12-02-2015 Regional Planning Regular Meeting Packet
Hall County Regional
Planning Commission
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Regular Meeting Packet
Commission Members:
Terry Connick Hall County
John Hoggatt Grand Island
Derek Apfel Grand Island
Jerry Huismann Grand Island
Mark Haskins Hall County
Carla Maurer Doniphan
Dean Kjar Wood River
Dean Sears Grand Island
Jaye Monter Cairo
Pat O’Neill Hall County Chairperson
Greg Robb Hall County
Leslie Ruge Alda Secretary
Regional Planning Director: Chad Nabity
Planning Technician:
Edwin Maslonka
Planning Secretary:
Rose Rhoads
6:00 PM
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 1 / 151
Call to Order
Roll Call
A - SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE ITEMS
Individuals who have appropriate items for City Council consideration should complete the Request for
Future Agenda Items form located at the Information Booth. If the issue can be handled administratively
without Council action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study
session, notification of the date will be given.
B - RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
This is an opportunity for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items to reserve
time to speak. Please come forward, state your name and address, and the Agenda topic on which you will
be speaking.
DIRECTOR COMMUNICATION
This is an opportunity for the Director to comment on current events, activities, and issues of interest to
the commission.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 2 / 151
Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Regular Meeting
Item A1
Agenda
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 3 / 151
REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA AND NOTICE OF MEETING
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
6:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers — Grand Island
1. Call to Order.
This is a public meeting subject to the open meetings laws of the State
of Nebraska. The requirements for an open meeting are posted on the
wall in this room and anyone who would like to find out what those are
is welcome to read through them.
The Planning Commission may vote to go into Closed Session on any
Agenda Item as allowed by State Law.
The Commission will discuss and may take action on any item listed on
this agenda.
The order of items on the agenda may be reorganized by the Chair to
facilitate the flow of the meeting to better accommodate the public.
2. Minutes of November 4, 2015.
3.Request Time to Speak.
4.Public Hearing – Concerning an application for rezone located at in the 2
mile jurisdiction of the City of Grand Island, in Hall County, Nebraska. (C-05-
2016HC)
5.Public Hearing – Concerning the Wood River Comprehensive Plan, for the
City of Wood River. Resolution No. 2016-03. (C-06-2016WR)
Consent Agenda
6.Final Plat – Ramblin’ Rose Subdivision – located north of White Cloud
Road and west of NE Hwy 11, in Hall County, consisting of 1 lot and 3.21
acres.
7.Final Plat – Graf Acres Subdivision – located south of Lepin Road east of
Buffalo Road, in Hall County, consisting of 1 lot and 5.483 acres.
8.Directors Report
9.Next Meeting January 6, 2016
10. Adjourn
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 4 / 151
PLEASE NOTE: This meeting is open to the public, and a current agenda is
on file at the office of the Regional Planning Commission, located on the
second floor of City Hall in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 5 / 151
Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Regular Meeting
Item E1
Meeting Minutes
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 6 / 151
THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION OF HALL COUNTY, GRAND ISLAND,
WOOD RIVER AND THE VILLAGES OF ALDA, CAIRO, AND DONIPHAN,
NEBRASKA
Minutes
for
November 4, 2015
The meeting of the Regional Planning Commission was held Wednesday, November 4, 2015 in
the Council Chambers - City Hall – Grand Island, Nebraska. Notice of this meeting appeared
in the "Grand Island Independent" October 24, 2015.
Present: Pat O’Neill Carla Maurer
Derek Apfel Terry Connick
Les Ruge Greg Robb
Dean Sears Dean Kjar
Mark Haskins Jaye Monter
Jerry Huismann John Hoggatt
Absent:
Other:
Staff:Chad Nabity, Rose Rhoads
Press:
1.Call to order.
Chairman O’Neill called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
O’Neill stated that this was a public meeting subject to the open meetings laws of the
State of Nebraska. He noted that the requirements for an open meeting are posted on
the wall in the room and easily accessible to anyone who may be interested in reading
them.
O’Neill also noted the Planning Commission may vote to go into Closed Session on
any Agenda Item as allowed by State Law.
The Commission will discuss and may take action on any item listed on this agenda.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 7 / 151
The order of items on the agenda may be reorganized by the Chair to facilitate the flow
of the meeting to better accommodate the public.
2. Minutes of October 7, 2015 meeting.
A motion was made by Connick and seconded by Kjar to approve the Minutes
of the October 7, 2015 meeting.
The motion carried with 12 members present and all voting in favor (O’Neill,
Ruge, Connick, Maurer, Sears, Kjar, Robb, Haskins, Hoggatt, Apfel, Huismann
and Monter) and no member abstaining.
3.Request Time to Speak.
Austin McKillip, 233 S Lincoln St, Lincoln NE 68508 #4; Glen Witte,6120
Havelock, Lincoln NE 68507 # 4; and Chad Ruda #4.
4.Public Hearing – Concerning an application for Mid America Wash Out, located at
9551 S Locust Street, in Hall County, Nebraska. Resolution No. 2016-02. (C-04-
2016HC)
O’Neill opened the Public Hearing.
Nabity briefed the commission on the Public Hearing. Nabity offered into record the
Hall County Comprehensive Plan, a letter from Austin L. McKillip, including a petition
and facts regarding the “Second Application” concerning the livestock trailer washout
facility and manure pond proposed to be built at 9551 S Locust Street, Doniphan, NE.
Nabity did note the term “truck wash service” is a broad category, not one meant to be
specific and exclusive.
Glen Witte, attorney for the Stange’s spoke in favor of the truck washout. With this
washout it would help to solve excess manure problems in Grand Island. Witte stated
area residents would suffer minimally. Witte also said Ruda follows the rules and
maintains a clean facility.
Chad Ruda told the commission that he would like to build a truck washout facility near
Grand Island. He has been looking for land for approximately 3-6 years. When he
found the former race track land he thought this former race track would be ideal.
Ruda plans to cap the water well under the track to prevent leaching into the
groundwater table. The washout itself is just clean water, water pressure and a sloped
floor. Solids that are washed from the trailers are temporarily stored in an enclosed
building until they are trucked out to land apply as fertilizer on area crop ground. The
wash water goes to the lagoon where it is circulated and aerated before being applied to
the land as a liquid fertilizer.
“I don’t wash anything out of the back of a trailer that a farmer doesn’t go off and put
on his ground in a different process,” Ruda said. “Mine’s way more diluted and it’s a
valuable commodity.”
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 8 / 151
Ruda said the South Sioux City facility which he bought and is rehabbing, would be the
most comparable to the proposed Doniphan facility. A new housing subdivision with
$250,000 to $300,000 homes is going up around that facility so any valuation change
would likely be an increase, not a decrease because of the washout.
“This is a $2 million investment and I won’t lose it (by running it badly),” Ruda said. “I
know what I’m going to build.”
Ruda also covered briefly the odor, the environmental, the local highway impacts and
the noise.
Lincoln attorney Austin McKillip said he was hired by Doniphan area residents who
would be “adversely affected” by the washout. He cited concerns of odor, groundwater
contamination, noise, increased traffic and the devaluation of neighboring properties.
McKillip submitted a petition with the signatures of 490 people opposed to the washout
saying that showed strong opposition from the Doniphan population of 800.
McKillip also submitted letters of opposition from Doniphan-Trumbull Public School
Superintendent Kirk Russell and Giltner Public School Principal Kurt Polt, who both
raised traffic safety concerns for busses of school children on routes frequented by
semi-trailers headed to the washout at 9551 S. Locust St.
McKillip argued that the washout was not eligible for a conditional use permit because
only “truck wash services” are allowed by conditional use permit on land zoned AG-3
transitional agricultural uses. Trailers would be washed out, not trucks, so the facility
should be prohibited, he said.
McKillip also said the livestock washout was not needed because there are two already
in Hall County that he found on a Google search.
The application before the Regional Planning Commission Wednesday night was filed
by property owner Doug Stange and was identical to a livestock washout plan
submitted by Fremont business owner Chad Ruda in May and denied in June by the
Hall County board.
“Somebody doesn’t get two chances to go up and relitigate issues that have already
been decided,” McKillip said.
When Commission Chairman Pat O’Neill asked for local legal direction on that, Hall
County Attorney Jack Zitterkopf said he would provide legal advice since the
commission doesn’t have its own attorney, but he would only do so in a closed session.
A motion was made by Robb and seconded by Monter to enter into executive session at
6:58 p.m.
A motion was made by Monter and seconded by Ruge to enter out of executive session
at 7:16 p.m.
O’Neill closed the Public Hearing.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 9 / 151
A motion was made by Ruge to deny the application for a trailer washout facility at this
location finding that “res judicata” applies in this case and further finding that the
exhibits and information presented by the Stange’s make it very clear that application is
substantially the same application for a livestock trailer washout operation that was
considered for approval and rejected by the Hall County Board on June 16, 2015.
Based on the standards adopted by the Hall County Board in Section 10.01 of the Hall
County Zoning Resolution regarding amendments to the zoning regulations a
substantially similar application cannot be acted upon for at least 1 year after a decision
has been made. The motion was seconded by Huismann. Upon roll call vote the motion
carried with 12 members present and all voting in favor to deny the application
(O’Neill, Ruge, Connick, Maurer, Sears, Kjar, Robb, Haskins, Hoggatt, Apfel,
Huismann and Monter) and no member abstaining.
5.Final Plat – Landell Second Subdivision – located north of Capital Ave and east of
Gunbarrel Rd., in the 2 mile jurisdiction of the City of Grand Island, in Hall County,
consisting of 1 lot and 3.736 acres.
6.Final Plat – Devore Second Subdivision – located south of Guenther Road and east of
Schauppsville Road, in Hall County, consisting of 2 lots and 7.41 acres.
7.Final Plat – Englehart Acres Subdivision – located north of Husker Highway and
east of Cameron Road, in Hall County, consisting of 1 lot and 5.56 acres.
A motion was made by Haskins and seconded by Monter. The motion carried with 12
members present and voting in favor (Connick, Kjar, Hoggatt, Apfel, Maurer, Robb,
O’Neill, Haskins, Ruge, Monter, Sears and Huismann) and no member abstaining.
8.Election of Officers.
A motion was made by Ruge and seconded by Sears to elect Pat O’Neill as
chair, Jaye Monter as Vice-Chair and Les Ruge as Secretary.
The motion carried with 12 members present and voting in favor (Connick,
Kjar, Hoggatt, Apfel, Maurer, Robb, O’Neill, Haskins, Ruge, Monter, Sears and
Huismann) and no member abstaining.
9.Next Meeting December 2, 2015
10.Adjourn
Chairman Pat O’Neill adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
___________________________________________
Leslie Ruge, Secretary
By Rose Rhoads
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 10 / 151
Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Regular Meeting
Item F1
Public Hearing - Rezone
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 11 / 151
Agenda Item # 4
PLANNING DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATION TO REGIONAL PLANNING
COMMISSION:
November 13, 2015
SUBJECT:Zoning Change (C-05-2016GI)
PROPOSAL:To rezone approximately 12 acres of land south of Airport Road and east
of St. Paul Road from TA Transitional Agriculture to M2 Heavy Manufacturing. The
property is was formerly a rendering plant. The owners have accepted an offer on the
property that is contingent on rezoning this property to allow a shooting sports store and
indoor range. The M2 zoning district would permit those uses.
OVERVIEW:
Site Analysis
Current zoning designation:TA – Heavy Manufacturing
Permitted and conditional uses:TA Agricultural uses including: raising of livestock,
but not confined feeding, raising crops,
greenhouses and nurseries and residential uses up
to a density of 1 unit per 20 acres. Minimum lot size
20 acres.
Comprehensive Plan Designation:Designated for future development as
manufacturing.
Existing land uses.Vacant Rendering Plant
Proposed Zoning Designation M2 –Heavy Manufacturing - A wide variety of
warehousing, storage, manufacturing and industrial
uses and no residential uses. Storage wholesale
and retail sale of grain/seed and agricultural
chemicals permitted. Minimum lot size of 6000
square feet with 65% coverage.
Adjacent Properties Analysis
Current zoning designations:North: M2- Heavy Manufacturing
North, East and South: TA- Transitional
Agriculture,
West: M2- Heavy Manufacturing and LLR-Large
Lot Residential
Permitted and conditional uses:TA Agricultural uses including: raising of livestock,
but not confined feeding, raising crops,
greenhouses and nurseries and residential uses up
to a density of 1 unit per 20 acres. Minimum lot size
20 acres. LLR –- Agricultural uses, recreational
uses and residential uses at a density of 2 dwelling
units per acre with 25% coverage. M2 –Heavy
Manufacturing - A wide variety of warehousing,
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 12 / 151
storage, manufacturing and industrial uses and no
residential uses. Storage wholesale and retail sale
of grain/seed and agricultural chemicals permitted.
Minimum lot size of 6000 square feet with 65%
coverage.
Comprehensive Plan Designation:North, South, West: Designated for Low to
Medium Density Residential.
East: Designated for Manufacturing
Existing land uses:North, South, and East: Agricultural Uses
West: Rail Road, Residential, Auto Salvage Yard
EVALUATION:
Positive Implications:
Consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan: The subject property is
designated Manufacturing uses (typically M1 or M2 zoning).
Would allow for expansion or rebuilding of the existing uses: This would allow the
property owners to expand or rebuild on this site.
Consistent with existing uses: This change is consistent with the existing uses in the
area. Some heavier uses are near this to the north but none to the east, south or
west.
Negative Implications:
None foreseen.
Other Considerations
The this property is already intended for possible manufacturing uses as shown below
on the Future Land Use Map for the City of Grand Island.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 13 / 151
Future Land Use Map of the Area as approved in the Grand Island Comprehensive Plan
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 14 / 151
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Regional Planning Commission recommend that the Grand Island City
Council change the zoning on this site from TA-Transitional Agriculture to M2-Heavy
Manufacturing as requested and shown on the attached map.
___________________ Chad Nabity AICP, Planning Director
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 15 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 16 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 17 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 18 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 19 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 20 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 21 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 22 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 23 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 24 / 151
Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Regular Meeting
Item F2
Public Hearing - Wood River Comp Plan
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 25 / 151
Agenda Item # 5
PLANNING DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATION TO REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION:
November 13, 2015
SUBJECT:2035 Comprehensive Development Plan (C-06-2016WR)
PROPOSAL:
The City of Wood River has contracted with Hanna:Keelan Associates to prepare and update
the Comprehensive Development Plan and zoning ordinance for the City of Wood River. The
planners from Hanna:Keelan, along with a steering committee of Wood River residents, have
completed the planning process and presented the Comprehensive Plan update to the Wood
River City Council. On Tuesday November 17, 2015 the Wood River City Council forwarded the
attached plan for Wood River to the Hall County Regional Planning Commission for their review
and recommendation.
EVALUATION:
The City of Wood River adopted their current Comprehensive Development Plan on April 6th of
2004. That plan replaced the 1970 Wood River Comprehensive Plan. There is no set time for
an update or revision of a Comprehensive Plan. Most plans are written with a 20 year time
horizon and reviewed on a 5 or 10 year basis and ultimately rewritten when either the
community has changed significantly or the old plan no longer meets the needs of the
community.
The process to update a comprehensive plan involves a number of issues including:
How to fund the plan?
Who to have manage, complete and write the plan?
How to get people involved and interested in the planning process?
Wood River really began this process by getting people involved and interested. They
leveraged economic development issues, the Grow Grand Island effort and help from the South
Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) to organize their planning effort. They worked
with the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) to secure grant funding for the planning
effort, matched that funding with local dollars. Ultimately, the City hired Hanna:Keelan
Associates to manage, complete and write the plan.
This 2014-15 planning effort has been the result of an interested and engaged group of citizens
including the Mayor and members of the Wood River City Council. Wood River has been
working toward community improvements for the past several years. This planning effort is a
formal step in solidifying the vision of the community and its leaders.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 26 / 151
In reviewing the proposed plan, staff has raised a few questions and sent comments to the
consultants for their review and recommendation. Representatives from Wood River and
Hanna:Keelan Associates will be at the December Planning Commission meeting.
It is anticipated that a revised set of zoning regulations along with a revised zoning map will be
brought forward for recommendation within the next few months.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Hall County Planning Commission review the attached plan and
recommend it for approval by the Wood River City Council with any suggested edits or changes.
___________________ Chad Nabity AICP, Planning Director
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 27 / 151
AUGUST, 2015
Proposal: Planning Consultant Services
Comprehensive Development Plan Update.
COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN – 2035.
“A 10-Year Plan, 20-Year Vision.”
CITY OF WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROGRAM - 2035.
(Nebraska Investment Finance Authority – Housing Study Grant Program).
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 * www.hannakeelan.com *
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 28 / 151
Participants.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035.
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROGRAM – 2035.
COMPRHEHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN – 2035.
“A 10-Year Plan, 20-Year Vision.”
The Comprehensive Planning Program was funded by the Nebraska Investment
Finance Authority, with matching funds from the Wood River Economic/Housing
Development Corporation (WRAEHDC). The Comprehensive Development Plan
was completed with the guidance and direction of the WRAEHDC and the Wood River
Comprehensive Plan/Housing Task Force.
