Regional Open House Presentation-April 2014

Your Chance to Shape Our Region’s Future Heartland 2050 Regional Visioning | April 2014

Heartland 2050 is an unprecedented regional visioning project that will help define what kind of region we want to be in 40 years.

Gathering

Information

Public

Workshops

Scenarios and

Strategies

Final Vision

2013 2014

In Progress October - November December – May June– December

More than 650 participants!

22%

46%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Access to nature and

outdoor recreation

Cleaner air Access to fresh food

Healthy homes (i.e. lead-free, mold-free,

safe wiring)

Places within walking distance

27%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Streetcar / Trolley

Light Rail Improve existing bus

service

Paratransit and On- Demand

Rural Transit

No new transit

investment

Not sure

24%

38%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Beautiful landscapes

Good air quality

Locally grown food

Outdoor recreation

Strong neighborhoods

Low cost of living

Convenient transportation

system

Strong economy

All Housing Total housing placed

OPEN SPACE At least 2 workshop tables drew open space in approximately the same location.

• Cluster development near existing cities/towns/highways to preserve agricultural land

• Improve employment accessibility by reinforcing existing infrastructure and investing in transit

• Build single-family housing to attract new jobs and residents

• Protect/reinforce/improve access to the region’s many recreational amenities

• Focus on development of industrial clusters/agribusiness/high-tech related to agriculture

• Revitalize downtowns and protect our existing historic/cultural amenities

Heartland 2050: Omaha-Council

Bluffs Values and Priorities

Quantitative Study

Prepared for Fregonese Associates

January 28, 2014

About three in four see their quality of life in the Omaha-Council Bluffs

Region as positive and increasing. While slightly less, the majority say

the region is on the right track.

Pg. 13

BASE: ALL QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS (N=400)

Q320. Thinking about the quality of life that will be here for you or your friends’ children and grandchildren, do you see their quality of life in the Omaha-Council Bluffs region increasing or decreasing in the future?

Q330. On another subject, do you feel things in your own community today are going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?

Q335. Thinking of all the positive and negative aspects about the quality of life here in the Omaha-Council Bluffs region, what percentage of things would you classify as positive? What percentage is negative?

Quality of Life

in the Future

Direction of Their

Own Community

Quality of Life

in the Region: Positives vs. Negatives

78%

23%

Increasing Decreasing

60% 19%

22%

Right direction

Wrong track

Not sure

71%

29%

Positive Negative

18-34 yr olds

most likely to

believe quality

will increase.

Higher income

($100K+) more

optimistic about

direction of

community and

quality of life.

66%

59%

57%

56%

54%

53%

47%

44%

42%

41%

33%

31%

28%

27%

25%

Reducing crime and making neighborhoods safer

Increasing the number and quality of jobs

Retaining well-educated, well-trained, young adults

Improving education

Lower property taxes

Lower state, local and sales taxes

Increasing access to quality health care

Addressing the aging infrastructure (i.e. improve roads, bridges…

Increasing economic development through business expansion

Improving affordability of housing and living

Improving social equity and justice

Reducing traffic congestion and improving transportation options

Increasing the enjoyment and access to culture and the arts

Increasing the opportunity for residents to be involved…

Increasing civic involvement and engagement

Reducing crime is the most important issue to the region

with two thirds giving it high priority. Jobs, young adult

retention, education and taxes also rise to the top.

Pg. 14 BASE: ALL QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS (N=400)

Q350 Please rate each of the following issues where 1 means "Not at all important to the future of the region"

and 10 means "Extremely important priority for the future of the region":

Top 2 Box Importance (Rated 9/10 on 10 pt. scale)

Greater Importance To:

Jobs: those with high school education or less (71%)

Education: those residing in Iowa (73%)

Property taxes/State, local & sales taxes: those 55+ (63%)

Violent crime per 100,000 people

in the Omaha MSA is 407.1, below

the MSA average of 409.4.

Property crime per 100,000 people

in the Omaha MSA is 3,368.8,

above the MSA average of 2,949.8.

Iowa ranks 24th among the states in terms of

state/local tax burden. Nebraska ranks 21st.

13% 7%

1%

21% 36% 25% 8% 69%

Jones believes that the region

should begin focusing

new growth and

development across the

region into new areas

and communities

where there hasn’t been

much development

before.

Smith believes that the region

should begin focusing

new growth and

development in the

urban center,

existing towns, and

in parts of the city

that need to be

revitalized or

redeveloped.

Pg. 15

Three times as many residents prefer infill of existing areas

over new growth in outlying communities.

Pg. 15

BASE: ALL QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS (N=400)

Q565. Below are the opinions of two hypothetical residents. Please indicate which opinion comes closest to your own. Is your opinion more like Mr. Smith or more like Mr. Jones?

Neither: 11%

■ Somewhat ■ Strongly ■ Exactly

like Jones like Jones like Jones

■ Exactly ■ Strongly ■ Somewhat

like Smith like Smith like Smith

18-34 year olds most

likely to agree with Smith

and infill strategy (74%)

Nearly all believe having a plan for regional growth in the

region is important. More than half feel the Omaha-Council

Bluffs region has preformed ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ in this area.

