NPZA Newsletter

Winter 2006 Newsletter Page Two

Main street speaker and Topic Announced
The Future Slum

Bob Yapp operates with a simple premise: “Preservation Doesn’t Cost – It Pays!”

Yapp, currently a community preservation specialist in the Northern Regional Office of the (Indiana) Historic Landmarks Foundation, will present a fun and educational session at the APA-Nebraska/NPZA/ Main Street Spring Conference in Kearney on Wednesday, March 29, 2006.

As President of Preservation Resources, Inc., in South Bend, Indiana, Yapp knows the topic. Based on his experience with the rehab of more than 150 historic houses and buildings his first was a Craftsman in Des Moines his senior year in high school – Yapp has written several books and hosted a 54-episode program “About Your House with Bob Yapp” on PBS.

His current project (and the topic of his next book) is “The Future Slum.” Yapp told participants at the first-ever Restore Omaha Conference last Fall that planners and architects need to become involved in the design and construction of new housing. His pet peeve, “the three-car garage, beige vinyl siding, vaulted ceiling built in a cornfield.” Yapp said the average new house will last for only 26 years and finds it absurd that lenders still offer 30-year loans on such spaces.

By contrast, the rehab of a 100-year-old building can give the structure another 100 years, he says.

Yapp will keep listeners on their toes with his never-ending sense of humor and practical approach to preservation and planning.

Recent Survey Identifies Counties with Zoning
A recent survey completed by Steve Charleston, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and NPZA shed light on how many counties in Nebraska have or have not adopted zoning regulations. The survey indicated that all but 12 counties had adopted a zoning resolution; however, six of those counties have adopted a comprehensive plan.

The counties currently without a comprehensive plan and zoning resolution are: Butler County, Platte County, Thurston County, Nuckolls County, Nemaha County, and Banner County. Counties with at least a comprehensive plan are: Dixon County, Wayne County, Johnson County, Blaine County, Richardson County, and Kimball County.

Legislature Introduces Numerous Bills
The following one-line descriptions are legislation that has been introduced by the legislature in the 2006 session. The bills listed below may have an impact on planning and zoning issues in both municipalities and counties. The list is intended to be as inclusive as possible; however, certain bills may have been inadvertently left off. NPZA will not, as an organization be taking a stand either way on any of the bills. NPZA is providing this information for the continued education and knowledge of our membership. It is entirely up to the members of NPZA to follow these bills through the session, as well as contacting your Senator to solicit their support or to ask them to vote down the introduced or amended bills. Each of the bills will have various impacts and may not necessarily have a negative impact of any given jurisdiction. The responsibility to make sure good/quality legislation is passes is up to all of us.
LB 799 (Baker, Kremer, Wehrbein) Place restrictions on the use of eminent domain

LB 834 (Kremer, Burling, Cunningham, et al.) Change provisions of the Nebraska Seed Law to prohibit regulation by political subdivisions

LB 883 (Kopplin, Cornett, Langemeier, et al.) Rename the County Industrial Sewer Construction Act and provide for residential sewerage development

LB 907 (Price) Change provisions relating to outstanding obligations of annexed fire protection districts

LB 910 (Redfield, Erdman) Provide restrictions on the use of eminent domain

LB 933 (Natural Resources Committee) Change provisions relating to water resources

LB 955 (Johnson, Brown, Jensen, et al.) Provide factors favoring the change of county boundaries

LB 975 (Natural Resources Committee) Change provisions of the Livestock Waste Management Act

LB 979 (Landis) Provide for regulation and restriction of development rights related to county zoning

LB 997 (Beutler) Authorize income tax credits for donations of perpetual conservation easements

LB 1097 (Schrock) Create the Storm Water Management Plan Program

LB 1106 (Raikes) Change county zoning regulation provisions

LB 1174 (Friend) Provide requirements for the annexation of rural water district property by a city or village

LB 1195 (Schrock, Hudkins, Kopplin, et al.) Require zoning exemptions for certain existing livestock waste control facilities

LB 1214 (Smith) Change Livestock Waste Management Act provisions relating to cold water Class A streams

LB 1234 (Landis, Connealy) Change provisions relating to redevelopment project areas

LB 1241 (Urban Affairs Committee) Eliminate an exception relating to annexation of redevelopment project areas

LB 1252 (Synowiecki) Change eminent domain procedures

LR 272CA (Connealy) Constitutional amendment to remove the requirement that property be blighted for purposes of rehabilitating, acquiring, or redeveloping such property through use of debt

LR 275CA (Landis, Connealy, Janssen, et al.) Constitutional amendment to permit the Legislature to extend the tax levy for certain redevelopment projects

CDBG Deadlines and Guidelines Announced
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development recently announced the guidelines for the 2006 Community Development Block Grant program. There have been some changes to the program for the 2006 application period.

This year the Public Works program will have an April 14 deadline. Changes include: All communities have a maximum of $250,000 in 2006. Communities can only apply for one project under these funds during a calendar year. The Planning Grant program has remained the same with one exception. In 2006 there will be only two application periods as opposed to the three in 2005. The deadlines are April 14 and October 16.

The Water/Wastewater program has basically remained the same. This program has no specific deadlines and is open throughout 2006 or until funds are expended.

The tourism grant application in 2006 will accept applications ranging from $20,000 to $200,000. The deadline for this grant is May 22.

The housing grants have various deadlines and requirements depending upon the fund. Please check with DED for specific dates and requirements.

As with any grant application, always verify dates and requirements with DED. DED web link to these and other grant programs.

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