MAYOR
Greg Cramer
CITY CLERK
Kathy Meharg
WOOD RIVER CITY COUNCIL
Eric Nielsen
Travis Fairbanks
April Jilg
Nick Rennau
Vincent Boudreau
Mike Smith
HALL COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION (APPOINTEES & TOWN)
Pat O’Neill, Chair (Hall Co.) Karen Bredthauer (Grand Island) Leslie Ruge, Secretary (Alda)
Terry Connick (Hall Co.) Julie Connelly (Grand Island) Richard Heckman (Cairo)
Mark Haskins (Hall Co.) Dean Sears (Grand Island) Carla Maurer (Doniphan)
Greg Robb (Hall Co.) Jerry Huismann (Grand Island) Dean Kjar (Wood River)
HALL COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION (STAFF)
Chad Nabity, Director Edwin Maslonka, Planning Tech Rose Rhoads, Secretary
WOOD RIVER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN/HOUSING TASK FORCE
Sara Arnett Pam Kjar Brian Bangs
Jim Rennau Kipp English Matt Troyer-Miller
Lee Nielsen Brian Hayes Blanca Rodriguez
Peg Krause James Haley Penny Volf
Peggy Swanson Curtis Rohrich
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS & ZONING * HOUSING STUDIES * DOWNTOWN, NEIGHBORHOOD & REDEVELOPMENT PLANNING *
CONSULTANTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS*
------------ *Lincoln, Nebraska* 402.464.5383 * ------------ *Becky Hanna, Tim Keelan, Lonnie Dickson, AICP, Keith Carl*
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 29 / 151
Table of Contents.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PARTICIPANTS ........................................................................................................... i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................. ii
LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... vi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .................................................................................... vii
SECTION TITLE PAGE
SECTION 1 THE WOOD RIVER PLANNING PROCESS ....................... 1.1
- Introduction .............................................................................. 1.1
- Planning Period ............................................................. 1.1
- Planning Jurisdiction .................................................... 1.1
- Authority to Plan ........................................................... 1.2
- Community Summary ................................................... 1.2
- Responsible Growth and Development ......................... 1.2
- The Plan as a Community &
Economic Development Tool ............................................ 1.3
- Organization of the Plan .......................................................... 1.4
-Element 1 ........................................................................ 1.4
-Element 2 ........................................................................ 1.5
-Element 3 ........................................................................ 1.5
- Wood River Comprehensive Plan/Housing Task Force .......... 1.5
SECTION 2 COMMUNITY PLANNING GOALS & ACTION STEPS .... 2.1
- Introduction .............................................................................. 2.1
- Community Growth, Land Use & Zoning ............................... 2.2
- Housing & Neighborhood Redevelopment............................... 2.8
- Education & Economic/Community Development ................ 2.13
- Public Facilities/Utilities, Energy & Transportation ........... 2.17 - Housing 2.9- The Comprehensive Plan 1.1
SECTION 3 POPULATION, INCOME & ECONOMIC PROFILE ......... 3.1
- Introduction .............................................................................. 3.1
- General Population Trends and Projections ........................... 3.2
- Income Trends and Projections ................................................ 3.6
- Employment/Economic Trends and Projections .................... 3.11
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 30 / 151
Table of Contents.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)
SECTION TITLE PAGE
SECTION 4 LAND USE, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ........................ 4.1
- Introduction .............................................................................. 4.1
- Proper Land Use Practices ....................................................... 4.1
- Identification of Future Growth Areas ......................... 4.2
- Location .......................................................................... 4.2
- Historical Development and Growth ....................................... 4.3
- The Natural Environment ....................................................... 4.4
- Soil Associations ............................................................ 4.4
- Watersheds..................................................................... 4.7
- Wellhead Protection Program ....................................... 4.7
- Climate ........................................................................... 4.8
- Land Use Analysis .................................................................... 4.8
- Existing Land Use Profile ............................................. 4.8
- Parks/Recreational ........................................................ 4.9 - Public/Quasi-Public 4.8
- Public/Quasi-Public ....................................................... 4.9
- Residential ................................................................... 4.12
- Commercial .................................................................. 4.13
- Industrial ..................................................................... 4.13
- Future Land Use .................................................................... 4.14
- Infill Developments ..................................................... 4.14
- Parks And Recreation .................................................. 4.15
- Public/Quasi-Public ..................................................... 4.15
- Residential Areas ......................................................... 4.15
- Commercial .................................................................. 4.19
- Industrial ..................................................................... 4.19
- Intensive Agricultural Uses ........................................ 4.20
- Land Use Plan/Implementation .................................. 4.20
- Redevelopment Area #2 ............................................... 4.20
- Annexation Policy ........................................................ 4.22
- Neighborhood Preservation and Development Priorities ..... 4.23
- Community Image and Preservation of Attributes .............. 4.23
- Character Issues .......................................................... 4.24
- Compatible Development ............................................ 4.24
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 31 / 151
Table of Contents.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)
SECTION TITLE PAGE
SECTION 5 PUBLIC FACILITIES, UTILITIES
& TRANSPORTATION ........................................................... 5.1
- Introduction .............................................................................. 5.1
- Schools/Education ..................................................................... 5.3
- Parks/Recreation ...................................................................... 5.5
- Health, Wellness & Elderly Services ....................................... 5.6
- Public Safety & Government ................................................... 5.7
- Public Safety .................................................................. 5.7
- Government ................................................................... 5.8
- Public Utilities .......................................................................... 5.9
- Water System ................................................................. 5.9
- Sanitary Sewer System ............................................... 5.10
- Transportation ........................................................................ 5.10
- Existing Transportation System ................................. 5.10
- Traffic Volume ............................................................. 5.10
- Road Classifications .................................................... 5.12
- Future Transportation System .............................................. 5.13
SECTION 6 ENERGY ELEMENT ............................................................... 6.1
- Introduction .............................................................................. 6.1
- Public Power Distribution ........................................................ 6.1
- Renewable Energy Projects ........................................... 6.2
- Electrical Energy Consumption ............................................... 6.3
- State-Wide Trends in Energy Consumption ................. 6.4
- Nebraska Energy Consumption by Sector .............................. 6.5
- “Net Metering” ............................................................... 6.5
- Large Scale Wind Towers .............................................. 6.6
- Energy Conservation Policies .................................................. 6.7
APPENDIX WOOD RIVER ONE- AND SIX-YEAR ROADS PLAN.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 32 / 151
Table of Contents.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. iv
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE TITLE PAGE
3.1 Population Trends & Projections .......................................................... 3.2
3.2 Race & Hispanic Origin ........................................................................ 3.3
3.3 Population Age Distribution ................................................................. 3.4
3.4 Specific Household Characteristics ...................................................... 3.5
3.5 Household Income by Age Group .......................................................... 3.7
3.6 Per Capita Income ................................................................................ 3.8
3.7 Estimated Owner Households by Income
Cost Burdened With Housing Problems ....................................... 3.10
3.8 Estimated Renter Households by Income
Cost Burdened With Housing Problems ....................................... 3.10
3.9 Employment Data Trends and Projections ........................................ 3.12
3.10 Workforce Employment by Type ......................................................... 3.13
4.1 History of Population ............................................................................ 4.3
4.2 Existing & Future Land Use Capacity Matrix ................................... 4.9
5.1 Public School Enrollment by Grade .................................................... 5.3
6.1 Comparison of Utility Rates and Consumption by Sector ................... 6.3
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 33 / 151
Table of Contents.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. v
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ILLUSTRATION TITLE PAGE
2.1 Generalized Future Land Use Map
Corporate Limits - 2035 ................................................... 2.6
2.2 Generalized Future Land Use Map
One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction - 2035 ........................... 2.7
4.1 General Soil Associations Map - 2015 ............................. 4.5
4.2 Generalized Existing Land Use Map
Corporate Limits - 2015 ................................................. 4.10
4.3 Generalized Existing Land Use Map
One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction - 2015 ......................... 4.11
4.5 Generalized Future Land Use Map
Corporate Limits - 2035 ................................................. 4.16
4.6 Generalized Future Land Use Map
One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction - 2035 ......................... 4.17
4.8 Redevelopment Area #2 (Proposed)............................... 4.21
5.1 Public Facilities Map - 2015 ............................................ 5.2
5.2 Annual Average 24-Hour Traffic ................................... 5.11
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 34 / 151
THE WOOD RIVER PLANNING PROCESS.
SECTION 1
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 35 / 151
Section 1 The Wood River Planning Process.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 1.1
This Wood River, Nebraska Comprehensive Development Plan was prepared as a tool
to assist in planning for future stability and development in the City and the respective One-
Mile Planning Jurisdiction. This Plan provides information regarding existing developments
and conditions in the Community since the previous Comprehensive Plan, completed in 2004.
The Wood River planning process included the development of a
general plan, which establishes specific and practical guidelines
for improving existing conditions and controlling future growth.
The Plan itself presents a planning program with “Goals” and
“Action Steps” in the areas of Community Growth, Land Use
& Zoning, Housing & Neighborhood Redevelopment,
Transportation Systems, Education & Economic/
Community Development and Public Facilities, Utilities
and Transportation.
The Comprehensive Development Plan was prepared under the assistance of the Wood
River Area Economic & Housing Development Corporation, a Comprehensive
Development Plan/Housing Task Force and Planning Consultants Hanna:Keelan
Associates, P.C. of Lincoln, Nebraska. The Comprehensive Development Plan was funded
by a Housing Study Grant through the NEBRASKA INVESTMENT FINANCE
AUTHORITY, with matching funds provided by the City of Wood River.
PLANNING PERIOD
The Planning Period for achieving the goals, programs and community and economic
development activities identified in this Comprehensive Development Plan is 10 years.
In addition, the Plan includes broad based community and economic development
activities forecasted for a 20-year period. This approach allows the Community of Wood
River to focus on a long-term vision, accomplished by means of implementing specific
activities to address the social and economic well-being of its citizens.
PLANNING JURISDICTION
The City of Wood River Planning Jurisdiction includes the land areas within the Corporate
Limits and the area within one mile of the City. The City enforces planning, zoning and
subdivision regulations within the one-mile limit, in accordance with Nebraska State
Statutes.
The City of Wood River is a member of the Hall County Regional Planning Commission.
SECTION 1
THE WOOD RIVER PLANNING PROCESS.
INTRODUCTION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 36 / 151
Section 1 The Wood River Planning Process.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 1.2
AUTHORITY TO PLAN
This Comprehensive Development Plan for the City of Wood River is prepared under the
Authority of Section 19-924 to 929, Nebraska State Statutes 1943, as Amended.
COMMUNITY SUMMARY
The City of Wood River is located in southwestern Hall County, Nebraska. The City is serviced
by U.S. Highway 30 and Nebraska State Highway 11, as well as Union Pacific Railroad. The
Interstate 80 Corridor is located approximately four miles south of the Community. Currently
(2015), an estimated 1,373 residents live in Wood River.
Wood River is in a position to determine the community and economic development
enhancements most needed and desired to better serve persons and families interested in small
town living. The Community of Wood River offers local services including public schools, library,
a convenience store, a nursing/skilled nursing facility, parks and other public amenities. The
City benefits from being located within the Grand Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well
as approximately 25 miles northeast of the City of Kearney. Large scale services and amenities
in these two Cities are frequently utilized by Wood River residents.
Downtown Wood River is located north of the Highway 30 Corridor, and westward along East 9th
Street. Downtown consists mostly of professional offices, specialty stores, banks and
restaurants. The City Offices are in the new Wood River Civic Center, located north of
Downtown.
RESPONSIBLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Wood River Comprehensive Development Plan promotes responsible growth and
sustainability of Community services and values. This includes an understanding of the
growth potential within the existing built environs of Wood River, as well as the support for
preserving the agricultural and natural resources associated with the City. Undeveloped areas
within the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction of Wood River will be assigned land uses and zoning
classifications capable of preserving the integrity of these areas, while providing for controlled,
well-planned growth throughout the 10- and 20-year planning periods.
Responsible growth and development activities will include the ongoing planning and
implementation of needed public facilities, utilities and transportation systems in Wood River.
The Community is cognizant of its commercial, industrial, social and recreational needs, but will
need to continue to upgrade and develop modern, accessible public facilities and infrastructure to
meet an increasing demand for these services.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 37 / 151
Section 1 The Wood River Planning Process.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 1.3
The Wood River Comprehensive Development Plan has been designed to enhance both
community and economic development efforts, to promote the stability of the local economy.
To accomplish this, local leaders will need to react to changing economic conditions and access both
public and private financing programs available to meet and aid in financing these changes. Local
decisions will need to enhance community and economic development opportunities, as well as
preserve local values. The Community’s ability to utilize Tax Increment Financing for economic
development will play an important role in growth opportunities for Wood River. To further
enhance economic growth and development in Wood River, it is recommended, the City
apply to become eligible to utilize local tax dollars for economic development purposes,
via the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act, or LB840.
The City of Wood River has an Economic Development Corporation and a Community
Redevelopment Authority to serve as a vehicle to plan and implement residential,
commercial, and industrial redevelopment activities in the City. The City has one
officially designated Redevelopment Area, which includes the Downtown, western
portions of the Highway 30 Corridor and adjacent industrial and commercial uses.
The Future Land Use Maps for the City of Wood River included in this Comprehensive
Development Plan encourage growth and expansion of the City during the 10- and 20-year
planning periods. The City must improve and enhance the older sections of Wood River, including
the Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The City should establish incentives for public
and private partnerships for redevelopment to coincide with community growth and expansion.
Incentives such as Tax Increment Financing, Historic Tax Credits, Community Development Block
Grants and a variety of housing and economic development funding sources, coupled with private
financing, should be utilized by the Community to achieve the goals contained within this
Comprehensive Development Plan.
Providing safe, modern and affordable housing in Wood River, during
the next 20 years, will ensure a population base capable of supporting
various important businesses and services in the Community.
Under the direction of the WRAEHDC, with the assistance of a
Comprehensive Development Plan/Housing Task Force, a new
Community Housing Study was completed in 2015. The Housing
Study includes information regarding housing stock conditions,
housing target demand and a 10-Year Housing Action Plan,
complete with a list of specific housing programs for both the
construction of new housing and the rehabilitation of the existing
housing stock.
Housing development and rehabilitation activities in Wood River,
coupled with new housing opportunities for both elderly and young
working families, should be an ongoing process. The City should
support housing improvement and development efforts as a means of
both expanding the population and local tax base.
THE PLAN AS A COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 38 / 151
Section 1 The Wood River Planning Process.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 1.4
The creation of the Wood River Comprehensive Development Plan included the
implementation of both qualitative and quantitative research activities, in an effort
to gather pertinent planning information and data. The qualitative approach included
a comprehensive citizen participation process consisting of Task Force meetings and the
implementation of Community Planning “Listening Sessions” in an effort to assess
the needs and wants of the local citizenry.
The quantitative approach included the analysis of the various components of the
Comprehensive Development Plan utilizing numerous statistical data bases provided
by the 2000 and 2010 Censuses, the 2008-2012 American Community Survey and
information from other pertinent Local, State and Federal Agencies.
The quantitative approach also included on-site field research activities to determine
the present condition and profiles of local land use, housing, public infrastructure and
facilities, transportation and environmental issues.
Combining the results of these two important research approaches produced
this Comprehensive Development Plan. This Comprehensive Development Plan
includes the following Sections:
The Wood River Planning Process.
Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
Population, Income & Economic Profile.
Land Use, Growth & Redevelopment.
Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
Energy Element.
The system embodied in this community planning framework is a process that relies upon
continuous feedback, as goals change and policies become more clearly defined. Planning
is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and revision throughout the
proposed planning periods. This Comprehensive Development Plan is organized into
three elements as summarized below.
ELEMENT 1
The first element of the Comprehensive Development Plan is the Goals and Action
Steps. The Goals and Action Steps represent the foundation for which planning
components are designed and eventually implemented. The Goals and Action Steps
identified in this Comprehensive Development Plan address each component of the
Plan itself. Action Steps identify specific activities the Community should undertake to
accomplish the Goals.
ORGANIZATION OF THE PLAN.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 39 / 151
Section 1 The Wood River Planning Process.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 1.5
ELEMENT 2
The second element is the Background Analysis, which presents the research, both,
quantitative and qualitative, necessary for the development of the Plan’s Goals and Action
Steps. This research included the investigation of demographic, economic, land use, housing,
transportation and public facilities and utilities in Wood River. The careful research of past
and present data allowed for the projection of future population and development needs.
ELEMENT 3
The third and final element of the Comprehensive Development Plan are the Planning
Components, which presents general background analysis and future plans for land use,
public facilities, infrastructure, transportation and energy consumption reduction.
The Wood River Comprehensive Plan/Housing Task Force was comprised of City of
Wood River elected leadership, business owners, Community stakeholders and the general
citizenry. A series of meetings were conducted to gather opinions on what activities need to
take place in the Community in order to create a vibrant, sustainable quality of life for all
residents. The following highlights the issues and opportunities addressed by the Task Force.
Task Force members expressed interest in residential development in northern Wood
River, due to the availability of developable land and proximity to Wood River High
School and Fire Department.
Task Force members identified a need for “housing variety” and a lack of available
housing, including start-up homes, assisted living and retirement housing for the
elderly, town homes and apartments in Wood River. Task Force members expressed a
need to retain the elderly population in the Community.