Pg. 16 BASE: ALL QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS (N=400)

Q800. How important is it that Omaha-Council Bluffs region have a vision or a long range plan for growth in the region?

Q805. How would you rate the performance of Omaha-Council Bluffs region when it comes to planning and preparing for growth in the region?

Importance of Having a Vision or a Long

Range Plan for Growth in the Region –

Top 2 Box (Extremely/Very Important)

5%

38%

54%

4%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Poor Fair Good Excellent 80%

Performance Rating of Omaha-Council Bluffs

Region on Planning and Preparing for Growth

58

%

Building Types Place Types Scenario Development

Evaluation

Model a library of building types that are financially feasible at the local level.

Planned Land Use

Infrastructure

Growth Forecast

Current conditions and future forecasts

Test Scenarios

A

B

C

D

What might our region look like in 40 years?

• In Scenario A, we will continue to

grow and decline much the same as

we have in the recent past. Areas

of the urban core will continue to

lose population, as westward

expansion continues in Douglas

and Sarpy counties.

SCENARIO A

90,762

58,777

31,766 45,033

713

440

872

1,296

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

Land Consumed

Abandonment (Scenario A only)

Abandoned Housing Units 17,468 Population Displacement from Abandonment 39,501 Employment Displacement from Abandonment 16,269 Approximate Improvement Value Loss from Abandonment $ 1,397,254,051

• In scenario B, the highest growth

occurs in central Omaha and

Council Bluffs, and over 40% of

new growth takes place in existing

urban and suburban areas, making

efficient use of road and water

infrastructure.

SCENARIO B

90,762

58,777

31,766 45,033

713

440

872

1,296

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

Land Consumed

• In Scenario C, population and

employment growth are focused in

the core, revitalizing North, South

and Midtown Omaha and Council

Bluffs. Sarpy County and western

Douglas County see some moderate

growth. The region makes significant

transit investment to serve the bustling

central city.

SCENARIO C

90,762

58,777

31,766 45,033

713

440

872

1,296

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

Land Consumed

• In Scenario D, new jobs are located

near urban, suburban and rural

communities to reduce long

commutes and revitalize existing

neighborhoods and towns. Infill and

redevelopment help to build walkable

communities and main streets across

the region.

SCENARIO D

90,762

58,777

31,766 45,033

713

440

872

1,296

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

Land Consumed

Distribution of Residential Units Built, 1989-2009

Type Volume Total Share Detached Share

New Units 24.5

Detached 20.7 85%

2500+ square feet 6.6 27% 32%

0.5-10.0 acres 8.7 35% 42%

Source: American Housing Survey

77% 23% 0% 10% 16% 74%

1990-2010 2010-2030

US Housing Shift (1990-2010 & 2010-2030)

Starter Home vs Peak Home (largest home) vs Downsizing (“Empty Nester”) The Takeaway: The current houses available are too big for the Millennial and Baby Boomers who are both looking for smaller housing options in walkable neighborhoods.

Estate Homes

Auto-Oriented

Subdivisions Apartments

TOWNHOMES

APARTMENTS LIVE-WORK

SMALLER LOTS

69%

29%

3%

36%

4% 11%

22% 24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Today Balanced Future

Multifamily

Townhome

Small Lot

Standard/Large

How well does our current

housing stock match? 63%

• Focus on new construction of single-

family subdivisions in western

Douglas and Sarpy counties

• Some relatively expensive housing in

the CBD/Old Market District

SCENARIO A

Lower Density Housing Higher Density Housing

41% 38% 0% 8% 13%

Balanced Housing Match:

48% 69%

29%

81%

3%

36%

0%

4% 11%

8% 22% 24%

13%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Today Target Scenario A


31% 21% 4% 10% 34%


67% 69%

29%

52%

3%

36%

4%

4% 11%

10%

22% 24% 34%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Today Target Scenario B

• Provide adequate infrastructure to

allow growth in and around rural/small

towns.

• Create moderate to high density

housing in central Douglas, Sarpy and

Pottawattamie counties

SCENARIO B


8% 24% 14% 14% 40%


81%

• Build a range of affordable and higher-

end housing in the downtown and

areas easily accessible to the urban

core to accommodate workers

• Townhome/ Apartment/ Mixed Use

developments in larger suburban cities

as well, near existing downtowns

SCENARIO C

69%

29% 25%

3%

36%

21%

4% 11%

14%

22% 24%

40%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Today Target Scenario C


6% 24% 35% 10% 25%


98% 69%

29% 30%

3%

36% 35%

4% 11% 10%

22% 24% 25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Today Target Scenario D

• Balanced mix of housing stock for

changing preferences and a range of

incomes.

• Ensure that housing options exist across

the region, not only in the core.

