Any proposal to develop the remaining vacant portion of the former Knolls Golf Course will have to wait a few more weeks to see if it moves forward.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission on Wednesday deadlocked 3-3 over a zoning change to facilitate the development of 36 luxury villas along with 75,000 square feet of commercial space on about 20 acres of former golf course land south of the old Cheney Road between approximately 22. and 24th Street.
Several neighboring property owners have given testimony opposing the plan, prompting complaints ranging from increased traffic to buildings that may be too close to them.
The biggest complaint among the neighbors appears to be the proposed change of about three acres of land along the old Cheney from residential zoning to commercial areas.
The site already has a small area of about two acres of commercial areas where the former Knolls restaurant was, but the developers are proposing to rezoning some of that land into residential with more commercial areas added along the arterial street.
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They suggest uses that include a medical office building, bank branch and restaurant seating.
The main point of contention is that the proposed commercial zoning, B-2, is less restrictive than the current zoning, B-1.
However, the developers have suggested limiting what can be developed and banning certain uses that are normally allowed on the B-2, such as hotels, gas stations, and restaurants that provide ride-hailing services.
Those concessions failed to impress neighbors who did not want expanded commercial uses.
“We don’t see any need for more business in the area,” said Tom Smith, who has lived in his home for nearly 50 years.
Smith said he would be fine with any permitted B-1 zoning use on the site, including the gas station.
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He said he is also good at residential development but would like to see more of what developers suggest.
The minimum plot size for the current R-1 zoning is 9,000 square feet, and all of the proposed villas have an area much larger than that. But Smith said the surrounding homes sit on land of at least half an acre, and many of the homes adjacent to the land being developed will end up having three different lots surrounding it.
“We don’t need to change the region, we need a better plan,” he said.
Andrew Willis, the attorney representing landowner George Bousales, said he believes what is being proposed is a good plan.
The existing residential subdivision will allow up to 51 residential plots to be built without the need for approval other than to file a flat with the city. The 36-piece proposal is about 30% lower than this number.
Willis said that developers have offered to make concessions to neighbors, such as limiting the height of any commercial building to 40 feet, instead of the 55 feet allowed in zoning B-2, but have gotten no response.
Villas and planned commercial uses of an undeveloped portion of the former Lincoln Golf Course
The proposed development would bring homes and commercial uses to East Lincoln
Several neighbors said they feel the current development is being rushed and the process is much less transparent than the development of the western half of The Course, a retirement community of more than 130 units for independent living, assisted living, and memory care that opened in 2018.
The golf club closed in November 2015 after more than 50 years in business. Dial Realty purchased 14 acres west of Dora and built a retirement development. She revises her plan several times in an effort to win the support of the neighborhood.
Christie Joy, one of the commissioners who voted against the latter project, said she felt the need for more discussion between developers and neighbors including “thinking inside and outside the box” to find compromises.
Many of the commissioners, even those who voted against the project, said they liked the idea of the villas.
Commissioner Tracy Corr, who voted in favor of the zoning change, said she felt as though Neighbors was getting a “fantastic project” that was better than many other options that could be built.
Commission Chair Tracy Edgerton, who voted against the zoning change, said that while the villa development may not match what has already been built in the neighbourhood, “that does not mean it cannot complement it”.
The Planning Committee usually meets again in two weeks, but due to the holidays, the next meeting won’t be until January 11th.
The Board is made up of nine members, and a majority of those nine must vote for or against a project before it can bypass the Planning Committee’s consideration.
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Pictures: What Changed Lincoln
University Hall
In 1872, five years after Lincoln became the capital of Nebraska, University Hall (top left) was still the only building on the University of Nebraska campus. Prairie Village was just beginning to fill in, as seen in this photo from the Capitol Building. Today, UNL has more than 150 buildings on its two campuses.
Courtesy photo
First Nebraska State Capitol
It took only a year and $75,000 to build Nebraska’s first state house, which was ready for use in December 1868. But it was so poorly constructed that it was demolished in 1883.
Star Magazine file photo
railway yards
Before it was home to bars, restaurants, condos, and concert venues, the area west of Haymarket was a busy train yard. The advent of the railroad in the summer of 1870 better connected Lincoln to the rest of the country and helped spur its growth.
Star Magazine file photo
Capitol Beach
In the late 19th century, Burlington Beach – west of Lincoln – was home to restaurants, pavilions, bathhouses, and a steamboat for excursions. In the early 1900s, it was Capital Beach, “Coney Island in the West.” Today, it is called Capitol Beach, and its beach is lined with expensive homes.
Star Magazine file photo
1923 stadium
A then-Nebraska record crowd of 43,000 packed Memorial Stadium for the Huskers’ 14-7 game at Notre Dame on November 10, 1923. Some portions of the new stadium were still under construction.
Nebraska State Historical Society
Lincoln Airport Air Force Base
At some point in the 1950s, no fewer than 100 B-47s flew out of Lincoln Air Force Base, which began as a World War II Army airfield northwest of the city. Prior to that, it was a municipal airport, with grass runways.
Star Magazine file photo
Interstate 80
In 1959, road builders carved the future route of Interstate 80 through fields near Lincoln. Recently, approximately 40,000 motorists were registered daily at Greenwood Intersection, East Lincoln.
Star Magazine file photo
Pinnacle Bank Arena
Lincoln has been transformed with the development of the West Haymarket and the Pinnacle Bank Arena building, which opened in 2013.
Kristen Streff, Journal Star profile photo
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