The population in Wood River consists, mostly, of families that either work in Wood
River or commute to work in Grand Island, Kearney or surrounding Communities.
WOOD RIVER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN/HOUSING TASK FORCE.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 40 / 151
Section 1 The Wood River Planning Process.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 1.6
Housing rehabilitation, both moderate and substantial, as well as housing structure
demolition and replacement is a needed activity in Wood River.
Wood River Public Schools are at full capacity and are in need of expansion.
Task Force members expressed concern regarding the stability of the Downtown,
including structural conditions, business development & retention and public safety.
A need to “cater to the kids” was raised, including the expansion of public facilities, City
parks and swimming pool, child care opportunities and available storm shelters.
Commercial and industrial development in Wood River will greatly assist in developing
Wood River into a vibrant employment center in Hall County.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 41 / 151
COMMUNITY PLANNING
GOALS & ACTION STEPS.
SECTION 2
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 42 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.1
The Wood River Comprehensive Development Plan is an essential and most
appropriate tool to properly guide the development of the City. The Community
Planning Goals and Action Steps, an important aspect of the Plan, provides local
leaders direction in the administration and overall implementation of the Comprehensive
Development Plan. In essence, the goals and action steps are the most fundamental
elements of the Plan; the premises upon which all other elements of the Plan must
relate.
Goals are broad statements, identifying the state or condition the citizenry wishes the
primary components of the planning area to be or evolve into within a given length of
time. These primary components include Community Growth & Land Use/Zoning;
Housing & Neighborhood Redevelopment, Education & Economic/Community
Development and Public Facilities/ Utilities, Energy & Transportation.
“Goals” are long-term in nature and, in the case of those identified for the Wood River
Comprehensive Development Plan, will be active throughout the 10- and 20-year
planning periods.
“Action Steps” help to further define the meaning of goals and represent very
specific activities to accomplish a particular Goal. In many cases, specific time lines
are attached to Action Steps and are the most measurable component of this
Comprehensive Development Plan.
The following Goals and Action Steps should be implemented in conjunction
with other recent planning initiatives, including the Wood River Community
Housing Study and the “Grander Vision” Plan that was developed for the
Communities of Hall County, including Wood River.
INTRODUCTION.
SECTION 2
COMMUNITY PLANNING GOALS & ACTION STEPS.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 43 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.2
Goal 1: Population Growth Activities. The City of Wood River is projected to increase
from the current (2015) population of 1,373, to 1,469 by 2025, representing an estimated
annual increase of 0.7 percent. The Community has the potential to reach a population of
1,506 within the next 20 years, a population increase of 133. This population increase
needs to be correlated with land availability and suitability for all types of developments.
Action Step 1: Meet the projected population growth and land use needs by
maximizing development in existing land areas served by municipal
infrastructure, including the development/infill of vacant parcels within the Corporate
Limits of Wood River.
Action Step 2: Future residential growth areas are recommended north, east and
west of the Community. The Land Use Plan includes:
North Growth Areas/Thelen Subdivision. Located between the current
northern Corporate Limits and Wood River Road, from the Highway 11 Corridor
to Walnut Street. The Thelen Subdivision is currently in the planning stages
and is highlighted on Illustration 2.1, Page 2.6, as being incorporated to the
City of Wood River. This Subdivision will allow for multiple housing types with
varying densities and be located in close proximity to the Wood River High
School and Fire Department. A second residential growth area exists for future
residential development between Walnut Street and South 130th Road.
Eastern Growth Area. This Area extends from the eastern Corporate Limits
to South 130th Road, north of the Highway 30 Corridor, identified on the Future
Land Use Map, Illustration 2.2, Page 2.7. Medium to high density residential
development areas are planned as a buffer between proposed highway
commercial and single family residential uses. These residential areas should
focus on developing triplex, four-plex and multifamily rental housing.
Western Growth Area. Located at the intersection of Highway 11 and Old
Military Road, as highlighted on Illustration 2.2, Page 2.7. The development
of triplex, four-plex and multifamily rental housing is most suitable for this
location.
COMMUNITY GROWTH, LAND USE & ZONING.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 44 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.3
Action Step 3: Continue the development of Commercial and Industrial Land in
Wood River. The location of future highway-oriented commercial uses is recommended
along the Highway 30 and 11 Corridors, both east and west of the City. Future personal
services and specialty retail outlets are recommended to remain in Downtown Wood River.
The Community Needs Assessment Survey, conducted by South Central
Economic Development District identified 51 percent of all participants
recommending vacant buildings in Downtown be utilized for new commercial
uses. Participants also identified a café, fast food restaurant and automatic car
wash as new businesses needed in Wood River.
Light industrial uses and manufacturing companies should be located in designated
industrial zoned areas, primarily, south of and along the Union Pacific Railroad Corridor.
A second industrial growth area is located south of the existing Great Plains Ethanol Plant.
Action Step 4: Expand existing and identify new areas for Parks, Open Space
and Public/Quasi-Public Land in Wood River. The Community of Wood River has
been active in the planning and development of new park land and public/quasi-public
uses. This includes the recently-constructed Wood River Civic Center.
In August, 2015, a $4.98 Million bond was approved for the construction of a
new aquatic center in Wood River. The location of the aquatic center will be
at the intersection of Highway 11 and West Wood River Road.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 45 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.4
Goal 2 – Land Use Plan, Building Codes and Annexation Policy. Adopt and retain
a Land Use Plan capable of fulfilling the residential, employment, recreational and
entertainment needs of the Community of Wood River. The Plan should encourage the
preservation and protection of environmental resources while supporting development in
the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction. Adhere to building codes and annexation policies.
Action Step 1: Develop solutions to correct development barriers in Wood River,
including the prohibition of intensive agricultural uses, such as feedlot operations, from
developing or expanding within the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction.
Action Step 2: Promote residential, commercial and industrial growth areas
that are not located in sensitive soil or prime agricultural areas.
Action Step 3: Establish plans that
reflect development trends, as well as
features and characteristics unique to the
Community. Standards should be
established for infill development that
complement architectural styles and
materials of a particular neighborhood.
Action Step 4: All future, major
developments in Wood River should be
accompanied with a modern utility and
infrastructure system of public and/or
private utilities and a storm water
drainage plan.
Action Step 5: Maintain appropriate
building codes, which support the
efficient implementation of the Land Use
Plan. Establish new provisions within
these regulations and codes that support
mixed land use developments and
promote sustainable development
principles, smart growth and green
building practices. Subdivision
requirements should include modern
infrastructure standards and the
incorporation of storm water
management systems.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 46 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.5
Action Step 6: Utilize appropriate annexation policies in conformance with
Nebraska State Statutes. These policies should serve as a guide to integrate
residential and commercial growth areas adjacent the current Corporate Limits of the
City of Wood River. Future development should be encouraged to locate in areas free of
environmental problems related to ground and surface water features, soil and
topographic slope.
Action Step 7: Enforce modern construction and property standards by
enforcing the County’s building and development codes and City municipal codes. Such
action will ensure that the residents of the City of Wood River can live and work safely
in structures that are built and maintained to modern safety standards.
Goal 3: Appearance and Sustainability. Implement Community improvement projects
that enhance the quality of life and aesthetic appearance of the City of Wood River.
Action Step 1: Incorporate beautification projects that improve the appearance of
Wood River. Target areas should include, but not be limited to, the Downtown, highway
corridors, City parks and historically significant residential neighborhoods.
Action Step 2: Create a sustainable, healthy Community for residents currently living
in, or families planning to move to Wood River.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 47 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.6
GENERALIZED FUTURE LAND USE MAP
CORPORATE LIMITS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2025-2035
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
ILLUSTRATION 2.1
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 48 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.7
GENERALIZED FUTURE LAND USE MAP
ONE-MILE PLANNING JURISDICTION
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2025-2035
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
ILLUSTRATION 2.2
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 49 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.8
Goal 1: Community Housing Initiative. The City of Wood River should implement a
Housing Initiative as a primary economic development activity. This Housing Initiative
should include the development of up to 76 new housing units by 2025, including an
estimated 48 owner housing units and 28 new rental units. This Housing Initiative
would provide current and future residents of the Community with access to a variety of
safe, decent and affordable housing types for families and individuals of all age, household
size and income sectors.
Action Step 1: Support the efforts of the Wood River Area Economic & Housing
Development Corporation (WRAEHDC) and the Wood River Housing
Authority to encourage and monitor housing development. The City of Wood River
should continue to work directly with both public and private sectors to encourage the
development of specific housing programs to meet the needs of the Community’s
current and future residents, with emphasis on housing for young families, the local
workforce, retirees and special populations. By 2025, the City of Wood River will
need to develop up to 30 owner units and 14 rental housing units for
households, age 18 to 54 years, and 18 owner and 14 rental units for elderly
households, 55+ years of age.
The City of Wood River has established memberships and/or working
relationships with regional economic and housing development organizations
such as South Central Nebraska Economic Development District and Central
Nebraska Community Services. The programs provided by these
organizations are vital to the successful implementation of future housing
activities in Wood River.
WRAEHDC should take the lead role to design and implement a Workforce Housing
Assistance Program for local employees and a Continuum of Residential
Retirement Program for older adults in the City.
HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 50 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.9
Action Step 2: Plan and implement an Employer’s Housing Assistance Program
to encourage major employers in the Wood River area to become directly involved with
assisting their employees in becoming homeowners in the Community of Wood River.
Assistance could include, but not be limited to, locating and negotiating the purchase of
a house, providing funding assistance, etc. Funding assistance could be, for example, in
the form of a $5,000 to $10,000 grant and/or low-interest loan to persons and families
for closing costs, down payment, etc. These homebuyers could also be a participant in a
first-time homebuyers program, funded by either/both the Nebraska Investment
Finance Authority and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
Action Step 3: Initiate a Continuum of (Housing) Residential Care Program in
the Community of Wood River directed at persons and families 55+ years of age. This
Program would address several facets of elderly housing needs and development
opportunities in Wood River, including the increasing need for in-home services and
home maintenance, repair and modification of homes occupied by elderly households in
the Community and additional affordable housing, both owner and rental, with and
without supportive services. Members of the Comprehensive Development
Plan/Housing Task Force expressed interest in the development of both an
independent and assisted living facility in Wood River.
Goal 2: New Housing Developments. New housing developments in the City of Wood
River should address the needs of both owner- and renter households, of all age and
income sectors, of varied price products.
Action Step 1: The City of Wood River should identify up to 26.7 acres of land for
new residential development to meet the estimated need for 76 additional
housing units by 2025. The City should develop housing in both new and developed
areas of the Community.
Action Step 2: Build an estimated six units of owner housing for households of low- to
moderate-income (31%-60% AMI), 24 units for moderate income households (61%-125%
AMI) and an estimated 18 owner units for families and individuals of moderate- to
upper income (126%+ AMI). Special attention should be given the construction of
single family housing units for younger households and single family duplex/triplex
units for older adults. New owner housing price products should have a
purchase price between an estimated $125,000 to $230,000, depending on the
type of housing units and the household income sector being targeted.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 51 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.10
Action Step 3: Build an estimated 12 rental housing units for persons and families of
low- to moderate-income and an estimated 16 rental units for households of moderate-
to upper-income.
Rental housing for families and elderly populations should be targeted to all income
ranges. Participants of the Wood River Continuum of Care for Elderly Persons
Household Survey, completed as part of the Community Housing Study,
identified nursing home/long-term care, assisted living housing and two-
bedroom rental units as a need for the Community. The citizen participation
process revealed a desire by Wood River residents to provide a variety of new
retirement and elderly housing types in order to retain these groups in the City.
Rental housing price products in Wood River should range in monthly rents
from $525 to $780, depending on the size, number of bedrooms and the
household income sector being served. Rental units of all types should be
constructed in Wood River, with emphasis on duplex rental units for both the elderly
and younger households and single family units for younger, larger families. A rent to
purchase option should be made available with single family rental units. Rental
housing should be built to meet the housing needs of young, single workers in the
Community.
Action Step 4: Future housing development programs in Wood River should be
located in the northern and eastern portion of City. Consider new, modern housing
development types, such as housing in the Downtown and new subdivisions utilizing
New Urbanism planning concepts.
Action Step 5: New housing developments in the City of Wood River should
include the construction of housing that focuses on accessibility and use by
persons and families with special needs.
Action Step 6: As needed, the City should establish a policy of condemning and
demolishing housing of a dilapidated condition, not cost effective to rehabilitate. The
vacated lots could be set aside as part of a City-Wide Land Trust/Land Bank
program to be used for future owner and rental housing development needs.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 52 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.11
Goal 3: Existing Owner and Rental
Housing Stock. Housing rehabilitation
programs and activities in the City of
Wood River should strive to protect and
preserve the existing housing stock of the
Community.
Action Step 1: The Community of
Wood River should establish a housing
rehabilitation program for both owner
and rental housing units, with
emphasis on meeting the housing
rehabilitation needs of the elderly, low
income families and housing occupied
by persons with special needs. A total
of 52 participants of the Wood
River Home Improvement Survey
identified an interest in
participating in an owner-
occupied housing rehabilitation
program, if funding becomes
available.
Action Step 2: The Community of
Wood River should preserve housing of
historical significance. Housing that
is architecturally significant or for its
association with persons or families
who played key roles in the
development and growth of the City
adds to the character and uniqueness
of Wood River neighborhoods.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 53 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.12
Goal 4: Financing Housing Development. The City of Wood River and housing
developers should consider both public and private funding sources to both construct new
housing and maintain the existing housing stock.
Action Step 1: The City should pursue State and Federal Grants to assist in
financing housing rehabilitation, housing purchase, rehabilitate and resale and first-
time homebuyers programs. The City and private builders should pursue such
funding from the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority and Nebraska Department
of Economic Development.
Action Step 2: The City of Wood River should utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
to assist in the financing of new housing developments, specifically public facilities
and utilities. The City of Wood River has one designated “Redevelopment
Area,” which includes the Downtown, properties along the Highway 30
Corridor and the Great Plains Ethanol facility.
A second Redevelopment Area is proposed for Wood River as part of this
Comprehensive Development Plan that includes an older residential area
to the northwest of Downtown, extending along Highway 11 to include the
vacant tract of land proposed for the new Thelen Subdivision. This area
would abut the northern boundary of Redevelopment Area #1 from Main
Street, west, to Highway 11. Additional information regarding this
proposed Redevelopment Area is provided in Section 4 of this
Comprehensive Development Plan.
Action Step 3: Housing developers in Wood River should be encouraged to pursue
any and all available tools of financing assistance in the development of new housing
projects in the Community. This assistance is available from the Nebraska
Investment Finance Authority, Nebraska Department of Economic Development,
USDA-Rural Development, Federal Home Loan Bank and the Department of Housing
and Urban Development, in the form of grants, tax credits and mortgage insurance.
Goal 5: Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. As a Community, Wood River will
need to identify, discuss and establish a plan to eliminate all barriers and impediments
to fair housing choice in the City. All sectors of the Community, both public and private,
should play a role in this process. This would include the involvement of City
government, schools, churches and the local business sector.
Action Step 1: Address the following, primary impediments to fair housing choice in
Wood River, as identified by participants of the Wood River Workforce Housing
Needs Survey. The most common barriers faced when obtaining affordable
housing included housing/rental prices and a lack of sufficient
homes/apartments for sale or for rent.
Action Step 2: The City of Wood River should establish and enforce a Fair Housing
Policy, to insure all current and future residents of the Community do not experience
any discrimination in housing choice.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 54 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.13
Goal 1: Educational Quality. Continue to provide a high quality of public
elementary, junior and senior education for the residents of Wood River. Maintain
an excellence in education by expanding facilities, amenities and employment
opportunities, as needed, while creating new and expanding existing educational
programs and activities to support a growing student and faculty population for the
Wood River Rural School District (WRRSD).
Action Step 2: Extra-Curricular Activities, such as homework assistance,
athletics, student clubs should continue to be an important role in the development of
education in all school children.
Action Step 3: Support an increase in enrollment at WRRSD. Staff identified
stable enrollment at approximately 550 students per year. In the event of a
substantial increase in enrollment, educational facilities should be prepared with
appropriate amenities, facilities and necessary staff to meet demand.
Action Step 4: Support the efforts of Wood River Community Foundation to
raise money and provide the funding necessary to continue WRRSD’s mission of
providing for the excellence of students.
Action Step 5: Support the student leadership programs that are offered by
WRRSD. Programs of this nature will provide school children of all ages with the
necessary knowledge and potential to be successful, post-graduation.
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 55 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.14
Goal 2: Economic/Community Development. Utilize the Wood River
Comprehensive Development Plan as an economic and Community
development resource and guide to maximize economic opportunities for all
residents. Foster an increase in diversified employment and business types in Wood
River.
Action Step 1: The WRAEHDC has established a strategic Economic
Development Program for prioritizing economic and Community development and
redevelopment efforts in Wood River. The Program should place emphasis on
providing adequate Community facilities, attracting new businesses and
assisting existing businesses to grow.
Action Step 2: Create up to 90 to 110 new jobs in Wood River by 2035. This
should be achieved by expanding existing and adding commercial businesses and
industrial companies that are “light manufacturing” and or “technology-based” in
nature to Wood River.
Action Step 3: The WRAEHDC should consider utilizing and exploring all funding
opportunities of LB840, so as to maximize use of local tax dollars on an annual basis.