• Work force housing in proximity to start

up spaces or easily accessed by mass

transit

SCENARIO D

41%

29%

48% 52%

45%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Existing Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C Scenario D

% Regional jobs accessible to disadvantaged residents via a 30 minute transit trip

• By locating more jobs within easy travel

distance to struggling neighborhoods and

expanding job training and employment

support, we can create a more equitable

economy.

62,557 67,732

118,663 127,497

294,130

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000


All Jobs within 10 Minute Auto Trip

• Working and shopping

destinations are located near

where people live, making it

convenient to work, shop and

play.

• More options available locally,

within a 10 minute drive, can

make it easier and faster to get

where you’re headed

33

17

35

48

39

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Today Scenario A

Scenario B

Scenario C

Scenario D

“Walkability” Score for the Region

• The fabric of our community can

influence how physically active

we are.

• Neighborhoods with a mix of

retail, services and employment

nearby make it easier and more

convenient to walk.

4%

2%

5%

8%

6%

1%

0%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

2%

3%

2%

Existing Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C Scenario D Transit

Biking

Walking

Percent of All Trips Made Remainder of trips are made by car

+6%

-3%

-15%

-10%

Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C Scenario D

• Residents spend less

time in the car each

day, taking shorter and

fewer trips

Percent Change in Time Spent Driving

• Improved construction and

other measures lower our

consumption

• Efficiency means savings –

better for the environment and

lower utility bills for residents

72.6

109.6 98.1

89.0 96.8

251.7

165.5

143.8 130.9

148.2

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

Today Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C Scenario D

Household Energy Use (million BTU/year)

Household Internal Water Consumption (gallons per day)

22% 23%

31%

12%

4%

20%

39%

64%

19%

4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


Percent of housing units in floodways or stream setbacks

Percent of jobs in floodways or stream setbacks

• If we choose to limit new

development in sensitive

areas such as floodplains

and stream ways, we can

reduce potential damage

from flooding.

Households within 1/4 mi. of parks and trails

56%

45%

62% 60%

75%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%


-0.2%

-4.7%

5.6%

14.4%

7.4%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%


Revenue-to-Cost Ratio

27.8

22.9 23.3

22.5

26.5

24.1

26.7

24.2

Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C Scenario D

Total Expenditures (billions) Total Revenues (billions)

• Local tax revenues should be

used efficiently to maintain

today’s level of public services,

infrastructure and roads.

• Continue support of existing

clusters (agribusiness, finance,

transportation/logistics, etc)

• Retain the region’s competitive and

comparative advantage for these

types of jobs through innovation

and growth in those clusters

Scenario A: EXPAND TRADITIONAL CLUSTERS

• Attract and retain young people across the Midwest

• Commit to infill development that provides a variety

of housing types across economic spectrum

• Focus on housing in close proximity to city and

neighborhood centers

• Attract foreign investment and businesses

Scenario B: MAGNETIC CITY

• Cultivate research (basic and applied)

in multiple fields of endeavor.

• Promote STEM curricula in K-12

education

• Support growth of research

universities

• Promote medical sciences through

university and hospital research

Scenario C: SCIENCE CITY

• Talent attraction and retention: make

Omaha-Council Bluffs region a draw for

young talent and new business formation

throughout the Midwest

• Capitalize on existing assets

• Increase support mechanisms to incent and

support new business creation and success

Scenario D: START UP CITY

Enhanced crosswalk

Street Trees

New Main Street Building

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Dedicated Bike Lane

Street Trees Lighting

New Mixed-Use New Housing Options

Street Trees Enhanced crosswalk

New Mixed-Use Building

Street Trees

Enhanced crosswalk

New storefronts

Our web-based engagement tool

Interactive Public Choosing The Regional Vision

www.Heartland2050.org

Public choices guide the Vision. A

B

C

D

http://www.heartland2050.org/

People THE HUMAN ASPECT How can we maintain and enhance the quality of life for the people of our region, who are our most important asset?

Places OUR PHYSICAL STRUCTURES The “stuff” from which our towns and cities are made – homes and buildings, streets and sidewalks, bridges, power and water utilities – all make up the built environment of our region.

Resources THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT The air we breathe, the land, and fresh water sources affect our overall health and the physical landscape.

Your input will be knit together with responses and comments from your fellow community members to develop the priorities and strategies for action and cooperation to ensure our region not only grows but grows stronger!

• Take the Survey

• Tell your friends, family members and coworkers about Heartland 2050 and the survey

• Stay involved in crafting the vision

• By participating in this survey and providing your email, you will be entered into an iPad giveaway.

• For more information,

visit: www.heartland2050.org

http://www.heartland2050.org/

• Describes commonly held desires

• Does not answer every question

• Explains why we’re in this together

• Shared Values / Ideals / Expectations

• Describes what we want to get

• “This is our common ground”

• Includes Regional Policies

• Relies on Action Steps for Implementation

www.heartland2050.org

Date post:	01-Jun-2015
Category:	Government & Nonprofit
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Regional Open House Presentation-April 2014

Government & Nonprofit