Sustainability

Omaha by Design/City of Omaha Master Plan Environmental Element

After two years of research, community meetings, interactive efforts, consensus building and more than 4,000 volunteer hours logged by Omahans across the city, the Environment Omaha process is drawing to a close.

The final draft of the Environment Omaha document, a new environmental vision for the city, is available for review on http://www.omahabydesign.org. The Environment Omaha team - a partnership of the City of Omaha, the community and Omaha by Design - has proposed a set of 25 goals in five areas to form a comprehensive new environmental section for the City of Omaha's Master Plan.

The seven goals in the natural environment section seek to preserve and enhance the city's natural environment. The six goals in the urban form and transportation section seek to improve how Omahans move around the city and determine what shape its future growth should take. The four goals in the building construction section seek to help Omaha become a national leader in innovative building construction, renovation and operation. The five goals in the resource conservation section seek to help the city conserve its natural and material resources and capitalize on the potential of its human resources. The three goals in the community health section seek to help Omaha become more active, safe and healthy.

The Omaha Planning Board, on a 7-0 vote, recommended approval of the Environment Omaha document Oct. 6. The Omaha City Council will consider the planning board's recommendation later this year. The end goal is the adoption of the document as a component of the city's master plan.

Funding for Environment Omaha, which has received significant city staff and resource support, has been provided by grants from the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency and the City of Omaha's Stormwater Management Plan Program Grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. Omaha by Design serves as the project manager.

Green Omaha Coalition

The Green Omaha Coalition (GOC) mission is to promote a healthy, sustainable community through partnerships, policy, and smart solutions. MAPA has representatives on the Green Neighborhood Council and the Public Agency Council to provide input as necessary. For more information on GOC, please visit their website.