The Community Needs Assessment Survey identified 196 participants, or 55
percent of the total 357 participants would support a one percent sales tax
to be utilized for economic development activities.
Action Step 4: Focus efforts of diversified businesses and employment
opportunities to expand existing and attract new companies. Expand the
availability of retail commerce development sites and available storefronts for rent or
purchase to attract non-local businesses. Maintain and improve both public and
private services, businesses and industries in Wood River, in an effort to increase and
diversify employment opportunities.
Over 90 percent of the Community Needs Assessment Survey participants
support local entrepreneurs and the development of new and expansion of
existing businesses.
The development of a “Business Incubator Program” was highlighted by
participants of the Wood River Community Planning “Listening Session” as a
means of attracting new businesses. Listening Session participants also
want to establish a “buy here, first” initiative for the Community.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 56 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.15
Action Step 5: Continue to support business retention and expansion programs
offered by the WRAEHDC to ensure the continuation of well established businesses in
Wood River. Business transition services should be offered to support the transfer of
businesses to new generation owners, as current owners retire. These Programs could
assist in recruiting both high school and college students/graduates to train in
selective career paths to become business owners.
The Community should create and maintain a listing of home-based businesses so that
as businesses outgrow a home (or farm) location, appropriate space in commercial or
industrial areas of the Community can be occupied with a local base, home-grown
businesses.
Action Step 6: Housing initiatives in Wood River should parallel job creation
activities. A high percentage of persons employed in Wood River live in other
Communities. This is primarily due to the lack of available or suitable housing.
Programs supported by the WRAEHDC, through the provision of housing development
partners should focus on addressing the need for housing development and
redevelopment in older neighborhoods, combined with promoting new housing
development in new residential subdivisions.
Action Step 7: Expand efforts to utilize Federal, State and Local Governmental
Incentives for promoting economic development in Wood River and recruit and retain
job/business opportunities. Continue strong relationships with Local and State
Agencies such as the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
Goal 3: Community Development. Community development practices should strive to
both stabilize and improve the local Wood River economy and quality of life.
Proper renovation, adaptive reuse and additions of existing buildings, as well as new
construction activities should be components of locally available incentives to attract
residents, businesses and industries. The City of Wood River is encouraged to
develop and utilize a Capital Improvements/Funding Plan to identify funding
for specific Community development projects.
Action Step 1: Encourage local reinvestment in Wood River by both the public and
private sectors. Provide infrastructure and needed amenities to support future
growth of commercial, industrial and residential areas. Remove dilapidated buildings
and promote building rehabilitation on structures that are considered cost-effective
for such activity.
Action Step 2: Include a building repair and modification program for
deteriorating structures, including commercial buildings with upper-story housing
and homes adjacent Downtown Wood River.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 57 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.16
Action Step 3: Consider designating
Downtown Wood River as a “Historic
District” to allow for the rehabilitation and
preservation of buildings with historic
significance. A potential activity is the
Nebraska Department of Economic
Development’s “Downtown Revitalization
Project-Phase I” program, which would
highlight necessary improvements to
buildings, streets, infrastructure and
pedestrian safety in Downtown Wood River.
Action Step 4: Utilize all available public programs of financing in funding
development and redevelopment programs. These programs include, but are not
limited to HOME Funds, Community Development Block Grants, SAFETEA-LU
(Transportation Enhancement Act), Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund,
Federal and State Historic Preservation Tax Credits and locally based Tax Increment
Financing.
Action Step 5: Provide public improvements to older residential neighborhoods,
as well as Downtown Wood River, in need of street and sidewalk resurfacing,
landscaping and street trees. Downtown facade improvements, a public
gathering/festival square and additional public parking are needed to support the
development of additional specialty retail businesses.
Action Step 6: Enhance the potential of Community agency connections,
including the WRAEHDC, Central Nebraska Community Services, South Central
Economic Development District, State and City Government, Nebraska Municipal
Power Pool’s MEAN Program and other existing organizations or special committees
for technical and financial assistance for securing new community and economic
development activities. Utilize Local, State and Federal funding sources to
strengthen existing and assist in the creation of new business/industry.
Action Step 7: Promote Community sustainability and quality of life in Wood
River as being a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. Continuing a
“sense of community” image in Wood River, through the local public education
system and close-knit neighborhoods is important to the long-term viability of the
Community. Participants of a Community Needs Assessment Survey
identified “small town atmosphere” as the main reason for moving to Wood
River.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 58 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.17
Goal 4: Community Redevelopment Planning and Implementation. Focus on
improving structures, utility mains and public facilities throughout Wood River. Utilize
various funding local, State and Federal funding sources to achieve various
redevelopment goals in Wood River.
Action Step 1: Utilize TIF in the designated Redevelopment Area as a method of
funding structural rehabilitation activities for commercial buildings. Improvements
could include, but not be limited to, structurally securing Downtown buildings, façade
improvements, public parking improvements, and Gateway Entry improvements
along the Highway 30 Corridor. A Redevelopment area is designated in the
southwest portions of the Community, including Downtown and the Great
Plains ethanol plant.
Action Step 2: Wood River will need to consider the use of TIF for Community
development activities involving the improvement of public utilities, facilities, public
utilities, streets, sidewalks and trails.
Action Step 3: Wood River should consider the creation of a Community
Redevelopment Authority, as a stand-alone organization, to arrange and manage a
variety of funding sources and development/redevelopment activities, along with the
implementation of improvements within the City’s current Redevelopment Area, as
well as the proposed Redevelopment Area #2, identified in Section 4.
Goal 1: Public Facilities & Utilities. Maintain and improve the existing public
facilities and utilities in Wood River. Develop, as needed, new facilities and services
to reflect the Community's needs and demands during the 10- and 20-year planning
periods. Provide modern water and sewage treatment mains, public utility facilities,
flood control and similar environmental control processes.
Action Step 1: Upgrade and expand public services to keep pace with
population changes and associated commercial, industrial and residential
developments. Provide public services in an efficient and economic manner in order
to protect and enhance the safety and welfare of Wood River residents. Provide
modern sewage treatment facilities, refuse collection and disposal, street cleaning,
flood control and similar environmental control processes.
PUBLIC FACILITIES/UTILITIES, ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 59 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.18
Action Step 2: Provide adequate law
enforcement, fire and ambulance
protection/ services, with increased
emphasis on community relations, as well as
adequate civil defense and emergency services.
Ensure that facilities necessary to support
such services are available throughout the
Community. Promote the coordination of these
services among the various governmental and
quasi-governmental entities. EMT and Fire
Department services were rated as
“excellent” to “good” in their provision of
services by participants of both, the
Community Needs Assessment Survey
and the Elderly Continuum of Care for
Elderly Persons Household Survey.
Action Step 3: The City of Wood River should continue efforts towards the development
of a new Aquatic Center.
Action Step 4: Maintain an adequate supply of potable water and an expanded
distribution system suitable for both present and future consumption and fire
protection in Wood River. Continue to maintain the water distribution system to supply
a sufficient quantity and quality of water for residents.
Action Step 5: Continue efforts to upgrade and expand segments of the Wood
River municipal sanitary sewer collection system within the 10- and 20-year
planning periods. While segments of the original sanitary sewer system are aging and
will likely need replaced during the next 10 years, the majority is adequately sized and in
good condition.
Goal 2: Energy. Access available programs and funding sources to reduce energy
consumptions and promote the use of alternative energy systems in Wood River.
Action Step 1: Promote the use of alternate energy systems in Wood River,
available through the provisions of Nebraska Net Metering, State Statutes §70-2001.
A variety of wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and methane energy sources are
available in association with “green building” methods to significantly reduce energy
costs for heating and cooling.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 60 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.19
Net Metering is also encouraged to be supplemented with “green building”
techniques to enhance energy efficiency by all sectors of the City of Wood River. Tax
Increment Financing, in combination with low-interest or no-interest loans
through programs available from the United States Department of Agriculture and
public power utility districts, can greatly reduce the cost of implementing these
alternative energy systems.
Action Step 2: Assist public and private property owners in Wood River to access
available funding sources through utility districts such as Nebraska Municipal Power
Pool, MEAN and the Nebraska Energy Office for modern heating, cooling and lighting
systems to reduce consumption rates by commercial, industrial, residential and
public/quasi-public building owners.
Action Step 3: Strive to establish a pilot project in Wood River that utilizes
alternative energy systems to provide electric energy to multiple stores within a strip
mall setting or within Downtown Wood River at a reduced rate or “no cost.” This
would reduce overhead costs and achieve profitability.
Goal 3: Transportation. Provide an efficient transportation system throughout
Wood River for the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services.
Action Step 1: Continue to annually update the coordinated One- and Six-Year
Roads Plan for maintenance and improvement of existing and future streets, roads,
and highways in the Community. This includes paving, curbs, gutters, street lighting
and curb cuts, all in an effort to reduce excessive travel delays.
Action Step 2: Maintain design standards and policies for various classes of streets,
roads and highways to enhance the function and safety of the street system in Wood
River.
Action Step 3: Coordinate the Wood River Land Use Plan and the One- and Six-
Year Roads Plan to prepare the City for future growth and development. Emphasis
should be given to seeking cost effective methods to reduce/calm traffic along the
Highway 30 and 11 Corridors.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 61 / 151
Section 2 Community Planning Goals & Action Steps.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 2.20
Action Step 4: Seek funding sources to
implement “Quiet Zones” along the Union
Pacific Railroad Corridor through the
Community. Once implemented, this effort
would greatly improve the quality of life of
residents of neighborhoods located along
the Railroad Corridor, as well as
throughout Downtown Wood River.
Action Step 5: New residential,
commercial and industrial developments in
Wood River should have appropriate and
adequate streets, curbs, gutters and
sidewalks.
Action Step 6: Plan and Implement a
“Safe Routes to School” initiative in
Wood River. Create a collaborative
partnership including, but not limited to,
educators, parents, students, community
leaders and administrators to encourage
school-age children to walk or bike to school
through the construction of bike lanes and
pedestrian walkways. Consider addressing
the need for sidewalks and hiking and
biking trails that connect Wood River to a
County-wide network of trails. This
includes improved connectivity and
transportation between the northern and
southern portions of the Community. The
Wood River Comprehensive
Development Plan/Housing Task Force
expressed interest in conducting a
traffic study for the intersection of
Highway 11 and Wood River Road.
Participants of the Wood River
Planning “Listening Sessions”
identified a need for improved routes
to both the Elementary and
Junior/Senior High School.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 62 / 151
POPULATION, INCOME &
ECONOMIC PROFILE.
SECTION 3
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 63 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.1
Population, income and economic trends in the City of Wood River and the respective
Planning Jurisdiction serve as valuable indicators of future development needs and
patterns for the Community by providing a basis for the realistic projection of the future
population. The population trends and projections for the years 2000 through 2035 were
studied and forecasted for Wood River, utilizing a process of both trend analysis and
popular consent.
Wood River is projected to increase in population during the next 10 and 20 years, due to
employment opportunities and the Community’s proximity to the City of Grand Island
and the Interstate 80 Corridor. To maintain a stable population base, the City will need
to develop existing land within the Corporate Limits, while developing suitable land
adjacent the City for future annexation. This population goal would also require the
creation of additional housing stock and related public features and utilities for the City.
A Community Housing Study was conducted for the City of Wood River, Nebraska in
May, 2015, that highlighted population, income, economic and housing trends and
projections, as well as determined a 10-year housing target demand for Wood River. The
Study also identified important housing development projects of various styles and
serving several different income levels in the Community.
The Housing Study identifies a target demand for up to 76 new housing units by 2025.
The Study provides a “10-Year Housing Action Plan” for completing housing projects
deemed most needed by the local citizens of Wood River.
The most critical housing issues in Wood River are to promote the development
of housing for the local workforce population affordable to all income levels.
Other priority housing needs in Wood River include providing opportunities for the
elderly, first time homebuyers and middle-income persons and families, including new
housing units of various types and styles, having three+-bedrooms. Future population
and household growth in Wood River will be driven by new and expanded economic
development and public service activities, not only in Wood River but in southwestern
Hall County.
SECTION 3
POPULATION, INCOME & ECONOMIC PROFILE.
INTRODUCTION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 64 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.2
The analysis and projection of population are at the center of all planning decisions. This
process assists in the understanding of important changes which have and will occur
throughout the 10- and 20-year planning periods.
Estimating population size is critical to a community planning process. Further, projecting
the population of a community is extremely complex. Because projections are based upon
various assumptions about the future, projections must be carefully analyzed and continually
reevaluated, due to the changing economic and social structure of a community.
POPULATION
Table 3.1 identifies population trends and projections for the City of
Wood River, Nebraska. The current (2015) estimated population for
Wood River is 1,373. The “medium” population projection for Wood
River is projected to increase by 96, or seven percent, to 1,469 by 2025, and
by 178, or 13 percent, to 1,551 by 2035. The City of Wood River has the
potential to experience a “high” population increase of 133, or 9.7
percent to 1,506 by 2025, through an increase in housing
development activities.
TABLE 3.1
POPULATION TRENDS & PROJECTIONS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2000-2035
Total Annual
Year Population Change Percent Change Percent
2000 1,204 -- -- -- --
2010 1,325 +121 +10.0% +12.1 +1.0%
2015 1,373 +48 +3.6% +12.0 +0.9%
Low 2025 1,428 +55 +4.0% +5.5 +0.4%
Medium 2025 1,469 +96 +7.0% +9.6 +0.7%
High 2025 1,506 +133 +9.7% +13.3 +1.0%
Low 2035 1,479 +106 +7.7% +5.3 +0.4%
Medium 2035 1,551 +178 +13.0% +8.9 +0.6%
High 2035 1,623 +250 +18.2% +12.5 +0.9%
NOTE: 2014 Census Population Estimate, City of Wood River: 1,369.
Source: 2000, 2010 Census.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
GENERAL POPULATION TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 65 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.3
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Table 3.2 identifies race and Hispanic origin for the City of Wood
River, Nebraska. Persons of Hispanic origin comprised an estimated
12.4 percent, or 150 of the total 1,204 persons living in Wood River in
2000. The Hispanic population increased from 2000 to 2010 and
comprised an estimated 17.7 percent of the Wood River population, or
234 of the total 1,325 residents. This trend is likely to continue due to
several employment opportunities in the Community, as well as the
nearby Cities of Grand Island and Kearney.
TABLE3.2
RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2000 & 2010
2000 2010
Race Number % of Total Number % of Total
White 1,160 96.3% 1,183 89.3%
Black 3 0.3% 0 0.0%
Native American 1 0.1% 1 0.1%
Asian 1 0.1% 2 0.2%
Other 39 3.2% 139 10.5%
Totals 1,204 100.0% 1,325 100.0%
Hispanic Origin 150 12.4% 234 17.7%
Source: 2000, 2010 Census.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
AGE DISTRIBUTION
For planning purposes, the various cohorts of population are important
indicators of the special needs of a community. The cohorts of age, sex
and family structure can assist in determining potential labor force
and the need for housing, public facilities and other important local
services.
An analysis of age characteristics can be used to identify the potential
need for public school, recreational areas and short- and long-term
health care facilities.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 66 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.4
Table 3.3 provides age distribution for the City of Wood River, from
2000 to 2035. The “19 and under” age group experienced the largest
increase in population from 2000 to 2010, increasing by 58, or from 349
to 407. This age group is projected to experience the largest increase
in population by 2035, 486 persons, or 31.3 percent. City officials
must be cognizant of this increase in the young, “school age”
population of Wood River by providing youth-based activities
and supporting the development of new or expansion of
existing public facilities, including schools.
The Wood River population groups representing 55+ years of
age are projected to increase by 2035. This includes elderly
and frail elderly populations. The “20-34” and “35-54” age
groups are also projected to experience a population increase
by 2035, primarily due to expanding employment
opportunities, both in Wood River and in surrounding
Communities.
The current median age in Wood River is an estimated 37.4 years, a
slight decrease from the 2010 median age of 37.5. The trend of a
decreasing median age is projected to continue through 2035,
decreasing to 36.7 years.
TABLE 3.3
POPULATION AGE DISTRIBUTION
TRENDS & PROJECTIONS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2000-2035
2015-2025
Age Group 2000 2010 Change 2015 2025 2035 Change
19 and Under 349 407 +58 431 462 486 +55
20-34 201 219 +18 227 239 246 +19
35-54 300 337 +37 348 378 397 +49
55-64 116 115 -1 118 122 129 +11
65-74 96 113 +17 116 125 136 +20
75-84 78 77 -1 78 81 88 +10
85+ 64 57 -7 55 62 69 +14
Totals 1,204 1,325 +121 1,373 1,469 1,551 +178
Median Age 37.6 37.5 -0.1 37.4 37.1 36.7 -0.7
Source: 2000, 2010 Census.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 67 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.5
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
Table 3.4 identifies specific household characteristics of the City of
Wood River, from 2000 to 2035. An increase in the number of households
was recorded in Wood River from 2000 to 2010. Households increased from
456 in 2000 to 478 in 2010; an increase of 22 households. Currently, Wood
River consists of an estimated 489 households, including 364 owner and
125 renter households.
An estimated 511 households are projected to exist in Wood River
by 2025. This will equal an estimated 380 owner and 131 renter
households. By 2035, an estimated 391 owner and 136 renter
households are projected to reside in the Community.
