately $40,000. The-City - ofBlair should continue its current program of flood plain management through enforcement of the regulations of the flood insurance program in effect. There is a limited amount of storm sewerage in the City of Blair. However, newer subdivisions generally have a storm sewer system. The surface drainage as well as storm sewers outlet into the major creeks within the City. Some of the creeks and drainageways are in need of maintenance and improvements. The intersection of Thirteenth Street and Lincoln Street is subject to periodic inundation during heavy storm events. The Nebraska Department of Roads project for reconstruction of Highway 30 is this vicinity should alleviate the flooding that currently occurs at this intersection. However, even though there is limited storm sewer within the City of Blair, there are relatively few flooding and drainage problems reported. Therefore, large expenditures of capital for storm drainage improvements is not anticipated since it would not be cost effective. TRANSPO~ZTATION The existing street system and proposed traffic circulation plan are shown on Illustration 5.3. The City of Blair is served by the STREETS following primary highways: •Highway 30 (East-West Route) •Highway 75 (North-South Route) • State Highway 91 (East-West Highway originating in Blair at Highway 75) Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.21 There are approximately 48.6 miles of streets within the corporate limits of the City of Blair. These streets are comprised of varying surface types. The following table summarizes the lengths of streets by surface types. Street Surface Type ,, ~~ ~' i1 ., , Concrete Asphalt Brick Gravel Earth Total Length in Miles 23.86 ~. y~~~°` _ _14.97 3.37 6.19 0.21 Blair is bisected by the Union Pacific Railroad tracks running east-west through the community, The principle streets crossing the railroad tracks are listed as follows: ^ existing county road located east of Fish Creek ^ Riverview Road ^Tenth Street OTwelfth Street ^ Sixteenth Street ^Nineteenth Street ^ Twenty-third Street The Nineteenth Street (Highway 75) crossing is the only principle street with an railroad overpass allowing for unrestricted movement across the railroad track. In addition,: the county road east of Fish Creek has a narrow underpass. However, this road is at the far eastern extremity of the City of Blair and is functionally obsolete. Major east-west street corridors in the City of Blair include the following streets: ^South Street ^ Grant Street ^ Washington Street ONebraska Street ^Jackson Street I ' y ' Blair Compr'jrhensive Plan/Economic Profile &.,Plan ~ OOb '' '" -`_.°~, . i''~,rj ~ Chapter 5 ___ ~___ Major north-south street corridors in the City of Blair include the following streets: OTenth Street ^ Twelfth Street ^ Thirteenth Street ^ Sixteenth Street ^Nineteenth Street ^ Twenty-fifth Street _ _ _ : _ __ _ _- _-- _ __ _ __ _ __ __ _ --These-major_street-corridors as-shown-cs~~the-transporkation- circulation plan should be protected so that future extensions of these street corridors can be preserved in new development areas. Developments submitted for City approval need to be reviewed to verify that these corridors will be adequately extended through _ developments in order to provide a functional major street system for the City of Blair. In addition, the City should preserve the .. corridor for an extension of Highway 91 down the Washington Street alignment to eliminate the large bend in the road. NEW STREET CONS.~RUCTION First to Third Connector Street. It is proposed to construct a new street on new alignment from First Street at Highway 30 to Third Street at Jackson Street. This street connector would provide alternate access for northern Blair to Highway 30. In addition, this street would serve as a primary access route to and from the Blair Community School campus located at Tenth and Jackson Streets. The Tenth Street comdor is currently a bottle neck during school _ peak traffic periods. Therefore, construction of the First to Third connector street would relieve the traffic pressures on the Tenth Street corridor. This new street is identified as street segment C-1 on the transportation circulation system rnap. ~. Iowa Street Extension. Iowa Street is proposed to be extended from its current easterly terminus on the south side of the high school campus easterly to the proposed First to Third connector street. This street connection will reinforce the street system in northeastern Blair and will also help to relieve traffic pressure around the school campus at Tenth and Jackson Streets. This new street is identified as street segment C-2 on the transportation circulation map. ' B`~~air Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile'& Plan - 2006 .~•~ ~; Chapter 5 ~ , _ ~ ~ -. ~i d ~. -_ ~_. __.. - - __._. L..\ New Connector Street from Highway 91 West of the Railroad Tracks to Twenty-seventh Street at Hansen Drive. Northwestern Blair is located in hilly terrain, therefore, continuous thru streets are limited in this area.- Construction of this connector street would provide access from northwestern Blair to one of the primary east- west routes through Blair. Construction of this street segment would provide convenient access for the citizens of Blair to the parks and public areas in this neighborhood. This street has been identified as street segment C-3 on the transportation circulation map. Tenth Street Extension. Tenth-Street is proposed to be extended from Grant Street on the north to Highway 75 on the south. Construction of this extension will make Tenth Street one of the principle north-south corridors in the City of Blair. This street will also provide alternate access between Highway 75 on the south and Highway 30 on the north. Construction of this Tenth Street extension will allow for access to the industrial area located east of Tenth Street and to the proposed residential area located west of Tenth Street. This street segment will open up southeastern Blair for future development. The street's construction has been identified as street segment C-4 on the transportation circulation map. New Connector Street from Highway 30 to Highway 75. Anew __ connector street (southern bypass route) tieing the two principle highway corridors at the south end of the City of Blair is recommended. This new connector street would join Highway 30 approximately one-half mile north of the Highway 133 junction to Highway 75 at Tenth Street. This proposed street will open up a significant area of southern Blair for future development. The future land use plan identifies this area as low density residential on the east and medium to high density residential on the west. This street construction has been identified as street segment C-5 on the transportation circulation map. New Connector Street from Highway 75 North to Tenth Street. This new connector street would commence at Highway 75 north of Blair at Twenty-eighth Avenue and run easterly to Tenth Street near the north corporate limits of the City of Blair. This route would serve as a northerly bypass route. This street will traverse through an area of northern Blair designated for future residential development. This street would provide access to and from residential properties located both north and south of the proposed street. This street construction has been identified as street segment C-6 on the transportation circulation map. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.25 New Connector Street from Tenth Street to Highway 30 East. This new connector street would commence at Tenth Street near the .north corporate limits and run easterly to Highway 30 east of Fish Creek. This route would be a continuation of the northern Blair bypass route. This segment involves a major drainage structure at Fish Creek and a railroad underpass structure for the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. This new street will open up northeastern Blair for development as a proposed industrial area. This street would provide access to and from the industrial area to both Highway 30 and Highway 75. This street construction has been identified as street segment C=7 on the transportation map. 1~dAdOdZ S'TddEET East Highway 30. The Nebraska Department of Roads has RECONSTRUCTION proposed reconstruction of East Highway 30 from Fourteenth Street PROJECTS to Industrial Road for the 1998 construction season. The project will consist of widening the route to four traffic lanes (two in each direction) and a center lane for left turn movements. The project includes an overpass for the railroad tracks, South Creek and Fourth Street. This project will significantly improve traffic flow on the Highway 30 route in eastern Blair. This street reconstruction project is identified as street segment R-1 on the transportation circulation system map. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.26 TABLE 5.3 BUDGETING COSTS FOR PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION CIRCULATION SYSTEM (New Street Construction Shown in Yellow on Map) BLAIR, NEBRASKA Project Approximate Project Cost No. Improvement Description Quantity (1996 $) Linear Feet C-1 New Connector Street from 1st Street and Highway 30 to Third Street & Jackson Street 1,500 LF $300,000 C-2 Iowa Street Extension from Seventh Street to the First to Third Connector Street (C-1) 2,500 LF $500,000 C-3 New Connector Street from Highway 91 West of Railroad Tracks to Twenty-seventh Street and Hansen Drive 2,700 LF $540,000 C-4 Tenth Street Extension from Grant Street South to Highway 75 4,400 LF $880,000 C-5 New Connector Street from Highway 30 approximately 1/2 Mile North of the Highway 133 Junction to Highway 75 and Tenth Street 5,600 LF $1,120,000 C-6 New Connector Street from Highway 75 North to Twenty-eighth Avenue to Tenth Street Near the North Corporate Limits 9,000 LF $1,800,000 C-7 New Connector Street from Tenth Street Near the North Corporate Limits to Highway 30 East of Fish Creek 8,000 LF $1,900,000 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.27 East Highway 30 from Eighteenth Street to Fourteenth Street. This street segment is located in the central business district of the City of Blair. A traffic engineering study was recently completed on this route. A recommendation in that study was to widen and reconstruct this street to a five lane section. The five lane section would include two thru lanes in each direction plus a middle lane for left turn movements. This route carries traffic from both Highway 75 and Highway 30. The widening and reconstruction is recommended to enhance safety of the traveling public on this route. The proposed project would involve the reconstruction of sidewalks in front of the abutting businesses to accoxiunodate the widened street segment. These sidewalks are sufficiently wide to accommodate the additional width of the street without sacrificing pedestrian safety. The sidewalks in the central business district are in poor condition and in need of replacement. Reconstruction of this street segment through the central business district of the City of Blair will enhance safety for the traveling public and for pedestrians. In addition, provision of the left turn lane will also reduce delays and congestion currently being experienced. The recently completed traffic study showed high incidents of accidents that will likely be reduced by providing a dedicated left turn lane as well as improved geometrics at the intersections. In addition, pedestrian safety should be enhanced as well, which is especially important since this is the central business district. The pedestrian walk times for the traffic signals in the central business district are too short for safe crossing of streets. As part of the reconstruction of Washington Street (Highway 30) in the central business district, the traffic signals should be upgraded and proper phasing and timing of phases including pedestrian cross time should be analyzed and improved. This street reconstruction project is identified as street segment R-2 on the transportation circulation system map. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.28 South Highway 30 from Lincoln Street to Clark Street. The .existing street is a four lane section (two lanes in each direction). The ultimate section would also be a four lane section. A center left turn lane is not required due to the limited number of driveways in this street segment. This project should include the reconstruction of the South Street intersection to a five lane section to accommodate separate left turn lanes for South Street. In addition, a new traffic signal system should be included for the South Street intersection. This street reconstruction has been identified as street segment R-3A on the transportation __ circulation system_map. ~; South Highway 30 from Clark Street to Highway 133. This particular segment of Highway 30 is a two lane rural section that carries a high traffic count with significant left turn movements into abutting business properties. This segment of Highway 30 is in need of safety enhancement to accommodate the large number of left turn movements. It is recommended that a widening of the existing highway to a three lane section (one thru lane in each direction plus a center left turn lane) be completed to enhance safety on this route. An interim project to widen the highway to a three lane section would not only enhance safety, but would also minimize traffic delays and congestion currently being experienced in this area. The ultimate project would consist of reconstructing the roadway to a five lane section (two thru traffic lanes in each direction plus one center left turn lane). This street reconstruction project has been identified as street segment R-3B on the transportation circulation system map. Highway 91 and Twenty-third Street Intersection. It is proposed to reconstruct Highway 91 and Twenty-third Street Intersection in order to increase visibility and enhance safety movements for vehicular traffic. This project is identified as street segment R-4 on the transportation circulation system map. Grant Street from Ninth Street east to Industrial Road. Grant Street is proposed to be improved from Ninth Street east to Industrial Road. The existing gravel surface street will be overlaid with a new asphalt surface approximately 6" in thickness. This street improvement project is identified as street segment R-5 on the transportation circulation system map. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.29 Tenth Street from Washington Street South to Lincoln Street. This one block segment of Tenth Street is proposed to be reconstructed to a new concrete pavement with integral curb and gutter. This street reconstruction is identified as street segment R-6 on the transportation circulation system map. Tenth Street from Washington Street North to Adams Street. ~ This segment of Washington Street is proposed to be converted to collector street status, widened and left turn lanes provided. Tenth Street is one of Blair's major north-south collector streets and-is congested during peak morning and evening traffic periods. This widening and reconstruction project is identified as street segment R-7 on the transportation circulation system map. Tenth and Jackson Street Intersection. The intersection of Tenth and Jackson Street is proposed to be reconstructed with alignment of Jackson Street to the east and west of Tenth Street. This is the critical intersection for ingress and egress to the Blair school campus at the southeast corner of this intersection. This project has recently been designed and is anticipated to be constructed in 1996. This project is identified as street segment R-8 on the transportation circulation system map. Twenty-fifth Street from Elm Street to Clark Street. Twenty- fifth Street is proposed to be reconstructed to concrete paving with integral curb and gutter from Elm Street to Clark Street. This street reconstruction is identified as street segment R-9 on the transportation circulation system map. Clark Street from Twenty-fifth Street to Highway 30. This segment of Clark Street is proposed to be reconstructed to concrete paving with integral curb and gutter. This street reconstruction project is identified as street segment R-10 on the transportation circulation system map. Jackson Street from River Road to Water Treatment Plant. It is proposed to overlay the existing gravel road with a 6" deep asphalt overlay. This project also includes repair of a portion of the existing concrete road. This project has been identified as street segment R-11 on the transportation circulation system map. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.30 Dana College Access. The principle access to Dana College from Highway 75 is via Wright Street and College Drive. This street needs to be improved from the Wright Street intersection with Highway 75 to the college. TABLE 5.4 BUDGETING COSTS FOR PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION CIRCULATION SYSTEM ...MAJOR STREETRECONSTRUCTION...... (Shown in red on map) BLAIR, NEBRASKA Approximate Project Cost Project Improvement Description Quantity 1996 No. Linear Feet R -1 East Highway 30 from Fourteenth Street to Industrial 7000LF $8,000,000 Road (NDOR project) ($1,400,000 Blair's Shere) R - 2 East Highway 30 from Eighteenth Street to Fourteenth 1,800LF $500,000 Street (Blair CBD) R - 3A South Highway 30 from Lincoln Street to Clark Street 3,200LF $900,000 R - 3B South Highway 30 from Clark Street to Highway 127 7,000LF (1)Safety widening to 3-lane section $750,000 (2)Vltimak reconstruction to 5-lane section $2,100,000 R - 4 Highway 91 and Twenty-third Street Intersection N/A $10,000 R - 5 Grant Street from Ninth Street east to Industrial Road 6,200LF $260,000 (asphalt surfacing) R - 6 Tenth Street from Washington Street to Lincoln Street 300LF $50,000 (concrete paving) R - 7 Tenth Street from Washington Street to Adams Street 3,200LF $640,000 (widening and reconstruction) R - 8 Tenth and Jackson Street Intersection (reconstruction) N/A $150,000 R - 9 Twenty-fifth Street from Elm Street to Clazk Street 1,000LF $150,000 (concrete paving) R - 10 Clazk Street from Twenty-fifth Street and Highway 30 2,000LF $300,000 (concrete paving) R - 11 Jackson Street from River Road to Wastewater 3,800LF $160,000 Treatment Plant (asphalt overlay) Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.31 MAINTENANCE AND The City of Blair has planned fora 10 year program consisting of ; ASPHALT OVERLAYS .annual asphalt overlay and street maintenance program. Over 50 ` street segments throughout the community are proposed to have the top inch or two of the pavement surface milled off to accommodate a subsequent asphalt overlay. The milling will allow the street to be resurfaced without adversely affecting drainage patterns and the street cross section. These various street segments are shown on the transportation circulation system map.. TABLE 5.5 BUDGETING COSTS FOR PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION CIRCULATION SYSTEM (Shown in Blue on Map) BLAIR, NEBRASKA Approximate Project Cost Improvement Description Quantity (1996 $) Street Maintenance and Asphalt 50(+) Blocks $1,245,000 Overlays Existing Unpaved City Streets. The City's goal is to pave all existing platted unpaved streets that are open to travel within the corporate limits. The City should continue with an annual paving program to accomplish this goal. Priorities can be established and the street paving can be financed by GAP Paving Districts, petitioned districts, or other means available to the City including Community Development Block Grants and, possibly, tax increment financing. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.32 City Paving Standards. The City's current standards call for Portland cement concrete street construction with integral concrete curb and gutter sections. The pavement section is typically six inches thick for residential streets with increased thicknesses required on collector and arterial streets. Current City standards are acceptable for future street construction within the planning period. Highway 30 Frontage Roads. As development continues to - -- - -occur in the commercial-corridor-along Highway30 south, it is critical that a frontage road system be constructed where feasible as part of developments to accommodate traffic accessing local properties. It is desirable to locate the nearest intersection to the highway at least 300 fect from the highway in order to provide for adequate stacking distance for vehicles accessing Highway 30 without interfering with traffic movements at the frontage road intersection. This will leave sufficient room between the frontage road and the highway for a development parcel. Truck Routes. The existing Highway 30 and Highway 75 routes through the City of Blair are the major truck routes. It is anticipated these facilities will continue to be the primary interest-City truck routes for the City of Blair in the foreseeable future. Truck traffic should be kept confined to these major street corridors except as required to make deliveries or pickups at specific businesses. Traffic Signal Systems. Traffic signals provide an effective mechanism to allow traffic to access heavily traveled routes. Traffic signals are effective at moving heavy traffic provided they are interconnected and appropriately spaced. In addition, signal phasing is critical and should be designed specifically for each intersection. Properly designed traffic signal system will allow for steady progression of traffic ques on heavily travelled routes while concurrently allowing access onto the heavily travelled routes from traffic using intersecting streets. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.33 B~zIDGES Major bridge and culvert structures are located on the three primary creeks that run through the City of Blair environs. In western Blair, there is Cauble Creek. In eastern Blair, there is South Creek and Fish Creek. The existing drainage structures are in satisfactory condition. However, there is a load limit on the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Street structures for South Creek. These bridges are experiencing general, overall deterioration. The load restriction was identified during recent bridge inspections. The structures should be inspected on a regular basis and programmed for replacement when funding permits. BAILR0,4DS The City of Blair is served by the Union Pacific Railroad. AIR SERVICE The Blair Municipal Airport provides air transportation services for the citizens of the City of Blair and Washington County. The existing airport is located approximately two miles north of the City of Blair on the east. side of Highway 75 adjacent to the Blair Country Club and golf course. Blair Municipal Airport accommodates air traffic for use by medical, industrial, business and personal pleasure purposes. The main runway at the Blair Municipal Airport is 2,600 feet in length by 50 feet wide. The City of Blair intends on acquiring a new airport. The proposed facility is known as "Eagle Field" and is located on State Highway 133 south of Blair. The City intends on acquiring the airport for improvement and upgrading to replace the existing Blair Municipal Airport. The City has received funding from the Federal Aviation Authority for acquisition of Eagle Field. Once this acquisition has occurred, the City intends on improving the airport to serve as the new Blair Municipal Airport. The existing facility will then be abandoned. The ultimate use of the existing airport is for acquisition by the golf course to allow for expansion to 18 holes. The current airport layout plan approved by the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics (NDA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shows the proposed improvements, identifies the anticipated cost of these improvements and sets forth the timing and schedule for the work at the new airport facility. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 5 5.34 SIDEWALKSAND TRAILS Pedestrian traffic is provided for by a system of sidewalks in the corporate limits of the City of Blair. Typically, there is a four foot wide sidewalk located on each side of paved streets within the community. The City of Blair requires sidewalks on each side of the street in all new developments. The City also incorporates sidewalk construction, replacement and/or upgrading as part of paving district work. The City routinely requires replacement of faulted sidewalk pavements that create a safety hazard to pedestrian travel. Abandoned railroad comdors -make extremely good routes for trail-systems. The Rails To Trails program could be utilized to help implement a trail in the abandoned Union Pacific Railroad corridor. The City also routinely upgrades sidewalks to meet ADA accessibility standards whenever construction occurs affecting existing sidewalks. The future land use plan identifies various public corridors that will accommodate trail construction. These trails need to be planned, identified and budgeted for. One critical trail route would be following Highway 30 south to the business area and the theater in particular. There is a considerable amount of pedestrian travel to and from the theater. At this time, there is no sidewalk or trail system to accommodate this pedestrian traffic. When street reconstruction occurs, the City should consider applying for transportation monies available for trail construction. The."Back To The River" trail system proposed to run through Blair can be accommodated via the Tenth Street corridor. The nuclear power plant and the industrial area on the east side of Blair effectively block the trail system from utilizing the Missouri River Levee. It is recommended that the trail diverge from the levee system south of Blair and be routed in the Tenth Street comdor through Blair continuing to the north where it will again intersect with the Missouri River levee system several miles north of Blair. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter S 5.35 CHAPTER 6 HOUSING PROFILE AND PLAN CHAPTER 6 HOUSING PROFILE AND PLAN INTRODUCTION COMMUNITY HOUSING CONDITIONS The Housing component of the Blair Comprehensive Plan serves to profile and analyze the existing housing stock in the City of Blair and determine the demand for housing activities during the planning period (1996 to 2006). The following information includes the documentation of pertinent U.S. Census information and_the .identification. and_analysis of future_ housing characteristics and demand. "It should be the goal of any community to provide safe, decent and affordable housing for its residents, regardless of race or social and economic status." The following statistical and narrative data serves as an "update" to a community housing study conducted for Blair, Nebraska in 1994. This study process projected a two year (1994-1996) demand for housing of all types. Since the study, the community has aggressively approached housing development; creating a new and modern housing units for both owner and renter households. This housing profile and plan meets the standards of all major funding sources involved in the financing of housing, both public and private, including local lending institutions, the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (federal) Economic Development (state), the U.S.D.A. Office of Rural Development (federal, formerly the Farmers Home Administration) and the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (state). Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.1 COMMUNITY The Blair housing stock is comprised of a variety of housing HOUSING types ranging from single family homes, to mobile homes, to PROFILE family and elderly multifamily structures. The highest percentage of residential land area is occupied by single family homes. Table 6.1 identifies both the 1980 and 1990 Blair housing stock, based on Census data. From 1980 to 1990, there was an increase in the Blair housing stock by 233 units. During this same time period, the housing stock in Washington County increased by 686 units. A total of 1.2 percent of the housing stock in Washington County lacked completeplumbing. In comparison, 0.8 percent of the housing stock in Blair lacked complete plumbing. In Blair, a total of 39 units had overcrowded conditions. TABLE 6.1 HOUSING STOCK PROFILE BLAIR/WASHINGTON COUNTY 1980 & 1990 Inventory Change Pr ofile Blair Wa shington Co unty 1980 Housing Stock 2,438 5,617 1990 Housing Stock 2,671 6,303 Change -Units +233 +686 -Percent +9.6% +12.2% - Annual Units +23 +69 - Annual Percent +0.9% +1.2% 1990 Housin Sg tock ~1 amber 10 of Total Number % of 'dotal Complete Plumbing 2,694 99.2% 6,299 98.8% Lack of Complete Plu mbing 23 0 8° 79 1 2° TOTAL (specified) 2,717 100% 6,378 100% Qvercrowdedness With 1.01 or More Persons Per Room 39 1.5% 84 1.3% Change % Change Number of Unitg 1980 1990 .1980-1990 1980 1990 1980-1990 1 Unit 1,872 1,970 +5.2% 4,719 5,132 +8.8% 2 to 9 Units 293 451 +53.9% 401 556 +38.7% 10 or More Units 212 177 -16.5% 216 117 -18.1% Mobile Homes 61 73 +19 7° 281 513 +55.9% TOTAL 2,438 2,671 +9.6% 5,617 6,303 +12.2% Source: Census of Population and Housing, 1980, STF-1 A 1990 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive P1anBconomic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.2 BUILDING TRENDS Table 6.2 identifies building trends in Blair from 1990 through July, 1996. The City of Blair has permitted an estimated 414 housing units since 1990. An estimated 51 housing units have been demolished. New housing units developed since 1990 have included a mix of affordable rental and market rate single family owner units. TABLE 6.2 HOUSING BUILDING TRENDS BLAIit, ~1EBRASKA 1990-1996 Year Single Family Multi-Family 1990 23 8 1991 12 2 1992 37 60 1993 35 39 1994 37 21 1995 45 52 1996* 19 24 TOTAL 208 206 * As of July, 1996 Note: An estimated 93 units are presently under construction or in process of occupancy. Demolitions - 51 units Source: City of Blair Government, 1996 C-40 Construction Reports, 1983-1994 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.3 HOUSING Table 6.3 summarizes estimated housing stock occupancy and OCCUPANCY/ vacancy status in Blair for 1990 and 1996. The 1990 Census VACANCY recorded a total of 2,717 units, with 2,584 occupied and 133 vacant. Vacant housing units consisted of seasonal and/or .vacant housing units neither for sale nor rent (87) and vacant year-round housing units (46). Vacancy demand represents the minimum number of dwelling units required to allow for: 1) greater choice and selection for - -potential home buyers/renters and 2)-elimination of substandard living units which are detrimental to the health and safety of the occupant(s). A standard community vacancy rate is 5 percent. This rate may fluctuate higher or lower for different time periods, depending upon the anticipated population growth and overall structural condition of the existing housing stock. In Table 6.3, the housing vacancy rate recorded for Blair in 1990 was 4.8 percent overall and 1.7 percent for the year-round housing stock. In 1990, there was a total of 2,584 occupied year-round housing units in Blair. These units were comprised of 1,904 owner occupied and 954 renter households. For 1996, year-round housing stock was determined. by adding 1990 Census year-round housing stock, plus housing permits issued since 1990, less housing units demolished since 1990. The 1996 year-round housing stock is estimated to be 2,900, with 23 vacant year-round housing units. The current year- round housing vacancy rate is estimated to be 0.8 percent. The total 1996 year-round occupied housing units for 1996 is estimated to be 2,877. These units consist of an estimated 1,923 owner occupied and 954 renter occupied households. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.4 TABLE 6.3 HOUSING STOCK OCCUPANCYlVACANCY STATUS BLAIlt, NEBRASKA 1990/1996 a) 1990 Census Housing Stock Count b) 1990 Vacant Housing Units c) 1990 Occupied Housing Units d) 1.990. Housing Vacancy Rate e) 1990 Seasonal or Vacant Housing Units Neither for Sale nor Rent f) 1990 Census Year-Round Housing Stock (a-e) g) 1990 Vacant Year-Round Housing Units (f-g) h) 1990 Occupied Year-Round Housing Units (f-g) Owner Occupied Renter Occupied i) 1990 Year-Round Housing Vacancy Rate j) 1996 Housing Built/Occupied Since 1990 Census k) 1996 Housing Units Demolished Since 1990 Census 1) 1996 Year-Round Housing Stock (f+j-k) m) 1996. Vacant Year-Round Housing Units n) 1996 Occupied Year-Round Housing Stock *Owner Rented *Renter Occupied . o) 1996 Year-Round Housing Vacancy Rate Source: Census of Population and Housing, 1990 City of Blair, 1996 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 2,717 133 2,584 4.8% 87 2,630 46 2,584 1,767 817 1.7% 321 S1 2,900 23 2,877 1,923 954 0.8% - Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile: & Plan - 2006 ,.Chapter 6 6.5 AGE OFHOUSING The age of housing stock in Blair, for 1990, is identified in STOCK Table 6.4. At least 29.5 percent of the housing stock in Blair was over 50 years of age. The highest number of housing units built in Blair, since 1959, was 520, during the period of 1960 to 1969. TABLE 6.4 YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT BLAIIt, NEBRASKA. 1990 Households Blair 1985 to March 1990 201 1980 to 1984 151 1970 to 1979 484 1960 to 1969 520 1940 to 1959 560 1939 or before 801 TOTAL specified) 2,717 1939 or before 29.5% Source: Census of Housing, 1990 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 CONDITION OF A City-wide conditions survey of the housing stock in Blair was HOUSING STOCK conducted as an activity of this comprehensive planning project. A total of 2,552 units were reviewed. Table 6.5 identifies the results of this survey. The majority of the units surveyed were rated "good." A total of 34.3 percent of the housing units were rated as "fair" or "poor." This equalled a total of 876 units. This high percentage of "fair" and "poor" housing will require the continued planning and implementation of a local housing rehabilitation and removal/replacement program. TABLE 6.5 HOUSING STOCK SURVEY BLAIR, NEBRASKA AUGUST, 1995 Good Fair Poor Total Single Family* 1,293 586 205 2,129 Multifamily 338 52 33 423 Total 1,631(63.9%) 638 (25.0%) 238 (9.3%) 2,552 * Includes Mobile Homes Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.6 HOUSEHOLD TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS Table 6.6 depicts specific household characteristics trends and projections in Blair for the period 1980 to 2006. By 2006, an estimated 37.2 percent of the total community population will reside in'a rental unit. This will equal an estimated 21.9 percent increase from 1980. This will also equal an increase of 247 renter households from 1996 to 2006. An additional 104 owner households are also expected during this 10 year period. TABLE 6.6 TENURE BY HOUSEHOLD TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS BLAII2, NEBRASKA 1980 - 2006 Total Owner Renter Year Households Number Percent Number Percent 1980 2,277 '1,583 69.5% 694 30.5% 1990 2,584 1,767 68.4% 817 31.6% 1996 2,877 1,923 66.8% 954 33.2% 2006 3,228 2,027 62.8% 1,201 37.2% Source: Census of Population and Housing, ST'F-3A, 1990 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 An analysis of household characteristics provides a profile of data necessary to plan for a community. Recent trends in household characteristics, combined with income, employment and population data can assist in determining the overall future housing needs of a planning area. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.7 FU?'URE HOUSING DEMAND The housing stock of a community is considered a basic necessity and an adequate supply of safe and decent housing is a key factor in a community's social and economic. well being.. As stated throughout this Comprehensive Plan, Blair provides a variety of housing types for its population. The City makes a true effort to encourage,both the construction of new and rehabilitation. of existing housing. Presently (1996), an estimated 2,900 year-round housing units exist in Blair. Less than 1 percent of these units are vacant. Also discussed was the condition of housing in Blair. An estimated 15 to 17 percent of the housing stock is in need of rehabilitation, with an additional 4 to 5 percent in need of removal/replacement. HOUSING I~ACANCY DEFICIENCY Housing vacancy deficiency is defined as the number of vacant units lacking in a community, whereby the total percentage of vacant units is less than 5 percent. A vacancy rate of 5 percent is the minimum rate recommended to allow a community to have sufficient housing available for both new and existing residents. Blair has a current housing vacancy rate of less than 5 percent, thus a housing vacancy deficiency. The Housing Vacancy Deficiency figure considers 5 percent of the current year-round housing stock minus vacant units within the community. The City of Blair has an estimated housing vacancy deficiency demand of 122 additional units. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.~ MOUSING DEMAND- The following statistical and narrative information identifies NEyI'HOUSEHOLDS, the future renter and owner housing demand in Blair, based REPLACEMENT, on anticipated new households, the replacement of AFFORDABLE - substandard housing units and the need for additional DEMAND -- affordable housing units for low- to moderate-income ..families and persons, by the end of the planning period, 2006. The U.S.D.A. Office of Rural Development (RD) (formerly FmI-iA) housing demand formula was utilized to determine this demand from .1990 to 2006. The Demand - -Forecast Tables, Table 6.7 and Table 6.9, consider new households, households living in substandard units, households experiencing cost overburden, current housing development activities, a 5 percent vacancy allowance, household/income eligibility and an appropriate (development) penetration rate. SUBSTANDARD UMT A substandard unit is defined as a unit lacking complete plumbing plus the number of households with more than 1.01 persons per room. Persons experiencing rent or owner cost overburden are persons paying more than 30 percent of their income towards housing. Consideration is also given to the number of new households, demolitions, and any other projects I~ACANCYRATE in the planning. stage for the designated community. A vacancy rate can be defined as the number (or percentage) of year- round units within the existing housing supply which do not have an occupant at the time of enumeration. A standard vacancy rate of five percent allows for a community to typically offer an adequate supply of safe, decent, and affordable housing. PENETRATIONRATE The final step in demand forecasting, the determination of a (development) penetration rate, is very important in the market analysis of any particular, planned owner or rental housing project. A standard to follow in conducting a market analysis is to restrict development to no more than 60 to 95 percent of the estimated unit demand at any one particular time, during a 2 to 10 year period. This allows the local municipality to approach housing in a more "conservative" mode and prevents over-development and/or saturation of the housing market. Overdevelopment of the rental housing market could escalate the community's vacancy rate and have a negative impact on both the value and marketing potential of the new and existing housing stock. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.9 RENTAL HOUSING Table 6.7 provides a rental housing demand forecast for the DEMAND City of Blair. Utilizing the RD forecast formula (1990 to 2006) identified in Table 6.6 the community of Blair will have a total i renter demand for 517 units. It is estimated, 35 percent of the future rental households would be income eligible for j affordable housing programs. This would typically be households with an annual income of 60 percent of the County's median income, or less. The net demand for affordable rental units in Blair is 73 units and 233 market rate rental units. ~ __ I TABLE 6.7 RENTER DEMAND FORECASTS BLAIl2, NEBRASKA 1990-2006 Source of Demand New Households (from the most recent census year plus 10-yr. projection) (1990-2006) .20 of Households Living in Substandard Units (1990) Plus Demolitions (1990-1996) .20 of Households Experiencing Cost Overburden (1990) Plus Vacancy Allowance of 5% (of New Households) (1990-2006) TOTAL DEMAND Affordable* 384 4 45 65 19 517 Market Rate** Number of Total Demand Determined Income Eligible (1990-2006) 181 336 Less Number of Units Occupied/under construction (1990-1996) 108 103 NET DEMAND (1996-2006) 73 233 Penetration Rate (1996-2006) 80% 6~% NEED AND DEMAND (1996-2006) 58 151 *60% of County Median Income or Less ** Above 60% of County Median Income Source: 1990 Census City of Blair, 1996 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.10 Penetration rates of 80 and 65 percent were applied to the rental demand to allow for moderate growth in population, the lack of housing development to match housing needs and the increasing age of housing stock: Using these penetration rates, Blair would need 58 additional units of affordable rental housing and 151 units of market rate rental housing to meet demand by 2006. proposed Table 6.8 identifies suggested housing types for both the rental types ......... ~~~ required "affordable" and "market rate" rental units -for Blair, Nebraska. Between the planning period-1996 to-2006, Blair could sustain 58 additional affordable rental units and 151 additional market rate rental units. These recommendations should serve only as a starting point for housing and development. Two-bedroom "affordable" rental units could support a monthly rent of approximately $400 to $490. Two-bedroom "market rate" rental. units would require a monthly rent of $600+. Affordable new rental units (58) should be built for both families and elderly households with emphasis on elderly. An estimated 44 percent of the market_rate rental units, or 66 units should be built for elderly persons, with the remaining units for families. TABLE 6.8 PROPOSED RENTAL TYPES BLAIR, NEBRASKA 2006 Affordable* Market Rate** One-Bedroom Apartments l~ Units 25 Units Two-Bedroom Apartments 30 Units 96 Units Three- or more Bedroom Apartments 13 Units 30 Units TOTAL RENTER 58 UNITS 151 UNITS Elderly Rental Units (55+ Years) 40 Units 66 Units *60% of County's Median Income or Less **Above 60% of County's Median Income Source: Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 .Chapter 6 6.11 OWNER HOUSING Table 6.9 presents the owner demand forecast for the City of DEMAND Blair. Utilizing the RD forecast formula (1990-2006) there is a total need and demand for at least 33 affordable owner- occupied units and 105 market rate owner-occupied units in Blair by 2006. A total demand for 342 additional owner housing units exist in Blair between 1990 and 2006. An estimated 26 percent of these units would need to be affordable to low- and moderate income families. TABLE 6.9 ®~VNER DEMAND F~RECAST~ BLAIR, NEBRASKA 1990-2006 Source of Demand New households (from the most recent census year plus 260 10-yr. projection) (1990-2006) .20 of Households Living in Substandard Units (1990) 24 Plus Demolitions (1990-2006) 6 .20 of Households Experiencing Cost Overburden (1990) 39 Plus Vacancy Allowance of S% (of New Households) 13 (1990-2006) TOTAL DEMAND 342 Affordablc* Market Rate** Number of Total Demand 90 252 Determined Income Eligible (1990-2006) Less Number of Units Occupied/Under Construction/ 35 140 Built (1990-1996) NET DEMAND (1996-2006) 55 112 Penetration Rate (1996-2006) 60% 95% NEED AND DEMAND (1996-2006) 33 105 * 80% of County Median Income or Less ** More than 80% of County Median Income Source: 1990 Census City of Blair, 1996 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Btair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.12 proposed owner types .............. To serve the median income population of Blair, persons or families earning $25,850 annually, homes valued at no more than $72,000 - 86,000 need to be constructed or freed-up in the market place. Due to the high-cost of building construction,-the community should consider factory built and/or mobile housing for homeownership. Average new construction of a home, $95,000 to $120,000, will need to target persons or families with an earning power of $58,000 to $72,000 annually. Financing is dependent upon credit approval and a 20 percent downpayment. TABLE 6.10 PROPOSED OWNER TYPES BLAIR, NEBRASKA 2006 Afoordable* Market Rate** One-Bedroom 0 Units 0 Units Two-Bedroom 0 Units 2~ Units Three- or more Bedroom 33 Units 80 Units TOTAL OWNER 33 UNITS 105 UNITS *80% of County's Median Income or Less **Above 80% of County's Median Income Source: Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C, 1996 Table 6.10 identifies the suggested housing types for both the minimum required affordable and market rate owner housing units. These recommendations should serve only as a starting point for housing development. Affordable owner housing units. should have a purchase price not exceeding $78,600. No cost limitations exist for market-rate owner units. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.13 "PENT-UP" HOUSING In addition to the previously discussed housing demand and DEMAND deficiency factors, the "pent-up" housing demand for current residents in the communities, desiring and having the capacity to afford alternative housing must also be considered. This is a highly speculative demand and one which must be locally promoted and market driven by resident desire. The process to monitor this desire however is somewhat difficult to determine and implement. The City of Blair has a total estimated "pent-up" housing demand-of 74 units. The community of Blairshould first ~ concentrate its efforts on building better, more expensive rental properties. Renters are typically more apt to change housing units than the more permanent homeowners. TOTAL HOUSING The total estimated housing demand, or housing potential, in DEMAND Blair by 2006 is 543 units. This includes the combined consideration of new households, replacement housing (of dilapidated structures), affordable housing for low to moderate income elderly and families, a current vacancy deficiency and a "pent up" demand for alternative housing for existing residents of Blair. This demand (543 units) would require the community of Blair to phase its housing development efforts, averaging almost '' 54 units per year. housing rehabilitation The review of various reports and a field analysis by the steeds ............. Consultant revealed a strong housing rehabilitation demand in Blair. It is estimated, 151 housing units could warrant substantial rehabilitation activities, with an additional 282 needing moderate rehabilitation activities. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.14 household Table 6.11 identifies household income limits at 50, 60, 80,.100 income limits ....... and 125 percent of median income for Washington County. These guidelines serve the entire Washington County including the City of Blair.: These income levels are guidelines for tenants' eligibility and affordability for most publicly funded affordable and market rate rental and owner housing projects. -TABLE 6.11 H®USEH®LI) INC®ME LIMITS ~VAS~INGT®N C®iTNT~' 1996 1 Person 2 Persons 3 Persons 4 Persons 50% $14,938 $17,075 $19,125 $21,325 60% $17,925 $20,500 $23,000 $25,600 80% $23,900 $27,350 $30,750 $34,150 100% $29,875 $34,190 $38,435 $42,685 125% $37,340 $42,735 $48,000 $53,355 Source: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 1996 Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 1996 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.15 IlouslNc IMPLEMENTATION The creation of a new and improved housing stock in Blair will ~ depend on the implementation of development activities by both I~ the public and private sectors, both independent of one another as i~ well as a team. A program to remove substandard housing and, if ! necessary, relocate tenants will be needed to improve. the overall character of the City as well as to provide a safe and decent housing stock. New construction activities, to create both modern owner and renter housing, will need to be implemented as soon as possible. The strategic planning and locating of these units will heighten the City's ability to grow. HovSINCi INITIATIVE The City of Blair has been pressured the last few years to ~ produce additional, both owner and renter housing. In 1994, the community conducted an assessment of housing needs and potential, in response to the Cargill plant and related spin off businesses. Other factors, which have influenced the need for more and improved housing in Blair has included (1) increased patterns of immigration due to the services and jobs available in the City of Blair, the county seat, (2) an increase in population, coupled with a trend for smaller households, (3) older, retired persons desiring alternative housing and (4) a trend towards an increased number of renter households. In response to a perceived urgent need for housing, an estimated 414 units have been built or are currently under construction in Blair since 1990. Both public and private entities have been involved in this development effort. To expedite these efforts, the community of Blair has joined forces with Burt County communities and others in Washington County to create a dual county Community Housing Development Organization to aid in facilitating the creation of affordable housing. The Blair Housing Authority is an implementor of both project based and tenant based Section 8 rental assistance. The Good Shepherd retirement center has also taken a lead role in Blair in the provision of residential options for older adults. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.16 The City of Blair began a housing initiative after the completion of its 1994 (community-wide) housing market study. The City of Blair should continue this effort as a means of meeting its future population goals. This Housing Initiative should be updated periodically by community leadership. At a minimum, the .Initiative should continue to address the following: ^ A marketing plan to promote Blair as a place to live and work. -A program to increase the-capacity of local builders-and - ' developers to produce more housing units. This program should concentrate on increasing the number of trades and skilled construction labor in the Blair and Washington County area. ^ Identification and scheduling of housing projects, both new and replacement and rehabilitation, most appropriate for Blair. Emphasis should be placed on continued support for elderly retirement rental and entry-level single family development. ^ Identification of land areas for both renter and owner housing. Areas should include land both inside and adjacent to the City. Projects planned for these areas should be compatible with adjacent land uses... It is estimated that Blair will need up to 160 acres of land,-both within and adjacent to the City, for residential development. These land acres will need to be identified in both the future land use and official zoning district map to expedite new housing. 0 Review and modify local ordinances, as well as the overall political decision-making process as it pertains to residential development. This effort should attempt to eradicate any and all impediments to residential development or rehabilitation. ^ Identification of financial resources to refinance residential development in Blair, including both public and private sources. Local lending institutions should form a partnership for financing housing projects. Local corporations should form an equity fund to raise capital for the purchase of affordable housing and historic tax credits. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.17 and Maintain the necessary organizational structures for the creation of housing projects in Blair, including the securement of land for future developments. At a minimum, utilize the housing development services of local non-profit organizations to complete needed affordable housing projects. These groups can access important financial resources to deliver affordable housing in a timely manner. _i Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.18 HOUSING RESOURCES To continue the production of new and upgrade both existing renter and owner occupied housing in Blair, the community, in ~ partnership with the private sector, must continue to access affordable housing programs to reduce the cost of development and/or long-term operations.. The following information identifies funding sources and programs available to assist in financing the housing demand in Blair. The (strategic) combination of two or more sources can assist in reducing development and/or -operational costs ofproposed-affordable housing projects. - - LOCAL FUNDING Local funding for use in housing development and improvement OPTIONS programs are limited to two primary sources: (1) local tax base and (2) dollars secured via state and federal grant and loan programs, which are typically, only available to local units of government (village, city or county). local tux base ........ Tax Increment Financing -Utilizing the Nebraska Community Development Law, the City of Blair needs to create a Community Redevelopment Authority. This Authority will have the power to declare an area or areas of the community as blighted/ substandard, create a redevelopment plan and then utilize tax increment financing for commercial, industrial and residential oriented public improvements. The City of Blair, as a first class city, can declare up to 35 percent of its land area within the corporate limits as blighted/substandard for redevelopment purposes. Existing and future areas. in Blair for blight/substandard deternunation and redevelopment planning are identified in Illustration 4.8 -Subarea map. A priority future area for declaration of blight and substandardness and redevelopment planning should be the Central Business District. LB 840 & 1240 - By approval of local voters, a bond fund could be established utilizing the local tax base, for either new construction or housing rehabilitation. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.19 statewide federal grants The primary funding grants available to local municipalities is the to the local limit of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), administered by government .......... the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The CDBG provides funding for both community development and housing development programs to assist in financing both owner and renter occupied rehabilitation, residential building conversions and the First Time Homebuyers program. Today, after 14 years of Nebraska's CDBG program, many - - communities-have-recaptured CDBG program funds,-paid-back - from previous housing and/or economic development projects. When available in Blair, these funds could be available for local based programs of housing development or rehabilitation for low- to moderate income persons and families. otl:er local options .... Local Housing Authority -The City of Blair Housing Authority serves the community of Blair and is empowered by existing legislation to become involved in all aspects of affordable housing in the community. This includes housing for persons and families of all ages and income. The Housing Authority has access to a variety of sources of funding as well as the ability to secure tax exempt bond financing for local based housing projects. Local Major Employers and/or Community Foundation Assistance ~- This is a common occurrence today within many cities and counties nationwide, in an effort to provide housing opportunities to low- and moderate-income persons and families. Major local employers and community foundations are becoming directly involved in housing developments and improvements. These major employers could provide the following: a. Direct grants. b. Low interest loans. c. Letter of Credit, for all or a percentage of loans to persons with disabilities. d. GAP Financing -provides financing to cover the unfunded portion of development costs, as a deferred or less than market rate loan to the developer. e. Mortgage Interest Rate Subsidy - provides a buy down of a conventional loan. f. Purchase Bonds/Tax Credits - make a commitment to p:~rchase either/both taxable/tax exempt bonds and/or low-income tax credits utilized to finance housing development. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.20 Local Lending Pool -Blair or Washington County lending institutions could participate in and set-a-side a pool of monies to assist in financing new construction or rehabilitation housing activities. The "pooling" of funds for either construction or permanent loans would increase local financing capacity as well as place lenders in a shared-risk position. The previously described local funding options could be used separately or "pooled" together and utilized in equal proportions for the implementation of Blair housing programs. STATEPROGRAMS State programs available to assist in funding a Blair housing initiative include resources available from the Department of Economic Development (DED) and Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA). The following describes funding programs provided by these two State agencies. DED ................ The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) is presently the administrator of HOME funds. HOME funds are available to authorized, local or regional based Community Development Housing Organizations (CHDOs) and Community Development Corporations (CDCs) for affordable housing repair and/or new construction. An annual allocation of HOME funds is established for CHDOs and CDCs based on individual housing programs. An annual set-a-side of HOME funds also exist for providers of services for "special populations" including persons with disabilities. DED also administers the non-entitlement Community Development Block Grant program, available to local community and county municipalities for financing housing, planning and public works projects. DED also administers the Nebraska Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund and Emergency Shelter Grant to assist local or regional based groups in the provision of housing improvements for homeless and "at risk of homeless" persons and families. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.21 NIFA ............... NIFA is the premiere provider of funding for affordable housing development in Nebraska. "Sample" programs include the following: a) Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program -Provides up to 9 percent tax credit to developers for the development of low cost, affordable multifamily, single-family or elderly housing projects. Set-a-side of credits exist for nonmetropolitan areas of the State and nonprofit developers. A set-a-side also exists for smaller rental projects (less-than $100,000 in tax credits) and for Rural Development Section 515 projects. Nonprofit developers can utilize the resources of the Equity Fund of Nebraska to secure tax credit equity. b) Single Family Mortgage Program - Provides a less than current market interest rate for first-time homebuyers. Local Blair lender participation is encouraged in this program. This program combined with the State CDBG or HOME program, for low- to moderate-income homebuyers, could absorb 95 to 100 percent of the financing needed to develop affordable single family housing. c) Crown Program - Alow-income housing tax credit set-a-side of $250,000 (tax credits) for the implementation and administration of a community based single family residential rental program being developed for Nebraska communities. d) Tax Exempt Bond Financing -Similar to the Crown Program, NIFA is available to establish special purpose fmance programs for other types of housing activities. Tax exempt bond financing could be established for local, regional or state based programs for either new construction or rehabilitation activities. The establishment of such a fund would be directed at a specific plan-of-action. and Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.22 e) MUFAMCO -Multifamily housing projects program utilizing a package combination oflow-income housing tax credits (4%), tax exempt bond fmancing, Fannie Mae assistance and other available funding, such as HOME or CDBG funds. NIFA is also involved with other state departments and agencies j in the newly formed Nebraska Partnership. The Partnership is being designed as a "single stop" source of funding for both new construction and housing rehabilitation programs on the local-, regional- and statewide basis. The primary source of fmancing housing programs by the Partnership will be the Housing Trust Fund.. The Trust Fund was created in 1996 via State legislation. Two other important State funding sources available to be pooled with other resources or operate independently are available through the Nebraska Energy Office (NEO) and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Topeka, Kansas. NEO ................ Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program -Federally 'funded program assists people with low incomes by making energy improvements to their homes. The program is a statewide effort carried out primarily by Nebraska Community Action Agencies. The weatherization program concentrates on those energy improvements which have the greatest impact on making recipients' homes more energy efficient, thereby lowering their energy consumption. Eligible weatherization measures include caulking, weatherstripping, ceiling, wall and floor insulation and furnace repair. NEEM -Energy efficiency program designed to provide energy loan assistance funds for innovative residential projects. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan = 2006 Chapter 6 6.23 FHLB ............... Affordable Housing Program -This program makes low-interest loans to finance home ownership for families with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income for the area. The program can also finance the purchase, consh•uction or rehabilitation of rental housing in which 20 percent of the units are occupied by and affordable to very low-income households. These funds are available tlu•ough the Federal Home Loan Bank's member institutions in Nebraska, and are loaned on a competitive basis, with semiannual application dates. This program can be - - combined-with-other programs (i.e., State CDBG, Low-Income Tax Credit, etc.) to absorb the development subsidy requirements for both renter and owner occupied housing projects, FEDERAL FUNDING The two primacy providers of federal funding to Nebraska for housing development, both new construction and rehabilitation, are HUD and the U.S.D.A. Office of Rural Development (RD) (formerly the Farmers Home Adminish•ation). Housing programs provided by these groups at•e typically available for local base nonprofit developers, Funds from these programs are commonly mixed or pooled with other public funding sources, as well as conventional financing. HUD ................ a) Section 202 Program - Provides a capital advance to nonprofit developers for development of elderly rental housing for either independent living or congregate (frail elderly) living. The program provides 100 percent financing, with a capital advance (no repayment loan) and operational subsidy. b) Section 811 Program - Provides a capital advance to nonprofit developers for development of renter housing for persons with disabilities. The program provides 100 percent financing with an operational subsidy. and c) Mortgage Insurance -The HUD 221(d)(3) or 221(d)(4) provides up to 100 percent mortgage insurance for nonprofit developers [(d)(3)] and 90 percent mortgage insw•ance coverage for profit-motivated developers [(d)(4)]. Permanent financing can be provided via the public funds (i.e., CDBG, HOME) and/or conventional financing. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.24 RD ................. a) Section S15 Program - Provides a direct interest subsidized loan for the development of family and elderly housing, including congregate, and rental housing for persons with a disability. Rent subsidy is also available, as per demand. A 538 mortgage insurance program is in the development stages. b) Section 502 Program -Provides either a mortgage guarantee or direct loan for single. family home-ownerships for low- and `moderate-income persons/families, including persons with a disability. c) Community Facilities Program - Provides a direct, interest subsidized loan for a variety of projects specific, community facility improvement programs including new construction or housing rehabilitation for "special populations." - d) Preservation Program -Administered by qualified local and regional organizationslagencies to assist in housing rehabilitation programs in Nebraska Communities. This could include a local based, planned program of home modification income eligible to low/moderate-income persons and families. and e) Business & Industry Program - The RD Business and Industry Program allows for loan mortgage guarantee for commercial projects, including retirement/assisted care housing. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.2~ FINANCIAL "POOLING" Financial "pooling" of funding sources is defined as the mixing of two or more program resources to obtain a total operating fund capable of meeting a specific housing program budget. Previously described were local, state and federal funding sources, all suitable to meet the safe, affordable and accessible housing needs of low/moderate income persons and families. Each of these funding sources have "rules" of allocation, as it relates to the use of dollars for housing development and recipient qualifications. The mixing of funds results in the mixing of rules, thus more time attributed to administration.... The majority of funding sources discussed are only available to nonprofit organizations, typically local, community based groups having awell-defined mission statement and plan for housing low/moderate income persons. These organizations are typically of a 501(c)(3)tax-exempt status. The securement and eventual "pooling" of public funding sources is enhanced by the use of private, conventional financing. This informs public providers that a good faith effort is being made by an organization to create a workable public/private partnership. This partnership not only creates a greater amount of dollars for a specific housing program but relays a message to the community that the private sector is in support of the program. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Protile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 6 6.26 CHAPTER 7 ECONOMIC PROFILE AND PLAN c~-IAPTER 7 ECONOMIC PROFILE AND PLAN INTRODUCTION EXISTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS This Chapter addresses strategies and procedures for Community and Economic Development in Blair. Community Development is a term which encompasses such varied activities as neighborhood redevelopment, urban design, downtown redevelopment and historic preservation. The underlying theme that unifies these activities is the conservation and reuse of existing urban development and infrastructure. Economic development addresses the topics of business retention and development, conventions and public relations. A proposed 1.2 percent annual population growth alerts the community leadership and local economic organizations to prepare and implement programs of job retention and creation. This Chapter of the Comprehensive. Plan identifies important action strategies for consideration. The following addresses existing community development conditions in Blair. Included is a discussion of urban design and historic preservation. The City of Blair was platted in 1869 and became the new county seat of Washington County in-the same year. Previously Fort Calhoun had served as the county seat. Located in east central Washington County, the community has historically served the surrounding region as a center for goods and services. Transportation networks have generally been located in close proximity to the City of Blair. Settlement in Washington County occurred fairly early due to its location on the Missouri River and its close proximity to the City of Omaha. The advent of the automobile and its necessary road networks solidified the City of Blair's role as a regional center of commerce. The Highways 30 (Old Lincoln Highway) and 75 are the major transportational routes intersecting in Blair at Nineteenth and Washington, as well as Thirteenth and Washington Streets, sharing the same route on Washington Street through the central business district. Secondary State Highways 91 and 133 also connect the community to the surrounding region and points beyond. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.1 Interstate 29 is located 11 miles east of the Missouri River on Highway 30 and although this interstate route is located in Iowa, the community is ideally situated to provide its citizens and commuters with close access to interstate networks. Blair's proximity to these major transportation networks has allowed the community to attract a variety of businesses and industries to maintain its population. Today, Blair is an important and attractive Nebraska city with a -diversified economic-base and steady growth. -Many of the - - problems facing the community are not unique to midwestern cities and towns. With a progressive stance, the City of Blair will be able to prosper and continue its economic and physical growth into the twenty-first century. In 1996, the :City of Blair maintains an excellent supply of both manufacturing and service oriented businesses, including retail. The City's business stock includes a comprehensive supply of motels and eating. establishments to support a strong tourist and commuter trade. Major manufacturers include Huntel Systems (110 employees), Cargill, Inc. (150 employees), Concrete Equipment Co. (140 employees), Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant (800. employees) and Ag-Bag Corporation (40 full-time and 35 part-rime employees), Kelly Ryan Equipment Company (50 Full-time employees). Major service oriented employers include Washington County ,Bank (46 employees),-Washington County Government (87 employees), Blair Community Schools (224 employees), Dana College (115 employees), Memorial Community Hospital (76 full-time and 111 part-time employees), Crowell Memorial Home (77 full-time and 46 part-time employees), Good Shepherd Home (65 full-time and 65 part-time employees), D.L. Blair (90 full- time and 40 part-time) and Great Plains Communications (79 employees): Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.2 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN This Community Development Plan is comprised of two basic elements. These include neighborhood development patterns, urban design and historic preservation. NEIGHBORHOOD The neighborhoods of Blair consist of varied housing types and DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS patterns. The unique characteristics of each neighborhood correspond to the time of development. The architectural details and development patterns distinguish the different districts. The _oldest_neighborhoods_in.Blair..were...developed_around_the_ Central Business District which evolved around the railroad system. Expansion of the residential neighborhoods was developed to the west and south, with some expansion to the east. The original town was generally located in the area between Nebraska and Tenth Streets and South and Twenty-second Streets. Eventually, residential growth slowed in all directions except to the north and south. Natural and man-made bamers initially prohibited growth along the floodplain of the South Creek and the railroad tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad. Residential development has never fully progressed east of Tenth Street. Blair has developed in a concentric pattern to the north and west, and to a lessor degree, the south. Limitations to this growth pattern have and will continue to be the natural terrain of high bluffs and steep slopes. Throughout the 10 year planning period, the main direction for residential growth will be the northwest. Downtown Blair should remain the social and economic focal point of the City with equal travelling distances from all parts of the community. Secondary residential growth areas are identified for the regions in the north, west, and south portions of the community. See Illustration 4.7, Chapter 4. This Comprehensive Plan has targeted several areas for development and redevelopment implementing tax increment financing. Additional State funding such as the Community Development Block Grant program would continue to assist the citizens of Blair in improving and rehabilitating their dwelling a need for housing units. While the majority of the housing units are exceptionally rehabilitation ......... well maintained, an estimated 5 to 7 percent of the housing stock is substandard. As the housing stock continues to tire, programs such as rehabilitation grants are encouraged to provide all of Blair inhabitants with safe and decent housing. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan- 2006 ..Chapter 7 7.3 A shortage of safe, decent and affordable housing presently exists in Blair. The lack of modern rental housing coupled with an expected increase in renter households by 2006 will require City leadership to advocate for new rental residential development. UxaANDESICN The physical characteristics of a community are the primary factors by which travelers, tourists and regional residents judge a __ _ _ _ _ _ community.. Currently,.. the configuration of federal Highways 30 and 75 funnel traffic through the Central Business District. The officials and citizens of Blair are currently pursuing the possibility of a Highway 30/75 truck by-pass to re-route traffic out of the downtown to increase safety and reinforce the commercial character of the Central Business District. Completion of the proposed Highway 30/75 corridor around the eastern perimeter of Blair (see Illustration 5.3, in chapter 5) would enable heavy truck traffic to pass by this community. Upon completion of the potential expressway, the City of Blair will be challenged to capture highway travelers into the downtown area. Local connections to the corridor at a point just south of Hollow Road and at Tenth Street and Highway 75 from the south and Tenth Street at its intersection with the new north expressway, as well as its intersection to north Highway 75, should be developed as "gateways" to the community. Coordination with state and federal highway departments will be necessary to establish setbacks, landscaping and construction guidelines. GATEWAY The southern entrances at Highway 30, just south of Hollow ENTRANCES Road and at Tenth Street and Highway 75 ,will likely be the only commercially zoned gateways to the community. Likewise, these are the only proposed gateways that have structures in close proximity to the proposed Highway 30/75 expressway corridor. However,- several of these structures are in need of landscaping and, or rehabilitation. As such, design standards would greatly assist the visual character of the areas. The intersection of the future north expressway and Highway 75 is to develop as neighborhood commercial uses to blend in with the primary residential uses. Conversely, at the north expressway intersection with Tenth Street, no commercial uses are planned at this time. In order for the remaining gateways to adequately serve the community, appropriate landscaping, and possibly structural elements, should be considered. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.4 The City of Blair should pursue every available avenue to encourage commercial and industrial businesses to screen storage yards and parking lots from transportation corridors. Blair must present appealing entrances into the community of which structures along these corridors are primary components. In conjunction with efforts at the "gateways", the Central Business District must take appropriate steps to rehabilitate structures and enhance public spaces. CENTRAL BUSINESS From its beginning, the Central Business District (CBD) has been ~d,S'I'RIC?' the economic focus of Blair. However, a progression of retail outlets and fast food restaurants east of Tenth Street along Highway 30 and to a lesser degree on south Thirteenth Street to Highway 75 has affected the CBD's retail viability. Vacant storefronts are indicative of the problems downtown retailers face when competing with discount chain stores. The Chamber of Commerce is working to improve the appearance of the CBD. In order to build on successes, tools of public intervention such as tax increment financing, historic preservation tax credits, Community Development Block Grants, etc. must be pursued. Improvements in the downtown are necessary, in order to both retain existing and attract a variety of new businesses. The City of Blair serves as a regional commerce center in Washington and Burt Counties and areas of Iowa. In order to maintain and expand its commercial enterprises, all sectors of the retailing industry must band together. Through changes in technology and social behavior, structures can become functionally and economically obsolete. To enhance Blair's commercial areas, the following list of activities is recommended to compliment the current redevelopment activities: Establish minimum building codes to prevent vacant buildings from deteriorating; Conduct a blightlsubstandard determination study and redevelopment plan in the Central Business District to provide tax increment financing; Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.5 Renovate historic buildings; Develop professional offices and residential units in upper levels of downtown commercial buildings; and Combine efforts of all Blair merchants to market the commercial opportunities of the community to expand its retail trade area. PROPOSED HIGHWAY 30/75 CORRIDOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION Much has been said in this comprehensive plan regarding the potential Highway 30/75 expressway corridor. If completed, the comdor will impact all major economic variables in Blair. The future Highway 30/75 expressway comdor is recommended to be located to the north and south of the current corporate limits, with connecting links along Tenth Street. An added benefit of this routing is that it will provide a direct link between industrial centers along the east Highway 30 areas with main highway routes, without impacting the CBD. To accommodate the proposed expansion of industrial land uses in southeast and northeast Blair, the new corridor will serve as the primary thoroughfare for heavy truck traffic. This corridor will also relieve heavy traffic volumes on Nineteenth and Thirteenth Streets by rerouting it to the east of the CBD. If implemented, the future .expressway could have a negative impact on the CBD commercial businesses. The goal of historic preservation is to protect the historic resources of a community and preserve the historic districts as a reflection of their heritage. The City does not have a formal historic preservation program. Such a program is recommended to retain the City's historical resources. A significant number of historic sites, structures and districts exist in Blair. The preservation of these residential and commercial buildings is key to retaining the architectural integrity and heritage of the community. To assist in the reuse and renovation of these historic resources, the City should develop historic district guidelines and an implementation policy, thus creating a coordinated effort to recycle the community's infrastructure to a set standard which retains the architectural integrity and heritage of structures. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.6 The Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) completed an historic buildings survey of Washington County in 1986. Buildings throughout the County, as well as in the City of Blair, were identified that potentially have historic significance. Based on information generated from the survey, the SHPO would be able to assist the City of Blair in identifying buildings within the Central Business District that may be eligible for historic preservation tax. credits. Individual building nominations, or perhaps a multiple property nomination, would provide commercial buildings in the Central Business District-with-the-ability #o acquire historic-preservation- tax credits. These credits allow building owners and/or investors with 20 percent federal tax credits to be deducted against personal federal income taxes. For every dollar spent on restoration or renovation of a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 20 percent can be deducted. This federal program has been successful in providing incentives for downtown rehabilitation projects in communities of all sizes throughout the nation. "MAIN STREET" Since the mid-1970s, the National Trust has implemented a PROGRAM national program entitled "Main Street". The program was developed to combine historic preservation programs with a four point approach torejuvenate America's downtowns. Design is the first point which focuses on renovating buildings, .constructing compatible new buildings, improving signage, creating attractive public open spaces and ensuring planning and zoning regulations support Main Street revitalization. Organization, building collaboration between organizations, and public and private sector groups is the second point of the program. Promotion of the district to residents, visitors and potential investors and economic restructuring or 'strengthening the district's existing economic base are the final points of the Main Street program. The primary foundation of the program is time, successfully rejuvenated downtowns do not happen overnight. However, the principles of "Main Street" are proven methods by which America's small to medium sized communities have rejuvenated downtowns. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.7 The City of Blair should establish historic preservation guidelines to work in conjunction with a potential Main Street program. Nebraska established a Main Street program sponsored by the Lied Foundation. Each year the program awards four communities with a pilot program through an application process. .The Consultant recommends that the City of Blair apply to become a Nebraska Main Street city to coordinate preservation, economic development and redevelopment efforts. EXISTING ECONOMIC The existing economic conditions in Blair and its respective CONDITIONS - - community area-are growing-at-this time and have the potential - for increased activities. The City has recognized the need to diversify its economic base, relying less on agriculture and traditional heavy industry, by planning for and promoting more light manufacturing and service oriented businesses. Employment in -the Blair area will increase an estimated 9 percent from 1996 to 2006. ECONOMIC Much of the economic success of Blair, in recent years, can be EXPECTATIONS attributed to locally organized efforts to create public and private partnerships. These partnerships have included the involvement of the Blair Area Chamber of Commerce, Blair City Council, the City Administration and local community/leadership. The continued efforts. of these partnerships will play a vital role in producing future economic development activities in Blair. HOUSINGAND ECONOMIC Important to the future economic development success of Blair DEVELOPMENT will be the recognition that housing is economic development and should be considered when planning new tourism, commercial and industrial projects. It is recommended that the Burt Washington Counties Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization, be supported by public and private organizations to continue to implement its housing goals and objectives. Chapter 6 of this document establishes an updated housing initiative for the City of Blair which outlines combined housing and economic development projects for the community. Blair must continue to expand housing opportunities in order to strengthen the business and industrial image. Nebraska towns without a housing vacancy rate of at least 5 to 6 percent are having a difficult time attracting additional employers. Compounding the problem is the fact that Blair has a very low unemployment rate and thus not enough employees for new job creation. In this scenario, Blair must expand its population base to provide workers for new jobs. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.8 BvsrNESSANV Blair needs to continue its pursuit of the service, commercial and INDUSTRIAL industrial businesses needed to serve both the community and DEVELOPMENT Washington County. The local health and educational facilities should play a major role in attracting new business. The Blair Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Blair and the Blair Housing Authority should continue efforts to address the recruitment, planning and financing of new and existing business, industry and housing. The retainment and expansion of existing businesses should have equal priority as that of new developments. This team of organizations should prepare an annual strategic Economic Development Initiative for Blair. This -plan should include a detailed listing of service, commercial and industrial business types most appropriate for Blair. JoB CREATION As discussed throughout this Comprehensive Plan, the City of Blair should plan for an estimated annual growth of 1.2 percent. For this growth rate to occur, the City will need to actively pursue and create jobs. An estimated 460 to 500 jobs will need to be created during the planning period (1996 to 2006) to sustain this growth rate. The majority of the new jobs should be created in the professional, services and light industrial sectors; keeping pace with today's employment trends in Midwestern communities. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.9 THE. COMMUNITYAND The following provides an outline of important activities required ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT of the City of Blair to produce an annual community and STRATEGY economic development strategy. Citizen Participation Process. *town hall meetings *focus group sessions *survey of local citizens *interviews with local community and/or economic development leaders *Purpose: To ascertain qualitative information pertinent to creating a strategy, while obtaining community-wide support. Identification of Service, Retail and Industrial Business Needs. *Purpose: To create a list of business opportunities based on community capacity to create and support varied business types. • Develop a Business Recruitment, Promotional and Administrative Plan. *Purpose: To allow a process for securement of appropriate service, retail and industrial business types. Identify Needed Land, Building and Infrastructure for Effective Economic Development Activities. *Purpose: To prepare the community with the physical assets necessary for successful community and economic development recruitment. Community and Economic Development Budget. *Purpose: To create a capital improvement and business recruitment budget. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.10 Community and Economic Development Fundraising. *Purpose: To secure private, corporate and public financing to fund needed physical assets and/or business and industrial recruitment activities. THE BASIC INTENT OF THE CITY OF BLAIR TO IMPLEMENT AN ~-NNUAL COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY SHOULD BE TO .......GENERATE EMPLOYMENT..HOUSING AND-PUBLIC FACILITY AND SERVICES OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE LABOR MARI{ET AREA OF BLAIR, ATTRACT NEW CAPITAL TO THE REGION, BROADEN THE LOCAL TAX BASE AND PROVIDE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION TO ENSURE ECONOMIC STABILITY AND VIABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, SURROUNDING AREA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY. COMMUNITY AND - Create an Economic Development Initiative to partner ECONOMIC economic development activities with all major "players," DEVELOPMENT ACTION both public and private. STRATEGIES - Establish an annual Economic Development Strategy in conjunction with the Economic Development Initiative. - Maintain tools of "public intervention" to finance economic development activities in Blair, including creating a sales tax, tax increment financing and LB 840 and 1240. - Create a mix of new businesses appropriate for the City of Blair. - Capitalize on "spin-off' business/industries. - Establish a plan of business training and sustaining present jobs in the community. - Create a Business Service Center for incubator, start-up businesses. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.11 - Recruit more volunteers for community and economic development. - Develop an urban design criteria to be followed in the .development of residential and commercial activities in existing developed areas. - Establish Historic Districts, where appropriate. - Promote Blair as a retirement community for immigration of the elderly. - Actively recruit business and industry, located in other communities, to expand in Blair. - Establish programs of (various) tax incentives to stabilize and increase local jobs. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 7 7.12 CHAPTER 8 PLAN MAINTENANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION CHAPTER s PLAN MAINTENANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION INTRODUCTION Pertinent to the successful delivery of planning activities is a clear understanding of the Comprehensive Plan's maintenance and implementation mechanisms. This Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan recommends maintenance and implementation procedures most appropriate for the City of Blair. Included is a discussion of land_use regulatons,_public_and_private capital investments and......... the annual review of the Comprehensive Plan and Plan amendments. LAND USE REGULATIONS The implementation process of the Blair land use plan involves three distinct stages. The first is the design of future land uses, both graphic and narrative. This documentation is included in this Comprehensive Plan. Secondly, the local governing body (City Council and Planning Commission) must officially adopt and begin procedures to monitor the various land uses within their jurisdiction. This includes the constant study of the community as new development occurs. Advice and recommendations are given to public officials (City Council) by the Commission to assist them in land use decisions. The third stage consists of the design and implementation of land use regulations to ensure, according to ordinance law, the proper implementation of the land use plan. The primary regulation utilized by most municipalities to accomplish this is the zoning ordinance. The right to implement a zoning ordinance is a power given to local municipalities through the State's general police power. Police power is based on the promotion of the health, safety and general welfare of the people and their environs to secure their safety from fire, flood and other damage. Zoning plays an important role in the Comprehensive Planning Process. If properly implemented, a zoning ordinance can be used to achieve several objectives, including; (1) directing the growth of the community in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan, (2) encouraging the most appropriate use of community land, (3) preserving and protecting property values, and (4) providing adequate light and air and preventing overcrowding of land. The current Blair Zoning Ordinance governs land use development within the corporate and the City's two-mile planning jurisdiction. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 8 ~.1 The present City zoning ordinance will be updated at the adoption ; of this Comprehensive Plan. A change in zoning district types, as ` well as specific regulations within various zoning district, or classifications may occur. These changes will be a direct response to the growth management goals, objectives and action strategies addressed in this Plan. The updated zoning ordinance needs to include a process of effective administ•ation. Specific zoning districts should be kept at a minimum, with reflectablty iri definitions. Based upon the future land use plan, industrial zones, no more than seven residential zones and four commea•cial zoning districts should be sufficient. PUBLIC CAPITAL Local public capital investments can greatly influence both the INVESTMENTS preservation and growth of a community. A community, such as Blair, will have the need for the improvement and development of modem infrastructure, including streets and water, sewer and power utility systems. Also required by the community will be the allocation of resources for such public facilities as schools, hospitals, libraries and other public or semi-public buildings and programs. The public capital investment process must be sensitive to the affordability level of the community, while cognitive of the fact, public dollars will need to be secured if community stability and growth are to occur. A Capital Improvement Program or Plan is the common vehicle to ensure public investment. The Plan should detail the specifics of how revenues will be raised as well as the overall allocation of dollars for the public need. The presence of need will always be higher than resources available, so the proper, most wanted and needed activities should be selected for the Capital Improvement Plan. The fear of allocating public funds for the improvement or development of needed infrastructure and facilities can be tempered if the public is brought into the Capital Improvement planning process. Scheduled public discussion of needs and resources will provide the community with a fii7n understanding of needs and the necessity to meet these needs. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan • 2006 Chapter 8 8.2 The most appropriate Capital Improvement Plan or Program is one which contains at least a five year funding period. This provides the municipality with some flexibility as to which planned public projects will have implementation priority. PRIVATE CAPITAL Private capital, or financing, will need to provide the majority of .funding for public improvements. This private sector investment is h•aditionally accomplished via taxes, user fees, or initial development investment. To ensure private investment, the City of Blair must produce a process of promoting the future of the community. This starts with the private sector's film understanding and support for this Comprehensive Plan. Partnerships need to be created between the City and the private sector. These partnerships can range from private sector being appointed to City commissions or advisory groups to the City and established local private sector organizations such as the Blair Area Chamber of Commerce teaming with local government to accomplish specific goals or solve a community crisis. The City will need to produce incentives comprised of programs of "public intervention" to attract the private sector to invest in Blair. Programs of public intervention might include joint public/private investment; the use of State and Federal (Grant) funds and tax increment financing to leverage private dollars. Blair is projected to have an annual increase in population of 1.2 percent during the planning period, 1996 to 2006. If achieved, this will produce an increase of 900 persons, or an estimated 370 families. This population, as well as the existing City population will require appropriate housing, schools, health care facilities and infrastt-ucture. To accomplish this, the private sector in Blair will need to be a player. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Protile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 8 8.3 NEBRASKA COMMUNITY Another valuable tool employed by Blair for the implementation DEVELOPMENT LAW of its land use plan is the Blight/Substandard Determination- Redevelopment Plan process through the Nebraska Community Development Law. In general, the determination and the official declaration of blight and substandardness, as per • the guidelines of the law, allows developers to redevelop an area ~ using=the financing of the local government. Blight/substandard determination consists of declaring one or more of the community features identified in the Nebraska Community Development Law substantially deficient, or blighted/Substandard. In both of the existing areas, a quantitative research process is performed by qualified professionals to justify blight/Substandardness. A redevelopment plan is then prepared for the subject area, whereby, developers are then invited to conduct redevelopment projects utilizing tax increment financing. ANNUAL REVIEW This Comprehensive Plan should be in a constant process of OF THE COMPREHENSIVE review by all parties involved. This review, if properly PI~tNAND PLAN conducted, will produce changes to the Plan. Changes will be AMENDMENTS made to the Plan utilizing a proper framework for Amendments. The Plan review process should be initiated by the Planning Commission. The process should be scheduled. Professional planners can assist with this review process with the assistance of all pertinent City staff. Public involvement will be a prerequisite for the effective review of the Comprehensive Plan. Organized involvement could include the use of the Planning Steering Committee membership utilized in the development of this Plan. Scheduled public meetings should also be conducted to ensure input from specific neighborhood areas and special interest groups. The starting point, or foundation, for all review processes should be the evaluation of the future land use plan. The review and possible change to the land use plan should be predicted on proposed developments in the City. These changes will, in turn, require modifying the other components of the Comprehensive Plan, such as housing, infi•ash-ucture and facilities and the environmental assessment. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 8 8.4 The Comprehensive Plan should be reviewed, at a minimum, once a year. The process to officially amend the Blair Comprehensive Plan should go beyond required Planning Commission and City Council public hearings. Again, as in the case of the review - process, it would benefit the ongoing implementation of the Comprehensive Plan if public hearings were also scheduled and conducted in strategic locations within the Blair community where maximum attendance and participation could be expected. A - Comprehensive Plan must be amended in accordance-with- Nebraska Revised Statute Section 18-1302. ANNEXATIONPOLICY The Policy of the- City of Blair, Nebraska, for both voluntary and involuntary annexation shall be: non-agricultural land areas identified within the extraterritorial planning jurisdiction shall be annexed at a point-in-time that areas are in conformance with and meet the criteria of Nebraska's State Statute regarding the practice and requirement of annexation. Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Chapter 8 8.~ APPENDIX A - COMM UNI T Y S UR VE Y R ES UL TS 1 1 1 IJ U V L'l 1~0e~eivedeys JUNE 1995 936 eligible surveys "lease take a few minutes to complete the following Community Survey. The results of the Survey will greatly assist City in the update of its Comprehensive Plan. Information obtained from this survey may also be utilized to secure funds rrom state and federal sources or private funding. These funding sources may ask to see the surveys to confirm their validity. Therefore, please answer ALL the questions, including #14 and #15. The results of the individual surveys will be kept confidential. Thank you for your assistance with tlus important community survey. Please return completed survey in the enclosed stamped envelope by Monday, June 12th. 1. How long have you lived in the Blair Area? 24.56 years O CITY LAIITS 2. Which area of Blair do you live? # (see map) ~ - -~ C CITY LII~IITS ~-.••~' Region 1 - 21.3' Region 2 - 43.4% Region 3 - 57.97 Region 4 - 42.57 Region 5 - 26.17 Region 6 - 52.47 Region 7 - 22.57 f 3. Number of persons in your household? # 2.48 4. Number of persons 62+ years in your household? # . 55 5. Do you 826 ocvn or 202 rent your home? (please check (~ LI\SITS FORTH ASSOCIATES. P.C.. 1993 LL~tITS 6. Wllat direction should Blair's HOUSING grow in the future? (Indicate first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices) 2.48North 2.19 South 2.00 East 1.83West 2.18Northwest 1 .76 Northeast 1.81 Southwest 1.43Southeast 2.92No Opinion 7. What direction should Blair's COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL development grow in the future? 2.12North 2.22South 2.77 East 1.96 West 1.90 Northwest 1.75 Northeast 1.81 Southwest 2.25 Southeast 2.87 No Opinion 8. How should public monies be utilized for community and economic development in Blair? (Indicate first (1), second (2) and third (3) choices) 1 .91Housing 1.94 RetaiUCommercial Development 1 .71Industrial Development 1 .71 Recreation (parks, trails, etc.) 2.19 Public Services (youth, elderly, community center) 2.32 Infrastructure Improvement or Development (streets, water, surer, etc.) 2.11 Other (specify) Total surveys continued 9. Which of the following public money sources do you support to assist in financing community and economic development activities or improvements in Blair? (Indicate first (1), second (2) and third (8) choices) 2. 17 Sales Tax 1 .78Property Tax2.05User Fees 2_1 £Grants2.14 Other (specify) 10. «rhat activities in other communities would you like to see in Blair? _ 11. Is there a need for downtown and traffic safety improvements? 668 Yes 177 No 103 No Opinion Is there a need for downtown improvements? 543 Yes 183 No 167 No Opinion 12. Please rate (check (~) the ouality of the follocvin~: SERVICE GOOD FAIR POOR COr1~~NTS Fire/Rescue Protection. 2....85.. Police Protection 2.74 Street Conditions 1 , 82 Street 1\Taintenance ~ • 1.82 Sidewalla 1 .2 9 Library Facilities 2.79 Civil Defense .2.63 Planning and Zonin 2.22 Building Ins ection and Codes 2.24 Garba e Collection 2.76 Postal Sen ice 2 , 7 9 City Parks 2 , 78 Ball Parks 2.91 Recreational Programs 2.42 Snow Removal 2.06 Public Education 2.77 Local Dledical Services 2.63 Local Social Services 2.45 Elderly Sen•ices •- Includin Trans ortation 2.04 Available Housin 1.35 ~_ Sho in Facilities 1.96 Em Torment 0 ortunities 1 .99 Public Utilities (water, sewer ~ 2.27 Cable Television 1.63 Child Care 2 , 24 General Attractiveness of Cit 2.44 Local Rec~•clin Pro ram 2.65 Golf Course 2.34 Senior Center 1.97 Airport 2.08 Other (s ecifi•) Total surveys continued 13. Please check ()those additional services you feel are needed in Blair: SERVICE GREATLY NEEDED SOMEWHAT NEEDED DO NOT NEED COMMENTS additional Senior Housin 2:07 1st Time Homebu er Pro ram 2.1.9 Housin Rehabilitation Pro ram 2.07 Housin in the Downtown 1.60 A artment/Rental Housin 2.29 Housin for Persons with Disabilities 2.13 Additional Sidewalks ~ 2.06 Services for Under.- or Unem .loved ,1.,.8.8..... Hil:in & Bicvclin Trails 2.05 Winter Recreational Activities 2.11 Services for Sin le Parents ~ 1 .91 Services for Elderly i + 2.14 Child Day Care 2.06 Adult Day Care 1.94 Services for Persons with Disabilities 2.12 Youth Activities 2.40 Adult Recreation Activities 2.21 Community Center 2.49 .'ublic Golf Course 1 , 83 Public Trans ~ortation 2.00 Highway 30 and 75 By-Pass Route 2.41 Services for Dana Colle e Students 1 .54 E~ and Existin Golf Club 1.55 City Funded Recvclin Center 1.94 Other(specify) PLEASE COMPLETE QUESTIONS 14 AND 15. YOUR SURVEY WILL BE INVALID IF YOU DON'T ANSWER BOTH. 14. Based on your household size (see question #3), please check (f) whether }'our total 1994 household income was either above or below the amount indicated. If 1 Person Household If 2 Persons Household If 3 Persons Household If 4 Persons Household $23,900 If 5 Persons Household $27,350 If 6 Persons Household $30,750 If 7 Persons Household $34,150 If 8+ Persons Household ^ Above or ^Below Region i - 21.3% $36 900 Region 2 - 43.4% , Region 3 - 57.9% $39,600 Region 4 - 42.5% $42,350 Region 5 - 26.1 $45,100 Region 6 - 52.4% Re ion 7 - 22 5~ Total: 41.1% LMI g ° 15. Please identify the last four digits of your telephone number and/or your mailing address? (Remember: Information Will Be Kept Confidential). Telephone Number and/or Mailing Address Thank you for your participation in this important Community Survey. If you have any questions, contact Rod Storm, City Administrator at 426-4191. The Blair Planning Commission will be sponsoring a Community Congress consisting of local citizens. This Community Congress will meet during the month of August to discuss future community and economic development goals and policies for Blair. If you would be interested in serving on this Community Congress, please watch the newspaper for further notification. APPENDIX B - PLANAMENDMENTS Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Appendix B B.1 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Appendix B B.2 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Appendix B B.3 Blair Comprehensive Plan/Economic Profile & Plan - 2006 Appendix B B.4