The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission gave a thumbs-up Wednesday to what could become one of the largest industrial projects in the city.
Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend approval of an annexation and zoning change for the project, which would be near the 56th Street and Interstate 80 interchange, as well as a finding that it is in line with the city-county Comprehensive Plan.
Omaha developer White Lotus wants to build nearly 1 million square feet of warehouse space on 71 acres at roughly 65th Street and Arbor Road.
The Lincoln Logistics Hub would be built in three phases, starting with a 309,000-square-foot warehouse building that could be completed as early as spring 2023. That would be followed by a 368,000-square-foot building and then another building that’s 309,000 square feet, for a total of 986,000 square feet of space.
The project is estimated to cost $89 million, with $13 million of that amount coming in the form of tax-increment financing, which allows increased property taxes generated by a development to pay for certain upfront costs.
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An architect told the city’s Urban Design Committee earlier this month that the project would be similar to one White Lotus developed at 132nd Street and Cornhusker Road in Sarpy County.
The only hiccup at Wednesday’s meeting was with the annexation. White Lotus is asking the city to annex about 59 acres to facilitate its project, but the city’s Planning Department expanded the annexation request to include three other properties totaling about 50 acres.
Steve Henrichsen, the department’s development manager, said annexing property for the White Lotus project would leave the additional properties surrounded by the city limits and would violate the city’s policy against leaving “pockets” of county zoning.
One of the property owners objected to the city’s plans, however.
Sam Sampson owns about 25 acres of property in the area that is in the floodplain and undevelopable.
Nick Cusick, who spoke on behalf of Sampson, said he sees no reason to be annexed into the city because the land is essentially a nature preserve. Cusick said Sampson also is concerned that the annexation will increase the value of his land and his taxes.
Henrichsen said the location of the land, not its use, is the determining factor for whether it should be annexed. But he said he would be willing to work with Sampson to find ways to blunt any impacts from the land being drawn into the city limits.
The plan will next go before the Lincoln City Council for approval.
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PhotoFiles: Interstate 80 dedication in 1961
Interstate 80 opening
Jane Munn of Waverly waves enthusiastically to Gov. Frank Morrison’s motorcade as it moves toward ribbon-cutting ceremonies marking the opening of Interstate 80 between Omaha and Lincoln. August 11, 1961.
Interstate 80, Gretna
In this file photo, men work on the new Interstate 80 interstate overpass for Nebraska 63 near Gretna on July 23, 1958. A future I-80 interchange at 192nd Street in Sarpy County has Gretna and Papillion struggling to come up with an agreement to share land.
Interstate 80, Lincoln
Twelve miles of Interstate 80 under construction near Lincoln. “Dirt now, but paved soon that’s the status of Nebraska’s interstate highway. This segment is located a few miles outside the city.” August 1959.
Interstate 80 dedication
August 12, 1961, marked the dedication of the 52 mile stretch of interstate highway linking Nebraska’s two largest cities, Lincoln and Omaha. As some 300 persons cheered at the Greenwood interchange, Gov. Frank Morrison snipped a red ribbon crossing the double highway at 3:35 that Friday afternoon. The ribbon was stretched across both east and west bound lanes, with the dignitaries seated on the flatbed truck drawn up in the median.
Interstate 80 dedication
August 12, 1961, marked the dedication of the 52 mile stretch of interstate highway linking Nebraska’s two largest cities, Lincoln and Omaha. As some 300 persons cheered at the Greenwood interchange, Gov. Frank Morrison snipped a red ribbon crossing the double highway at 3:35 that Friday afternoon. The ribbon was stretched across both east and west bound lanes, with the dignitaries seated on the flatbed truck drawn up in the median.
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On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