Currently (2015), an estimated 62 persons reside in group quarters. By
2025 and 2035, an estimated 69 and 75 persons, respectively, will receive
services in a group quarter facility. Group quarters consist of dormitories,
correctional facilities and nursing/care centers and are not considered a
household.
The current number of persons per household in Wood River is
approximately 2.68 and is projected to increase to 2.74 by 2025, and 2.8 by
2035. The increase in persons per households is likely attributed to larger
families with children in the Community.
TABLE 3.4
SPECIFIC HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2000-2035
Year
Population
Group
Quarters
Persons in
Households
Households
Persons Per
Household
2000 1,204 58 1,146 456 2.51
2010 1,325 60 1,265 478 2.65
2015 1,373 62 1,311 489 2.68
2025 1,469 69 1,400 511 2.74
2035 1,551 75 1,476 527 2.80
Source: 2000, 2010 Census.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 68 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.6
HOUSEHOLD INCOME GROUPS
Table 3.5, page 3.7, identifies household income trends and
projections for Wood River, Nebraska, from 2000 to 2035. Household
incomes in Wood River have increased in recent years and are projected to
continue this trend through 2025 and 2035. From 2000 to 2012, median
income in Wood River increased from $36,874 to $46,876, or 27.1 percent.
The median income is projected to increase from the current
estimated amount of $51,503, to $72,874 by 2035, an increase of 41.2
percent.
The number of households in Wood River having an annual income at or
above $35,000 is expected to increase during the next 10 years. Households
having incomes between $35,000 and $49,999 are projected to experience
the greatest increase.
Incomes in Wood River, for households age 65+ years have also increased in
recent years, from $25,869 in 2000 to $29,837 in 2012. Elderly household
incomes, currently estimated at $31,802, are projected to increase by 2035,
to $40,191, an increase of 26.3 percent.
PER-CAPITA INCOME
Table 3.6, page 3.8, identifies per capita income trends & projections
in Hall County and the State of Nebraska, from 2002 to 2035. Current per
capita income in Hall County is an estimated $40,048. By 2025, per capita
income in the County is projected to increase by an estimated 28.2 percent to
$51,350. An additional 20.7 percent change is projected for Hall County by
2035, representing a per capita income of $61,970.
INCOME TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 69 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.7
TABLE 3.5
HOUSEHOLD INCOME BY AGE GROUP*
TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2000-2035
Income Group
2000*
2012 Est.*
2015
2025
2035
% Change
2015-2035
All Households
Less than $10,000 45 18 15 10 8 -46.6%
$10,000-$19,999 70 65 63 58 51 -19.0%
$20,000-$34,999 99 77 74 69 64 -13.5%
$35,000-$49,999 108 63 88 97 109 +23.8%
$50,000 or More 133 207 246 277 295 +19.9%
Totals 455 430 489 511 527 +7.8%
Median Income $36,874 $46,786 $51,503 $63,068 $72,874 +41.2%
Households 65+ Yrs.
Less than $10,000 26 3 3 2 1 -66.7%
$10,000-$19,999 29 32 33 35 35 +6.0%
$20,000-$34,999 23 34 37 40 44 +18.9%
$35,000-$49,999 23 19 19 24 33 +73.7%
$50,000 or More 27 13 27 31 36 +33.3%
Totals 128 101 119 132 149 +25.2%
Median Income $25,869 $29,837 $31,802 $35,172 $40,191 +26.3%
* Specified Data Used. 2012 Estimate subject to margin of error.
Source: 2000 Census, 2008-2012 American Community Survey Estimate.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 70 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.8
TABLE 3.6
PER CAPITA INCOME
HALL COUNTY, NEBRASKA / STATE OF NEBRASKA
2002-2035
Hall County State of Nebraska
Year
Per Capita
Income
Percent
Change
Per Capita
Income
Percent
Change
2002 $29,115 -- $28,598 --
2003 $30,457 +4.6% $29,902 +4.6%
2004 $30,575 +0.4% $30,314 +1.4%
2005 $31,577 +3.3% $32,126 +6.0%
2006 $33,177 +5.1% $33,265 +3.5%
2007 $35,538 +6.5% $34,318 +3.2%
2008 $36,617 +2.1% $35,679 +4.0%
2009 $35,869 -2.0% $38,177 +7.0%
2010 $35,312 -1.6% $40,163 +5.2%
2011 $37,324 +5.6% $39,332 -2.1%
2015 $40,048 +7.3% $41,282 +5.0%
2002-2015 $29,115-$40,048 +37.6% $28,598-$41,282 +44.3%
2015-2025 $40,048-$51,350 +28.2% $41,282-$52,087 +26.2%
2025-2035 $51,350-$61,970 +20.7% $52,087-$62,365 +19.7%
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Information System, 2015.
Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 2015.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 71 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.9
COST BURDENED HOUSEHOLDS
Tables 3.7 and 3.8, Page 3.10, identify households with housing
problems/cost burdened in the City of Wood River, from 2000 through
2035. Cost burdened households are households that spend 30 percent or
more of their income on housing costs. Housing costs include any cost
directly attributable to the cost of living and may include rent, mortgage,
insurance, taxes and utilities. Housing problems may include a lack of
plumbing facilities or overcrowded housing conditions. Overcrowded
housing conditions exist when more than 1.01 person per room exist in a
housing unit.
An estimated 72 owner and 52 renter households in Wood River are
currently cost burdened and/or have housing problems.
Households experiencing cost burden and/or housing problems are
projected to decrease by 2035, when an estimated 41 owner and 33
renter cost burden households are projected to exist in Wood River.
Substandard Housing, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, considers housing units that are experiencing
overcrowded conditions (1.01+ persons per room) or homes without complete
plumbing. The 2008-2012 American Community Survey found 15
homes in Wood River lacking complete plumbing, while 24 homes
are experiencing overcrowded conditions.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 72 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.10
TABLE 3.7
ESTIMATED OWNER HOUSEHOLDS BY INCOME
COST BURDENED WITH HOUSING PROBLEMS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2000-2035
2000* 2010* 2015 2025 2035
Income Range # / #CB-HP # / #CB-HP # / #CB-HP # / #CB-HP # / #CB-HP
0%-30% AMI 32 / 28 20 / 20 11 / 11 6 / 6 4 / 4
31%-50% AMI 44 / 24 50 / 10 48 / 9 43 / 7 39 / 5
51%-80% AMI 72 / 38 60 / 20 62 / 15 66 / 10 71 / 9
81%+ AMI 237 / 16 240 / 40 243 / 37 265 / 30 277 / 23
Totals 385 / 106 365 / 90 364 / 72 380 / 53 391 / 41
# = Total Households #CB-HP = Households with Cost Burden – Housing Problems
*Specified Data Used.
Source: 2000 CHAS Data.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
TABLE 3.8
ESTIMATED RENTER HOUSEHOLDS BY INCOME
COST BURDENED WITH HOUSING PROBLEMS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2000-2035
2000* 2010* 2015 2025 2035
Income Range # / #CB-HP # / #CB-HP # / #CB-HP # / #CB-HP # / #CB-HP
0%-30% AMI 28 / 24 25 / 20 23 / 18 19 / 15 17 / 12
31%-50% AMI 26 / 18 25 / 20 22 / 17 20 / 13 19 / 10
51%-80% AMI 38 / 12 30 / 20 38 / 17 39 / 14 43 / 11
81%+ AMI 42 / 4 10 / 0 42 / 0 45 / 0 57 / 0
Totals 134 / 58 90 / 60 125 / 52 123 / 42 136 / 33
# = Total Households #CB-HP = Households with Cost Burden – Housing Problems
*Specified Data Used.
Source: 2000 CHAS Data.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 73 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.11
The most recent and comprehensive employment data available for Wood River and Hall
County was obtained from the Nebraska Department of Labor. Since some of these
figures are only available County-Wide, a review and analysis of Hall County labor force
statistics is also included to provide a general understanding of the economic activity
occurring in and around the City of Wood River.
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
Table 3.9, Page 3.12, identifies employment trends and projections in
Hall County, Nebraska, from 2002 to 2035. The unemployment rate in Hall
County ranged from 2.7 percent to 4.5 percent, between 2002 and 2013.
During this time, the number of employed persons increased by 4,534 in the
County. Currently, an estimated 33,346 employed persons exist in Hall
County with an estimated unemployment rate of 3.5 percent. By 2035, the
number of employed persons is projected to increase by 2,377, or 7.1
percent, to 35,723.
WORKFORCE EMPLOYMENT BY TYPE
Table 3.10, page 3.13, identifies workforce employment by type in
Hall County, Nebraska, from 2012 to 2014. Overall, non-farm employment
(wage and salary) in Hall County increased by 9 percent, between 2010 and
2012. The largest increase occurred in the Education & Health, and
Transportation/Warehouse/Utilities sector, while the largest decrease
occurred in the Information sector.
Wood River is a steadily growing Community with sustainable
employment opportunities in south central Nebraska. Economic
advantages include the Community’s location near the Interstate
80 Corridor and within the Grand Island Metropolitan Statistical
Area. The major employers in the City of Wood River include Great
Plains Ethanol and the Wood River Rural School District.
Overall, the economic outlook for Wood River is “excellent” for the 10- and
20-year planning periods. Economic opportunities exist, primarily due to
potential population increases in Wood River, and large employers
interested in expanding their employment opportunities. Additional
commercial and industrial business, as well as the expansion of existing
businesses in the Wood River area and the provision of vacant land for
these economic growth activities should be pursued if the Community
desires more commerce. Existing locally-based business, including
agricultural-related industries, will ensure Wood River has a stable
economic base and a bright future for increased economic development.
EMPLOYMENT/ECONOMIC TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 74 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.12
TABLE 3.9
EMPLOYMENT DATA TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS
HALL COUNTY, NEBRASKA
2002-2035
Year
Number of
Employed Persons
Change
Percent
Unemployment
2002 27,837 -- 4.0%
2003 28,296 +459 4.4%
2004 28,711 +415 4.9%
2005 28,962 +251 3.9%
2006 29,528 +565 3.1%
2007 30,195 +667 2.7%
2008 30,929 +734 3.1%
2009 30,374 -555 4.3%
2010 30,513 +139 4.5%
2011 31,756 +1,243 3.3%
2012 31,588 -168 3.8%
2013 32,371 +783 3.0%
2015 33,346 -25 3.5%
2025 34,677 +1,331 3.4%
2035 35,723 +1,046 3.2%
2002-2035 27,837-35,723 +7,886 4.0%-3.2%
Source: Nebraska Department of Labor, Labor Market Information, 2015.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 75 / 151
Section 3 Population, Income & Economic Profile.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 3.13
TABLE 3.10
WORKFORCE EMPLOYMENT BY TYPE
HALL COUNTY, NEBRASKA
2012-2014
Workforce
2012
2013
2014
% Change
2012-2014
Non-Farm Employment
(Wage & Salary)
33,488 35,029 36,519 +9.0%
Goods-Producing 8,497 8,740 9,263 +9.0%
Manufacturing * * * *
Nat. Res. & Const.** 1,576 1,375 1,807 +14.6%
Service-Providing 24,991 26,289 27,256 +9.1%
Trade, Trans, Ware, Util*** 7,959 8,478 8,198 +3.0%
Total Trade 6,595 6,583 6,612 +0.2%
Wholesale Trade 1,604 1,568 1,580 -1.5%
Retail Trade 4,991 5,015 5,032 +0.8%
Trans, Ware, Util 1,364 1,895 1,586 +16.3%
Information 347 283 261 -24.8%
Financial Activities 1,501 1,491 1,754 +16.8%
Professional & Business 2,755 2,752 2,791 +1.3%
Education & Health 3,508 4,140 4,765 +35.8%
Leisure & Hospitality 2,817 3,041 3,247 +15.3%
Other Services 1,139 1,163 1,194 +4.8%
Total Government 4,963 4,941 5,046 +1.7%
Federal 655 637 676 +3.2%
State 760 748 776 +2.1%
Local 3,548 3,556 3,594 +1.3%
N/A = Not Available.
*Data not available due to disclosure suppression.
**Natural Resources & Construction.
*** Trade, Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities.
Source: Nebraska Department of Labor, Labor Market Information, 2015.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 76 / 151
LAND USE, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT.
SECTION 4
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 77 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.1
The Land Use, Growth and Development section of this
Comprehensive Development Plan identifies the current
and future land use development patterns and needs in
Wood River, Nebraska. The land use component examines
development opportunities, requirements and future
utilization of land in and throughout the One-Mile
Planning Jurisdiction the City. A discussion of the
environmental and physical characteristics of Wood
River precedes the land use discussion.
Proper land use practices can protect the natural resources
of a community and be a compliment to the built
environment. The natural environment of the Community
provides both opportunities and constraints for existing and
future developments. As humans strive to create a
sustainable living environment, they must work and live in
harmony with their natural surroundings. This can occur
by designing with nature, conserving unique features,
protecting watersheds and using sensitive development
practices.
In Wood River, the major development constraints are
associated with the soil conditions and associated
floodplains of the Wood and Platte River and their
tributaries. The Union Pacific Railroad and Highway 30
Corridors also present man-made constraints that limit
growth opportunities to the south.
SECTION 4
LAND USE, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT.
INTRODUCTION.
PROPER LAND USE PRACTICES.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 78 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.2
IDENTIFICATION OF FUTURE GROWTH AREAS
The proposed land use plan concentrates on the use of land
in Wood River and the Community’s respective One-Mile
Planning Jurisdiction during the 10 and 20-year planning
periods. Special attention is given to the identification of
future residential, public/quasi-public, parks and
recreational, commercial and industrial growth areas. The
identification of land uses within undeveloped areas of the
Corporate Limits and beyond into the Planning Jurisdiction
is imperative to support growth and development
opportunities over the next 10 years, with a long-term vision
for the next 20 years, through 2035.
LOCATION
The City of Wood River is located in the southwest portion of
Hall County, at the junction of Highways 11 and 30. The
Highway 30 and Union Pacific Railroad Corridors bisect the
City from east to west, with the majority of industrial land
uses located adjacent the Railroad Corridor.
Downtown Wood River, Ninth Street looking east. All photos courtesy of the
Nebraska State Historical Society.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 79 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.3
Wood River is located approximately four miles north of
Interstate 80 and approximately 11 miles west of the City of
Grand Island. These transportation networks provide
reliable access to area communities as well as to major
metropolitan cities including, Lincoln, Omaha, Denver and
Kansas City. This geographic setting directly links Wood
River with trading centers in the Midwest and points
beyond.
Initial settlement of Wood River began in the early 1860s
with several families starting farmsteads in the area. The
first development site of Wood River was approximately
two and one-half miles west of the present Community.
Other than a depot and general store, the town did not
flourish. In 1874, the current site of Wood River was
platted by representatives of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Settlement quickly occurred with buildings from the prior
site being moved to the new town. A post office and School
were established in in the fall of 1874.
The new Town, in a span of 19 years, would grow to a
Community of 481 people, as per the 1890 Census. Rapid
growth continued over the next 10 years, as the 1900
Census estimated 589 persons resided in Wood River.
Throughout the next two decades, population growth
leveled off and declined after reaching its peak in 1920 of
829 people. Population trends highlighted in Table 4.1
indicate that the City declined in population through the
late 1920s falling back to a population of 751 people in 1930.
In spite of many other cities across the nation declined in
population during the Great Depression, the population of
Wood River increased by 78 people between 1930 and 1940
reaching a new peak of 829 persons as of 1940. With the
exception of the 1960 Census, the Community grew with
each decennial census through 1980, experiencing a large
increase in population of 319 additional people between
1960 and 1970, when the City reached a total of 1,147
people, a 38.5 percent increase. The following decade would
have Wood River increase again by 187 people, reaching the
Town’s historic peak population of 1,334. The 2010 Census
revealed that Wood River was nine persons short of
exceeding the 1980 historic peak population by reaching a
total of 1,325 residents.
TABLE 4.1
HISTORY OF POPULATION
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
1900-2010
PERSONS
+/- & PERCENT
CHANGE
1890 481
1900 589 +108 / +22.5%
1910 796 +207 / +35.1%
1920 820 +24 / +3.0%
1930 751 -69 / -8.4%
1940 829 +78 / +10.4%
1950 858 +29/ +3.5%
1960 828 -30 / -3.5%
1970 1,147 +319 / +38.5%
1980 1,334 +187 / +16.3%
1990 1,156 -178 / -13.3%
2000 1,204 +48 / +4.2%
2010 1,325 +121 / +10.1%
Source: U.S. Census;
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 80 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.4
Results of the Citizen Participation Process for the
Comprehensive Development Plan revealed that the
lack of houses to purchase or rent in Wood River has
hindered growth. The lack of available housing in all
income levels has forced families to seek housing in Grand
Island, Kearney and other surrounding communities. The
challenge for the next 10- and 20 years is for the City of
Wood River to expand opportunities to develop new
residential subdivisions.
SOIL ASSOCIATIONS
The soils in and around Wood River are classified into three
individual groups, or associations, each with a broad range
of characteristics. Illustration 4.1 graphically displays the
General Soil Associations for the City of Wood River and
the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction. The U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
conducted the soil survey and developed the boundaries of
the soil types found on Illustration 4.1.
The three Soil Associations depicted in Illustration 4.1 are
the “Hall- Silt Loam Friable Subsoil Phase, the “Hall – Very
Fine Sandy Loam” and the “Hall Fine Sandy Loam”
Associations. The majority of the lands throughout the City
of Wood River Planning Jurisdiction are associated with the
Wood River environs.
The City is situated along the southern terraces of the Wood
River, which have historically afforded the Community
access to drinking water and suitable land for development
purposes. The Community’s most recent water well is
located five miles south of the City within the Platte River
watershed.
The Hall series of soils include dark colored soils which are
commonly heavier and stiffer in the subsoil than in the
surface layer. The Hall soils are “developed on alluvial
terraces which lie above stream overflow levels. The
topography varies from nearly level to undulating, but in
general the drainage is sufficiently good for farming.”
Major
Existing
Land Use
Issues
The Total Area
included within the
Corporate Limits of
Wood River in 2015
is approximately 585
acres, which equates
to 42.6 Acres Per
100 Persons. After
applying National
Planning Standards,
Wood River has
104.5 more acres of
land than the typical
City of its size.
The Land Use
Categories with
excess acreage are
Industrial and
Vacant properties.
Based upon the land
use development
pattern of the City,
Wood River will
need an additional
44 acres of
Residential acreage
to meet the
recommended
National Standards
for housing.
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 81 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.5
*Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383*
ILLUSTRATION 4.1
GENERAL SOIL ASSOCIATIONS MAP
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2015
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 82 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.6
HALL – SILT LOAM – FRIABLE SUBSOIL PHASE ASSOCIATION.
This Association is concentrated in the northwestern and central portions of the One-Mile
Planning Jurisdiction, including the majority of the incorporated areas of the City of Wood
River. Lands included in the Association are comprised of the bottom land and upper
stream terraces of the Big Blue River. Soils in this Association are described as, “Deep,
nearly level and very gently sloping, moderately well drained and somewhat poorly
drained, silty soils that formed in loess; on uplands.” Soil blowing is a hazard in cultivated
areas. Measures that control runoff are the main management needs on the very gently
sloping soils.
Soil conditions in this Association are moderately limited in areas where drainage ways
have sculpted the river terraces. Septic tanks and leach fields have severe limitations due
to wetness and slow percolation, while seepage and the depth to the ground water table
cause moderate to severe limitations for sewage lagoons. Dwellings with basements are
slightly to moderately limited due to the potential of flooding.
HALL – VERY FINE SANDY LOAM ASSOCIATION.
The Hall Very Fine Sandy Loam Association is concentrated in the central portion of the
One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction, specifically in two separate regions to the north and south
of the City of Wood River. Soils throughout the region are described as, “The surface is
nearly level or only slightly undulating, but the type is slightly higher and better drained
than other Hall Soils.” Nearly all lands of this association are farmed and the soil is
regarded as one of the more valuable soils of the County for agricultural production.
Soils in this Hall Very Fine Sandy Loam Association are moderately limited for lagoons
and septic tank absorption fields due to slow permeability and the shallow depth to the
ground water table. Dwellings with basements are moderately limited due to shrink-swell
potential of the soils.
HALL FINE SANDY LOAM ASSOCIATION.
The Hall Very Fine Sandy Loam Association is concentrated in the south central portion of
the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction, specifically including lands to the south of the
Interstate 80 Corridor that extend into the environs of the Platte River bottom lands.
Gently sloping lands comprise this region. The Associations is characterized as, “the
surface of this soil is nearly level or slightly undulating.” The association lands are used
mainly for cash grain or for pasture and hay.
The steepest areas of the Planning Jurisdiction are included in this Association, resulting
in severe limitations for dwellings with basements. Moderate to severe limitations exist
for sewage lagoons and septic tanks from steep slopes, slow percolation and seepage.
Topographic limitations also have resulted in agricultural practices being focused on
utilizing these lands for pasture, with only a few areas being cultivated.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 83 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.7
WATERSHEDS
The topography and terrain of the City of Wood River and its Planning Jurisdiction are
fairly level. The natural landscape has been formed by wind and water erosion and
deposits, creating areas of upland terraces bisected by gently sloping drainage ways. The
natural topography of the City is nearly level to gently sloping to the north/northeast
towards the Wood River. Storm water flows through the Community on the north side of
the Highway 30 Corridor, gradually along street surfaces to the drainage way one-half
block south of Green Street and continues east out the of the City to drainage ditches and
eventually to the Wood River. The portion of the City located south of the Union Pacific
Corridor has storm water generally flowing to the east along street surfaces entering the
drainage ditches and flowing east/southeast eventually entering the Platte River environs.
Groundwater and groundwater-fed surface streams account for a large percentage of the
water resources in the Wood River Planning Jurisdiction. The underground water supply
for the City is part of the Platte River Valley Watershed. The City of Wood River relies
upon the groundwater reserves and surface water run-off to recharge the underground
water supply of the municipal wells. A description of the municipal water system is
provided in Section 5 of this Comprehensive Development Plan.
The underground water supply is vital to the region and is the source of water for
numerous rural private drinking and irrigation wells. Any endangerment to the supply
threatens public health, as well as the local farm economy. This natural resource must be
protected. Securing the quality of drinking water from private wells in the rural areas
within the Wood River One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction is very important.
A minimum lot size of three acres is utilized in the current “AG-Agriculture” Zoning
District for residences in the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction. This standard generally
ensures, adjacent households do not contaminate one another’s drinking water.
WELLHEAD PROTECTION PROGRAM
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) regulates ground water
quality and quantity. To assist local municipalities with protecting their municipal
drinking water supply, the NDEQ has developed the Nebraska Wellhead Protection
(WHP) Program. The voluntary program intends to prevent the contamination of
ground water.
The WHP Program provides the following in accordance with the federal laws: 1) duties
of the governmental entities and utility districts, 2) determines protection area, 3) identify
contamination sources, 4) develop a contaminant source management program, 5) develop
an alternate drinking water plan, 6) review contaminated sources in future wellhead
areas, and 7) involve the public.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 84 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.8
The purpose of Nebraska’s Wellhead Protection Program are to prevent the location of
new contaminant sources in wellhead protection areas through planning, minimize the hazard
of existing sources through management, and provide early warning of existing contamination
through ground water monitoring. The Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA), adopted by the
Wood River City Council in 2011, includes the entire incorporated area of the City in addition
to the central portion of the Wood River One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction, see Illustration 4.1.
CLIMATE
The climate of the Wood River area is continental and characterized by widely ranging
seasonal temperatures and rapidly changing weather patterns. The temperature ranges from
an average daily minimum of 12.4°F in January and maximum of 87.9°F in July. The total
annual precipitation is 25.9 inches, while the average annual snowfall is 32.5 inches.
The built environment of Wood River is characterized by various unique landmarks. The
combination of these physical features creates a sense of place for the citizens and patrons of
Wood River. The natural terrain enhances the built environment by providing an aesthetic
base for development. The neighborhoods are defined by edges or boundaries. The major
transportation corridors and the physical barriers of the terrain generally create the edge of
each district, giving the neighborhoods distinct boundaries.
Downtown Wood River is planned to remain the primary focus of specialty shops and
professional offices. The majority of the future “automotive orientated” commercial uses are
recommended along the Highway 30 Corridor.
Future industrial uses are planned to remain in their current locations adjacent the Highway
30 and Union Pacific Railroad Corridors. Growth areas planned for future industrial uses
within the Corporate Limits includes land in the southeastern Wood River, east of Walnut
Street. The southwestern growth area currently contains the ethanol facility and is planned
with sufficient lands to sustain future expansion of the facility.
EXISTING LAND USE PROFILE
Existing Land Use in and around Wood River is identified in Table 4.2 and Illustrations
4.2 and 4.3. The Table analyzes land uses within the Corporate Limits of the City of Wood
River and compares them to National Planning Standards. The Wood River and National
Planning Standards identify total acres per 100 persons.
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
LAND USE ANALYSIS.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 85 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.9
PARKS/RECREATIONAL
Park facilities in the City of Wood River include Memorial Park, the largest park within the
City, and smaller “neighborhood parks” throughout the City. These parks comprise a total of
12.2 acres, or two percent of the total 585 acres in Wood River. A comparison between the
Wood River and National Planning Standards indicate that the City has less than half of the
park land recommended by the National Standard for parks, two acres for every 100 persons
in the City. The Wood River Municipal Golf Course includes an estimated 160 acres of land
and is located approximately two miles beyond the Corporate Limits, southeast of the City. If
this golf course were located within the City, Wood River would greatly exceed the
recommended park acreage.
PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC
Typical uses include the Public Schools, City and County buildings, U.S. Post Office, churches
and cemeteries. Approximately 3.4 percent or 19.8 acres in the incorporated area of Wood
River are utilized by Public/Quasi-Public land uses. The Land Use Capacity Matrix indicates
that the City of Wood River has 50 percent less than the 2.8 acres per 100 people
recommended by National Planning Standard. However, the estimated 25 acres utilized by
the Wood River Junior/Senior High School is not within the Corporate Limits of the City and
thus not included in the Land Use Matrix. Wood River would need an additional 18.6 acres to
meet the National Planning Standard recommendations for public/quasi-public land uses.
TABLE 4.2
EXISTING & FUTURE LAND USE CAPACITY MATRIX
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2015 ESTIMATED POPULATION - 1,373
2025 PROJECTED (MEDIUM) POPULATION - 1,469
2035 PROJECTED (HIGH) POPULATION - 1,623
WOOD RIVER NATIONAL
2015 PLANNING PLANNING
ACRES STANDARD STANDARD 2015 2025**2035***
Parks & Rec./Open Space 12.2 2.1 %0.9 2.0 12.2 / 27.5 13.2 / 29.4 14.6 / 32.5
Public/Quasi-Public 19.8 3.4 %1.4 2.8 19.8 / 38.4 20.6 / 41.1 22.7 / 45.4
Residential 93.3 15.9 %6.8 10.0 93.3 / 137.3 99.9 / 146.9 110.4 / 162.3
Single & Two-Family 84.2 14.4 %6.1 7.5 84.2 / 103.0 89.6 / 110.2 99.0 / 121.7
Multifamily 1.8 0.3 %0.1 2.0 1.8 / 27.5 1.5 / 29.4 1.6 / 32.5
Mobile Home 7.3 1.2 %0.5 0.5 7.3 / 6.9 7.4 / 7.4 8.1 / 8.1
Commercial 11.5 2.0 %0.8 2.4 11.5 / 33.0 11.8 / 35.3 13.0 / 39.0
Industrial 155.4 26.6 %11.3 2.3 155.4 / 31.6 166.0/ 33.8 183.4 / 37.3
Streets/Alleys/RR Corridor 174.1 29.8 %12.7 9.0 174.1 / 123.6 186.6 / 33.8 206.1 / 146.1
Total Developed 466.3 79.7 %34.0 25.0 466.3 / 343.3 499.5 / 367.3 551.8 / 405.8
Total Vacant 118.8 20.3 %8.7 6.5*118.8 / 89.3 127.8 / 95.5 141.2 / 99.9
Total Acreage 585.1 ^100.0 %42.6 35.0 585.1 / 480.6 625.8 / 514.2 691.4 / 568.1
^Based on Net Area Acreage.
Note: Wood River and National Planning Standards identify number of acres per 100 persons.
*Vacant Land Capable of Development.
**Based on Medium Population Projection.
***Based on High Population Projection.
Source: Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
PERCENT
TOTAL
ACRES NEEDED (Wood River / National)
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 86 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.10
GENERALIZED EXISTING LAND USE MAP
CORPORATE LIMITS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2015
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
ILLUSTRATION 4.2
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 87 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.11
GENERALIZED EXISTING LAND USE MAP
ONE-MILE PLANNING JURISDICTION
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2015
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
ILLUSTRATION 4.3
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 88 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.12
RESIDENTIAL
Residential land uses in Wood River account for an estimated 93.3 acres of land, or 15.9
percent of the total residential land uses in the Corporate Limits. This sets the Wood
River Planning Standard at 6.8 persons per 100 people, or 32 percent less than the
National Planning Standard of 10 acres of residential land use per 100 people. To meet
the National Standard, the City will need to develop an estimated 53.6 acres of residential
land for a total of 146.9 acres designated for residential land use by 2025. The Wood
River Community Housing Study identified at least 26.7 additional acres of
residential land by 2025. By 2035, the Community will need to maintain a total of
162.3 acres of residential land to meet the National Standard.
Multifamily housing is significantly below the National Planning Standard
recommendations for Communities. Currently, Wood River has 1.8 acres of multifamily
lands which equates to a ratio of 0.1 acres, 95 percent less than the standard of 2.0 acres
per 100 people. The City would need to develop approximately 27.6 additional acres of
multifamily land uses to meet the recommended National Standard, by 2025.
Wood River meets the recommended National Planning Standard for mobile home
residential land at 7.3 acres, which equates to 0.5 acres per 100 people.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 89 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.13
COMMERCIAL
Commercial land uses in Wood River account for an
estimated 11.5 acres of land, or 0.8 acres per 100 people.
This accounts for only 33 percent of the recommended
commercial land use through the National Planning
Standard of 2.4 acres per 100 people. The close
proximity of Wood River to the larger Cities of Grand
Island and Kearney limits the viability of commercial
development. Specialty retail and professional office
uses are recommended to be of the focus of future
development in Downtown, while highway oriented
commercial uses are planned at the east and west
entrances to the City along the Highway 30 Corridor,
Downtown Wood River is desired by residents to remain
the commercial, entertainment and social focal point of
the City.
INDUSTRIAL
The amount of land occupied by industrial uses greatly
exceeds recommended National Planning Standards due
to the ethanol production facility being located within
the Wood River Corporate Limits. Wood River has a
total of 155 acres of land utilized by industrial uses
which, at 12.7 acres per 100 people, is nearly 500 percent
more than the ratio of 2.3 acres per 100 people
recommended by the National Planning Standard.
U.S. Census Workforce Employment Data, from 2013,
indicate that 314 workers commute to Wood River for
employment, while 33 of the City’s 347 employees live
and work in Wood River. Thus, approximately 389
employed persons, or 92 percent of employees that live in
Wood River commute beyond the Corporate Limits of the
City. This includes an estimated 362 employees that
travel more than 10 minutes to work.
Results of the Workforce Housing Needs Survey
indicated of the 46 employees that completed surveys, six
have a desire to purchase a home in Wood River.
Priorities for
Growth and
Development
The results of the Land
Use Capacity Matrix
revealed that Wood River
needs to concentrate its
efforts on expanding the
amount of land dedicated
to residential uses and
diversifying commercial
land uses.
The City is particularly
underdeveloped in terms
of multifamily housing,
but must continue to
provide vacant land for
all residential land uses.
Wood River should strive
to increase the amount
of acres devoted to
multifamily housing.
Downtown Wood River
should increase efforts
to attract additional
retail businesses.
Automotive oriented
commercial uses should
be expanded along
Highway 30 to the east
and west entrances to
the City.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 90 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.14
The City of Wood River should propose a goal of implementing appropriate community and
economic development initiatives to maintain a stabilized and increasing population base.
Since its founding, the City has experienced an overall trend of a gradually increasing
population. The development of the ethanol facility during the 2000s coincides with a
population growth of 121 persons between 2000 and 2010. The 2010 Census total was nine
persons short of equaling the peak population of 1,334 people in 1980. Conservative estimates
indicate that the City should plan for an increase of at least 133 persons during the next 10
years, reaching a total of 1,506 people by 2025. Long term estimates for the next 20 years
anticipate the population will increase by at least 178 people between 2015 and 2035.
Meeting projections for growth by 2025 and 2035 will require an expansion of vacant lands
and infrastructure and utilities to support housing development. Participants of the
Community Planning Listening Sessions, as well as Survey participants have all concluded
that the proximity of Wood River to Grand Island and Kearney allows for the ease of access to
unique amenities, including hospitals, big box retail and large centers of employment. The
lack of available affordable housing has limited the ability of the City’s ability to capture
workforce households as permanent residents.
Future annexation of large, vacant tracts of land are needed to support the efforts of the City
in expanding residential, commercial and industrial land for development. The identification
of future growth areas for all land use types adjacent and beyond the City of Wood River
Corporate Limits is necessary to support growth opportunities.
Illustrations 4.4 and 4.5 identify future land use patterns for the City of Wood River,
both within the Corporate Limits of the Community and beyond into the One-Mile
Planning Jurisdiction.
INFILL DEVELOPMENTS
The strategic development of infill lots and other vacant land areas within the Corporate
Limits would allow for managed growth and the utilization of the existing infrastructure,
including streets, electrical, gas, and water and sewer systems. However, these vacant parcels
are not sufficient to meet all the needs for future residential, commercial and parks/recreation
and open space
Illustration 4.4, Generalized Future Land Use Map, highlights the future land use
development recommendations for areas within the Corporate Limits of Wood River. The
Generalized Future Land Use Map, Illustration 4.5 identifies the growth areas proposed
to the north, northeast, east and west of the City, within the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction.
FUTURE LAND USE.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 91 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.15
PARKS & RECREATION
An estimated 12.2 acres of land in Wood
River are comprised of parks and
recreation. This acreage is 50 percent less
than the amount of land recommended by
current National Planning Standards. Efforts
to modernize and expand park equipment in the
existing parks and expand the hiking/biking
trails system should be the two areas of focus for
parks and recreation improvement during the
10- and 20-year planning periods. A bond
issue was approved in August of 2015 to
construct a new swimming pool in the
northwest portion of the City. This
development will contribute to the need for
additional park land in Wood River.
PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC
Future public/quasi-public land uses in Wood
River will be primarily comprised of additional
acreage to accommodate future expansions of
existing uses. Existing facilities are expected to
be sufficient to meet the service requirements of
a growing Community.
RESIDENTIAL AREAS
Future residential development in and around
the City of Wood River should be of a high
priority to the Community, during the 10- and
20-year planning periods. The City should
provide an estimated 162 total acres of
residential land, or an additional 69 acres,
based on National Planning Standards, for
residential development, if the City is to provide
additional housing options to all income sectors,
age groups and family types/sizes.
The proposed Thelen Subdivision, Second
Addition, is planned to facilitate the expansion
of the City to the North, as a 49 acre
development. The Addition will include single
family, triplex and four plex dwellings and
multifamily residential uses. The Land Use
Matrix, Table 4.2, indicates that the City needs
a minimum of 44 acres of additional residential
land to meet 2015 National Planning Standards
for residential uses.
The Generalized Future Land Use Map,
Illustration 4.5, identifies newly designated
residential areas in and around Wood River as
single family and multifamily uses. These
designations will allow developers the option of
providing a variety of housing for families,
singles, older adults and special populations.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 92 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.16
GENERALIZED FUTURE LAND USE MAP
CORPORATE LIMITS
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2025-2035
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
ILLUSTRATION 4.4
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 93 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.17
GENERALIZED FUTURE LAND USE MAP
ONE-MILE PLANNING JURISDICTION
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2025-2035
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
ILLUSTRATION 4.5
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 94 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.18
Vacant lands
designated for
new residential
development
adjacent the
Corporate
Limits, will
require an
extension of all
utilities.
Housing projections
through 2025 must
be supported by
expanding the
Utility Service Area.
If projections for
2025 are to be met,
the City will need to
expand water and
sewer services
beyond the current
Utility Service Area.
The Public Works
Staff indicated that
all the designated
residential growth
areas will require the
extension of
infrastructure and
utilities systems to
support proposed
development.
The existing Utility
Service Area can
sustain concentric
growth from the
current Corporate
Limits outward.
Water and Waste
Water Treatment
Facilities have
sufficient capacities
to support projected
growth thru 2025.
The following provides a description of the future residential
land uses for the Community.
Single family housing development should first occur
within the Corporate Limits of Wood River. Vacant lots exist
in a couple residential subdivisions in northwest Wood River,
such as West North Lawn 2nd Addition and Thelen
Subdivision First Addition. Additional vacant lots are
scattered throughout the Community, but in much smaller
quantities of individual tracts or parcels.
Multifamily housing development must be pursued during
the planning periods. The previously discussed existing land
use analysis concluded that multifamily acreage in Wood
River is currently 26 acres less than recommended National
Planning Standards. The recent trend of residential
development in Wood River has focused on single family
houses. There are examples of multifamily complexes in
Wood River designated for the elderly and disabled. A lack of
multifamily apartment buildings exist in the City for the
local Workforce. The competition for rental housing in Wood
River makes it difficult for workforce employees, their
families and even retirees and young professionals to acquire
sound, decent, rental housing due to the shortage of
affordable rental housing.
The Comprehensive Development Plan/Housing Task Force
established a priority for the development of a variety of
multifamily housing types through 2025. This effort will
require the designation of residential growth areas to be
planned and appropriately zoned for multifamily residential
development. There is an area of land within the Corporate
Limits of Wood River zoned for multifamily development, but
the majority of this property is already developed.
The consensus of the Task Force was that new residential
development should occur within the Corporate Limits of Wood
River, first. If sufficient lands were not available, the
development of planned growth areas would be implemented in
conformance with the Generalized Future Land Use Map,
Illustration 4.5. The primary residential growth areas are
located in the north, northeast, east and western portions of the
Planning Jurisdiction.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 95 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.19
COMMERCIAL
Future commercial land use areas are anticipated to include
replacing vacant lots and existing deteriorated and/or
abandoned buildings along the Highway 30 Corridor.
Automotive oriented commercial uses should continue to be
developed along the Highway 30 Corridor at the eastern and
western entrances to the City. Future highway commercial
development should proceed with caution as to not diminish the
role of Downtown Wood River as the primary center of
commerce and entertainment.
Specialty retail, cafes/restaurants, and professional
offices are encouraged to further diversify commercial
venues in Downtown Wood River.
INDUSTRIAL
The City of Wood River has approximately 155 acres of industrial land within the
Corporate Limits. This includes the standard industrial uses that are located adjacent the
Union Pacific Railroad, including agricultural grain elevators and warehouse storage
buildings. Wood River also incorporated a large industrial tract of land that includes
approximately 139 acres of land in support of the ethanol plant. The current industrial
tracts within the Corporate Limits that are in a state of transition or possessing vacant
parcels in close proximity to residential development, are encouraged to become "light"
industry. The reason is twofold: one, it creates a more compatible land use with adjacent
commercial and residential properties; and two, it satisfies a need in the Community.
The City of Wood River also has designated large vacant tracts of land within the
Corporate Limits of the City, to the east of Walnut Street and south of the Union Pacific
Railroad Corridor, as an industrial growth area. This tract of land would have the benefit
of having direct access to both the Highway 30 and Union Pacific Railroad Corridor and to
the Highway 11 connection to Interstate 80. Two additional areas adjacent the eastern
portions of the Highway 11 Corridor are also included as industrial grow areas. The
Generalized Future Land Use Maps, Illustrations 4.4 and 4.5, identify proposed
industrial land areas within, adjacent the City and the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction.
To provide jobs for an increasing population base and to attract additional business and
industry to Wood River, it is recommended that vacant lands within these industrial areas
be prepared to support new industrial uses. The City must maintain enough industrial
land for growth and development. Local development groups, organizations and property
owners, with the guidance of the Wood River Area Economic / Housing Development
Corporation are encouraged to promote and continue their support for additional
industrial land development.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 96 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.20
INTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL USES
The Task Force recognizes the importance of agricultural practices, to the economy of the
Community, including livestock facilities. The expansion of existing livestock confinement
operations within the One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction of the City should only be permitted in
unique circumstances. The development of new livestock confinement operations should be
prohibited in the Planning Jurisdiction of the City. Floodplains associated with Wood River
and its tributaries limit the development of the City to the northwest and north of the Wood
River Rural High School. Therefore, the remaining portions of the One-Mile Planning
Jurisdiction of the City are vital to the continued growth and development of Wood River.
Livestock confinement operations are best suited for locations within rural Hall
County, outside the Planning Jurisdiction of the City.
LAND USE PLAN / IMPLEMENTATION
Various funding sources exist for the preparation and implementation of a capital
improvement budget designed to meet the funding needs of proposed development activities.
These include Local, State and Federal funds commonly utilized to finance street
improvement funds, i.e. Community Development Block Grants, Special Assessments, General
Obligation Bonds and Tax Increment Financing (TIF). The use of TIF for redevelopment
projects in the areas such as the Downtown and adjacent older residential neighborhoods is
deemed to be an essential and integral element of development and redevelopment planning.
Redevelopment Area #1 includes the Downtown and adjacent older residential and
industrial areas west to Highway 11 and south of the Union Pacific Railroad Corridor to the
ethanol facility in the southwest corner of the City (See Illustration 4.5). Redevelopment
Area #1 has been officially declared blighted and substandard. TIF is available for both
redevelopment and development projects in the area. Initial projects have focused on the
development of the ethanol facility.
PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT AREA #2
A second Redevelopment Area is proposed for Wood River as part of this Comprehensive
Development Plan that includes an older residential area to the northwest of Downtown Wood
River that extends along Highway 11 to include the vacant tract of land proposed for the new
Thelen Subdivision, Second Addition. This area would abut the northern boundary of
Redevelopment Area #1 from Main Street, west, to Highway 11.
Redevelopment Area #2 would provide incentives for:
Rehabilitation and/or demolition and replacement of older residential dwellings.
Improvement or replacement of outdated infrastructure in the older areas.
Reduce costs for the extension of new infrastructure; water, sewer, streets and utilities
into the new areas proposed for development.
Assist in the financing continued enhancements to the Highway 11 Corridor, from
Ninth Street north to Wood River Road.
Provide incentives for the upgrade of Wood River Road to accommodate connections
between the new subdivision and Wood River Junior/Senior High School along the
east/west corridor.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 97 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.21
The proposed Redevelopment Area #2 is highlighted in red in Illustration 4.6, below.
The dark purple highlighted area includes the portion of Redevelopment Area #1 that is
generally located east of Highway 11. Upon the adoption of Redevelopment Area #2, the
two Redevelopment Areas could be combined into one Area to facilitate the use of left over
TIF funding for new projects throughout the entire combined Area.
REDEVELOPMENT AREA #2 (PROPOSED)
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
ILLUSTRATION 4.6
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 98 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.22
ANNEXATION POLICY
Future annexation activities in the City of Wood River, both voluntary and involuntary,
should occur in the non-agricultural land use areas identified in Illustration 4.5,
Generalized Future Land Use Map. Several tracts of land could be annexed at a point
in time when in conformance with and meeting the criteria of Nebraska State Statues. A
certain amount of vacant land will also be needed in each area to provide an overall
functional land use system. To develop the Community in the most efficient and orderly
manner possible, the focus should be placed, first, on the development of suitable vacant
land within the Corporate Limits of Wood River.
There presently exists an estimated 118 acres of vacant land within the
Corporate Limits.
Areas for Annexation
Areas directly adjacent the existing Corporate Limits to the north, northeast, east and
west of the City are recommended to be considered for annexation throughout the 10- and
20-year planning periods. The vacant tract of land between the current northern
Corporate Limits and Wood River Road is currently in the planning and predevelopment
stages as a future residential subdivision, adding approximately 49 acres of residential
land to the City of Wood River. These areas should be annexed at a point in time to
support the continued growth and development of the Community throughout the 10-year
and 20-year Planning Periods. These areas are all capable of being served by extensions of
municipal infrastructure and utility systems. These areas are identified in Illustration
4.5, Generalized Future Land Use Map. Much of the land located in identified growth
areas are adjacent existing infrastructure, water and sewer lines that can be readily
extended to facilitate development.
Vacant land within the current Corporate Limits, designated for future residential
development, is not of sufficient size to meet the residential needs during the 10- and 20-
year planning periods. Thus, plans must be developed to expand the utility service area of
Wood River into all growth areas.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 99 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.23
The oldest residential properties in Wood River are located adjacent the Downtown
and along the Union Pacific Railroad Corridor. The associated infrastructure systems,
street trees and public facilities reflect similar ages and potential needs for improvement.
Priorities:
Housing rehabilitation is needed throughout the Community to protect the viability of
residential properties.
Vacant lots exist in Wood River, as well as housing in need of demolition and replacement.
Housing design standards should be considered so that new single and multifamily
structures are compatible with the sizes, architectural styles, building materials and colors
that are unique to the neighborhoods.
The large street trees provide a canopy covering over streets the older neighborhoods. A
tree maintenance and replacement program should be coordinated with the City.
The planting of street trees should be extended to the newer neighborhoods in the north
portion of the City to ensure that the character of City continues throughout all portions of
the Community.
Streets throughout the City have paved concrete surfaces and are in good condition.
An annual review of the streets in these Neighborhoods should be coordinated with the
yearly “One- and Six-Year Street Improvement Plan” for the City of Wood River to identify
any needed public improvements.
Public facilities including street lighting, sidewalks, curb and gutters and public parks are
important to the character of the City. The condition of these facilities should be
monitored for needed improvements.
The residential Neighborhoods of Wood River form the foundation of the Community and
strive to be walkable, encourage socialization and provide safe routes to public and private
services and facilities throughout the City. The edges of the residential areas are often
established by unique topographic features, major arterial streets or by different subdivision
platting characteristics. The pattern of land use within these Neighborhoods, the density of
development, the arrangement streets and the connections of major and minor arterial
corridors to public facilities, business and industrial areas are woven together to form the
Community.
NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.
COMMUNITY IMAGE AND PRESERVATION OF ATTRIBUTES.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 100 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.24
From the Beginning, Downtown Wood River has been the economic, social and
entertainment center of the City. Its relationship to the Highway 30 Corridor and the
Union Pacific Railroad corridor served as the framework from which the residential
neighborhoods developed and grew within the Community. To protect and enhance the
Community’s Image, this plan must identify the land use components and develop design
elements that contribute to its character.
CHARACTER ISSUES
Residents of the Community who participated in public forums, listening sessions or who
were members of the Comprehensive Development Plan/Housing Task Force repeatedly
looked to the benefits of small town living when discussing the character of Wood River.
The Community atmosphere includes a relatively low crime rate, excellent public schools;
the availability of parks and open space, and the proximity to the Wood River and Platte
River environs.
The outcomes of this Comprehensive Development Plan must translate these
characteristics into future development and growth opportunities to ensure that as the
City grows and develops, it maintains and integrates these characteristics into new
residential, commercial, industrial and parks and open space growth areas. A proactive
approach to land use planning and the integration of compatible design standards can be
valuable to maintaining the small town character and unique attributes of Wood River.
Growth for the sake of growth is seen as the positive indicator of economic stability, but
growth must also include the types of attributes that make Wood River a unique City.
This Plan must function to sustain the traits that contribute to the most valued
characteristics of the City.
COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT
The pattern of existing development in Wood River, Nebraska, is generally well planned,
with the primary commercial areas fronting on both sides of Ninth Street, between East
and West Streets. Main Street divides the Downtown in half, between East and West
Streets. This system of local streets and highways are the principal transportation
arterial streets that support travel within and through the Community. Downtown Wood
River buffers Highway 30 traffic from single family residential areas to the west and north
of the Downtown. High volumes of automotive and heavy truck traffic travel the
Highway 30 Corridor. The likelihood of there ever being a bypass around the City is very
unlikely. Traffic calming measures and strict enforcement of posted speeding
limits will be the only mechanisms to limiting the speed of vehicles along the
Highway 30 Corridor.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 101 / 151
Section 4 Land Use, Growth & Development.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 4.25
This Comprehensive Development Plan supports the future viability of Downtown
Wood River. The use of Tax Increment Financing is viewed as an important component to
securing the structural integrity of the buildings, expanding existing businesses and
attracting and further diversifying the future business in the Downtown.
Expansions of commercial uses are planned along the Highway 30 Corridor. Commercial
nodes at the east intersection of Highway 11 with Highway 30 provides for additional
lands for development along the north side of the Highway 30 Corridor, as well as north of
the intersection along the west side of Highway 11. At the east side of Wood River, along
the north side of Highway 30, a second node of highway commercial is planned for
highway oriented commercial development.
Enhancing the character of the Community and special areas requires a concerted effort
on behalf of both the public and private sectors. From the perspective of the City, the
development regulations and standards must be written to achieve the preferred
outcomes. Without specific requirements for increased open space, landscaping, screening,
and buffering, sign control; and standards relating to building scale, roof design,
placement of storage and loading areas, the appearance of individual properties and
corridors are left to individuals rather than to the standards that are agreed to represent
the desires of the residents of the City of Wood River.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 102 / 151
PUBLIC FACILITIES, UTILITES &
TRANSPORTATION.
SECTION 5
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 103 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.1
Section 5 of the Wood River, Nebraska Comprehensive Development Plan
discusses the existing conditions and planned improvements to the public facility and
utility systems in the Community. Quality public facilities, services and parks and
recreation systems are provided to ensure a high quality of life for all residents of Wood
River.
Public Facilities identify existing facilities in Wood River and determine future needs
and desires during the 10- and 20-year planning periods. Public Facilities provide
citizens with social, cultural and educational opportunities. Facilities in Wood River
include, but are not limited to city government, health care, education, police/fire
protection and recreational facilities such as parks and athletic fields. Unless
otherwise identified, general maintenance is planned for all public facilities
in Wood River, which also implies that the identified facility is adequate and
meets the needs of the Community through the 10- and 20-year planning
periods. The locations of these public facilities are identified in the Wood River
Public Facilities Map, Illustration 5.1.
Public Utilities address the water, wastewater and other related utility systems in
the Community, including current condition and capacity. It is the responsibility of
any community to provide a sound public infrastructure for its citizens, as well as to
provide for anticipated growth. Therefore, it is important that the expansion and
maintenance of these systems be coordinated with the growth of Wood River.
Analysis of these infrastructure systems, via conversations with City maintenance
and utility personnel, confirmed that the City must continue to maintain and
improve these utility systems.
Transportation examines the systems that provide for safe travel of pedestrians
and automobiles. The City has utilized federal funding opportunities to reconstruct
major arterial streets, leveraging dollars for transportation improvements. The
availability of a convenient and efficient transportation system is essential to the
continued economic and physical development of Wood River. An adequate
transportation system is required to transport goods and services to and from major
travel routes and market centers outside the City, and provide for the circulation
needs within the Community. The overall purpose of the transportation plan is to
provide the necessary guidelines for the safe movement of people and vehicles
throughout the Community and One-Mile Planning Jurisdiction.
SECTION 5
PUBLIC FACILITIES, UTILITIES & TRANSPORTATION.
INTRODUCTION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 104 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.2
PUBLIC FACILITIES MAP
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION
1. Wood River Elementary School
2. Wood River Junior/Senior School 3. Maltman Memorial Library
PARKS & RECREATION
4. Memorial Park 5. Library Park
6. South Water Tower Park
HEALTH, WELLNESS & ELDERLY SERVICES
7. Good Samaritan Society- Wood River Nursing Home
8. Wood River Senior Center PUBLIC SAFETY, GOVERNMENT & COMMERCE
9. Wood River Volunteer Fire Department 10. City Hall/Wood River Civic Center
11. Wood River Post Office
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
ILLUSTRATION 5.1
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 105 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.3
Education is becoming increasingly important as the need for a broader-based education
with emphasis on technical and human relation skills increases in today's society.
Standards developed by educators and planners can provide guidance in the creation of, and
addition to, the School District’s educational facilities. The Wood River Rural School
District (WRRSD) is a major contributor to the quality of life and well-being in the
Community. It will be important, from 2015 to 2035, that the facilities maintained by Wood
River Public Schools have the ability to support a growing population, specifically youth
populations.
DISTRICT FACILITIES
WRRSD maintains elementary and junior/senior high school facilities, along with athletic
fields and maintenance buildings. Information associated with the Wood River Public
Schools facilities was cited from the Superintendent’s offices. All facilities are ADA
compliant. Table 5.1 highlights WRRSD enrollment by grade, from the 2009-10 to 2013-
14 school years. WRRSD Staff identified a total district enrollment for the 2014-2015
school year of 569 students.
TABLE 5.1
PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT BY GRADE
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2009-2014
Year Pre-K K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 TOTALS
2009-10 6 41 42 41 36 43 33 44 42 40 37 37 48 44 534
2010-11 46 38 46 42 45 39 39 34 46 38 40 37 38 46 574
2011-12 31 50 32 45 40 42 41 35 35 50 38 39 37 38 553
2012-13 45 30 45 38 46 45 39 46 39 33 51 36 34 32 559
2013-14 37 42 29 42 41 43 40 44 45 41 29 53 35 32 553
Change +31 +1 -13 +1 +5 +0 +7 +0 +3 +1 -8 +16 -13 -12 +19
Source: Nebraska Department of Education.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
Wood River Elementary School – Located at 1003 Lilly Street, east of the Downtown,
this facility serves grades Pre-Kindergarten through fifth. The School was constructed in
1980. Wood River Elementary employs a total of 44 certified and non-certified staff
members.
Wood River Junior/Senior High School – The Wood River Junior High School serves
grades sixth through twelfth in a facility located at 13800 West Wood River Road. Built in
1968 and expanded in 2007, the facility consists of modern classroom, library, cafeteria,
performing arts theater, weight room, outdoor walking track and administrative office
amenities. A fitness center for use by the general public is also located at the Junior/Senior
High School. A total of 47 certified and non-certified staff are employed at the Junior/Senior
High School.
SCHOOLS/EDUCATION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 106 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.4
RECENT & FUTURE DISTRICT PROJECTS & RECOMMENDATIONS
WRRSD maintains its facilities to the highest standards for schools in Nebraska. Recent
improvements projects include new epoxy flooring, roof replacement and interior
painting at the Elementary School and a remodeling project for the Junior/Senior High
School cafeteria. The School District identified specific, planned improvements
for their facilities. These projects include the construction of a new
transportation facility, parking improvements and various technology
upgrades.
WWRSD also works alongside the Career Pathways Institute (CPI), located in Grand Island.
CPI is a learning center complete with state-of-the-art equipment and utilizes partnerships with
major employers and industries to promote career and technical education among students of
Hall County. Areas of study include, but are not limited to Manufacturing Technology,
Construction and Information Technology.
Schools in Wood River should meet the following standards and guidelines:
Schools should be centrally located;
Schools should not be located near high traffic or heavily concentrated areas with
high noise levels;
Land acquisition with future expansion in mind; and
Adequate open space should be available to students.
Provide safe routes to schools from all neighborhoods of the Community, including
sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, school bus access and traffic signals.
The City and WRRSD should support and provide a high quality of elementary,
middle and senior-level education for residents of the Community and surrounding
area. The District should strive to maintain an excellence in education by expanding
facilities, amenities and employment opportunities, as needed, while creating new and
expanding existing educational programs and activities to support a growing student
and faculty population within the Public School system. It should be of high priority to
both the City of Wood River and WWRSD to promote and provide the necessary
amenities and services needed to accommodate children and families utilizing local
education programs.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 107 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.5
Other Area Education Facilities – Several Colleges and Universities across Nebraska are
accessed by WRRSD students. These Colleges and universities accept high school credits
from Public Schools. These Colleges and Universities include the following:
Central Community College – Grand Island, NE
University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
Hastings College – Hastings, NE
University of Nebraska-Kearney – Kearney, NE
Concordia University – Seward, NE
York College – York, NE
LIBRARY
Maltman Memorial Library – The Maltman Memorial Library is located at 910 Main
Street, adjacent the Library Park. Programs offered at the Library include weekly preschool
story hour, summer reading programs, free WiFi internet, and copier/fax service.
Park and recreation opportunities in any Community provide health and wellness
opportunities for local residents, as well as provide a quality of life attribute. The City of
Wood River maintains an estimated 12 acres of designated park and recreation land uses in
three locations throughout the Community.
Memorial Park – Located in northeastern Wood River, this park is the largest of the
three in the Community. Amenities include a baseball and two softball diamonds with
modern concessions north of 13th Street and playground equipment and two tennis courts
south of 13th Street.
Library Park – This park is located adjacent the Maltman Memorial Library, at the
intersection of 10th and West Street. This Park features a picnic shelter and modern
playground equipment.
South Water Tower Park – South Water Tower Park is located near the intersection of
East 5th and East Streets, in south central Wood River. The park consists of modern
playground amenities and is also the site of the new Wood River water tower.
PARKS/RECREATION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 108 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.6
RECREATION
Wood River Municipal Golf Course/Municipal Pool – A nine-hole golf course is
located approximately four miles east of Wood River. The Course features all
standard course amenities, including club house, pro shop and cart storage buildings.
The Course is also the location of the Wood River Municipal Swimming Pool.
Community leadership has identified the pool to be 50+ years of age and not cost
effective to maintain.
In August, 2015, a $4.98 Million bond was approved for the construction of a
new aquatic center in Wood River. The location of the aquatic center is
proposed at the intersection of Highway 11 and West Wood River Road,
north of the Fire Department facility. Amenities will include a splash pad,
zero-depth entry, water slide, swim lanes, lazy river and diving boards.
FUTURE PARK & RECREATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Maintain and expand park and recreation facilities to supplement the projected
increase in population during the next 10 and 20 years.
Continue to support the development of sports fields for youth activities.
Enhance hiker/biker trail connectivity to surrounding trail networks.
Enhance access to available natural elements and resources in Wood River, including
local and state recreation areas, creeks/rivers and prairie land.
A number of modern health and hospital services, including full service hospitals,
clinics and private medical offices are available to residents of Wood River in the
neighboring Cities of Grand Island and Kearney. A nursing/skilled nursing facility
is available in Wood River.
Good Samaritan Society-Wood River Nursing Home – This nursing/skilled
nursing facility is located at 1401 East Street. The facility is licensed for 63 beds,
but maintains 61 beds. As per the 2015 Community Housing Study, the facility
is 97 percent occupied.
Wood River Senior Center – The Wood River Senior Center is located at 120
East 9th Street in Downtown Wood River. This 1,800 square foot facility has a
capacity of up to 70 persons and is open from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through
Friday. Activities include daily coffee, cards, noon lunch, crafting and senior
fellowship and community extension meetings.
HEALTH, WELLNESS & ELDERLY SERVICES.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 109 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.7
Public administration facilities are facilities which serve the citizens of the
Community and conduct the business of government and carry out its operations.
Therefore, it is essential these services are centrally located and convenient to the
majority of the citizens in the Community.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Police – Law enforcement services in Wood River are contracted to the Hall
County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Department is located at the
Grand Island/Hall County Law Enforcement Center at 111 Public Safety Drive,
in eastern Grand Island. According to the 2013 Annual Report, the
department was contracted for 1,920 patrol hours and served 1,728 patrol hours.
The Department also handled 714 service calls in the Wood River area. The
2014 is currently under development.
Wood River Volunteer Fire Department (WRVFD) – According to the City
of Wood River website, the all-volunteer department covers an estimated 3,500
people in a 123 square mile area in southwestern Hall County. Services
provided include fire protection, EMS services and paramedics, haz-mat, search
and rescue, extrication and emergency management services. WRVFD also
supports a rescue squad consisting of three paramedics and 13 EMTs.
Civil Defense – The civil defense services in Wood River are provided through
the Volunteer Fire Department and Hall County/Grand Island Emergency
Management. The planning and preparation for natural disaster and man-
made emergencies consist of the following: Mitigation, Preparation, Response
and Recovery. Examples of natural and man-made disasters include floods,
tornadoes, winter storms, chemical spills, explosions, plane crashes, etc. Other
services include alert of severe weather, tornado awareness week education,
winter road services, etc.
PUBLIC SAFETY & GOVERNMENT.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 110 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.8
GOVERNMENT
City Hall/Wood River Civic Center – City offices for Wood River are located at
108 West 10th Street. This building supports the offices of the Mayor, Clerk and
treasurer. The City of Wood River Planning Commission and the City Council
hold their monthly meetings at this facility. The City Office moved into this
facility in 2014 from their former, adjacent location. The old building is now used
for storage of city maintenance vehicles.
This facility is also home to the Wood River Civic Center, which includes the
necessary amenities to hold large Community functions, including
meeting/recreation and kitchen spaces. The facility has a maximum capacity of
200 people.
Post Office – The United States Post Office is located at 115 West 9th Street, in
Downtown Wood River. The facility maintains full ADA compliance and contains
628 postal boxes, of which 310 are rented. A total of seven persons are employed
with the Wood River Post Office.
Cemeteries – Two cemeteries are located near Wood River. The Wood River
Cemetery is located along South Burwick Road, approximately two miles east of
the Community, while St. Mary’s Cemetery is located along Highway 30, two
miles west of Wood River.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 111 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.9
It is the responsibility of any community to provide a sound public infrastructure for
its citizens, as well as to provide for anticipated growth. Therefore, it is important
that the expansion of these systems be coordinated with the growth of the City. The
following information highlights the condition of public utilities in the City of Wood
River.
WATER SYSTEM
The City of Wood River supplies its own water for its residents. Water
service lines in Wood River range from 2 to 12 inches in diameter.
Most residential areas are serviced by 4 to 6 inch water lines, while the
Downtown consists of 6, 8 and 12 inch water lines. Eight and 12 inch
lines are also located along the Highway 11 Corridor and connect
portions of the Community divided by the Union Pacific Railroad
Corridor. According to Wood River Public Works staff, all water lines
throughout Wood River are in “good” to “Excellent” condition.
The water system through Wood River is also supported by an elevated
storage tank, located near the intersection of 5th and East Street, in
the southern portion of the Community. The tank has a capacity of
300,000 gallons.
The following provides an overview of the water system in Wood River,
as per the City’s Public Works office.
Gallons/Day (Average Daily Demand) – 170,000.
Gallons/Day (Historic Peak Demand) – 700,000.
Active Production Wells – 4.
Firm Capacity – 1,275 gallons per minute.
Peak pumping Season – 950 gallons per minute.
Norman Operating Pressures – 50 to 55 pounds per square inch.
Recent projects implemented by the Wood River Public Works
Department have provided improved water standards in the
Community. Water meters were added to properties throughout the
Community in May, 2008, to monitor water usage. Water wells located
on Green and Lilly Streets were drilled deeper and now have
submersible pumps. The City is currently implementing a design and
right-of-way acquisition phase for water line replacement.
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 112 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.10
SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM
The existing Sanitary Sewer System in Wood River consists of sewer lines
ranging from 4 to 12 inches in diameter. A majority of the Community is
serviced by 6 to 8 inch lines, while new residential development in northern
Wood River is generally serviced by 10 and 12 inch lines. Two lift stations
also service Wood River, one located at Railroad Street and 140th Road, the
other at 1412 Walnut Street. Historic wastewater demands include an
average daily load of 110,000 gallons per day and a maximum daily load of
140,000 gallons per day.
The Wood River wastewater treatment plant has a capacity of 175,000
gallons.
A fundamental responsibility of any community is to provide a transportation
system for the movement of people, goods and services to, from and within the
Community. This section describes road classifications and proposed improvements
within the corporate limits of Wood River.
EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Illustration 5.2, Annual Average 24-Hour Traffic, depicts the
transportation system in the City of Wood River. The transportation system
is comprised of U.S. Highway 30 and Nebraska State Highway 11 as “Major
Arterial” roads that connect with surrounding Communities. West Schultz
Road and West Wood River Road, located south and north (respectively) of
the Community, are classified as “Other Arterial”.
All other streets within the Corporate Limits of Wood River are classified as
local streets. Local streets provide transportation throughout the City, while
the State highway, spur route and County roads provide transportation into
the County, adjacent Communities and areas beyond.
TRAFFIC VOLUME
The Nebraska Department of Roads monitors traffic volume in the Wood
River area, for County roads and State and Federal highways. This
tabulation process is done to identify appropriate existing road classification
and engineering standards. Illustration 5.2 also identifies the average daily
traffic counts for State and Federal transportation routes around Wood River.
Each of these road segments are identified as “Major Arterial” roads. All
other roads within the Corporate Limits of the City of Wood River are
classified as “local” roads.
TRANSPORTATION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 113 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.11
ANNUAL AVERAGE 24-HOUR TRAFFIC
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
ILLUSTRATION 5.2
AVERAGE 24-HOUR TRAFFIC
2010 2012 2014
Segment A
- Vehicles
- Heavy Comm. Vehicles
1,290
120
870
80
1,415
130
Segment B
- Vehicles
- Heavy Comm. Vehicles
4,460
390
4,790
420
4,640
405
Segment C
- Vehicles
- Heavy Comm. Vehicles
1,350
135
945
95
1,245
125
Source: Nebraska Department of Roads, 2015.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
* Lincoln, Nebraska * 402.464.5383 *
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 114 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.12
ROAD CLASSIFICATIONS
Nebraska Highway Law identifies the eight functional classifications of rural
highways as follows:
(1) Interstate: Which shall consist of the federally designated National System
of Interstate and Defense Highways;
(2) Expressway: Second in importance to Interstate. Shall consist of a group of
highways following major traffic desires in Nebraska and ultimately should
be developed to multilane divided highway standards;
(3) Major Arterial: Consists of the balance of routes which serve major
statewide interests for highway transportation in Nebraska. Characterized
by high speed, relatively long distances, and travel patterns;
(4) Scenic-Recreation: Consists of highways or roads located within or which
provide access to or through state parks, recreation or wilderness areas,
other areas of geological, historical, recreational, biological, or archaeological
significance, or areas of scenic beauty;
(5) Other Arterial: Which shall consist of a group of highways of less
importance as through-travel routes which would serve places of smaller
population and smaller recreation areas not served by the higher systems;
(6) Collector: Which shall consist of a group of highways which pick up traffic
from many local or land-service roads and carry it to community centers or
to the arterial systems. They are the main school bus routes, mail routes,
and farm-to-market routes;
(7) Local: Which shall consist of all remaining rural roads, except minimum
maintenance roads;
(8) Minimum Maintenance: Which shall consist of (a) roads used occasionally
by a limited number of people as alternative access roads for area served
primarily by local, collector, or arterial roads, or (b) roads which are the
principal access roads to agricultural lands for farm machinery and which
are not primarily used by passenger or commercial vehicles.
The rural highways classified, under subdivisions (1) thru (3) of this section
should, combined, serve every incorporated municipality having a minimum
population of 100 inhabitants or sufficient commerce, a part of which will be
served by stubs or spurs, and along with rural highways classified under
subsection (4) of this section, should serve the major recreational areas of the
State. Sufficient commerce shall mean a minimum of two hundred thousand
dollars of gross receipts under the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 115 / 151
Section 5 Public Facilities, Utilities & Transportation.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 5.13
Future transportation system improvements are highlighted in the City of Wood
River is outlined in the One and Six Year Road Plan. The One-Year Plan is for
projects to be undertaken in 2015. Wood River’s Six-Year Plan is for projects to be
undertaken through 2020, or earlier if funding becomes available. The Roads Plan
is available in Appendix of this Comprehensive Development Plan.
FUTURE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 116 / 151
ENERGY ELEMENT.
SECTION 6
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 117 / 151
Section 6 Energy Element.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 6.1
This Section of the Wood River Comprehensive Development Plan complies
with a July, 2010 amendment to Nebraska State Statues 23-114.02, requiring an
“Energy Element” with a Community Comprehensive Plan. This component of the
Plan assesses the energy infrastructure and energy use in Wood River. This Section
is also intended to evaluate the utilization of renewable energy sources and promote
energy conservation measures.
Electrical power is distributed to the City of Wood River by the Nebraska Municipal
Power Pool (NMPP). NMPP was created in 1975 when 19 municipal electric
utilities pooled their resources to better handle escalating fuel prices while still
serving their Communities effectively and efficiently. Today, 155 Nebraska
Communities, including the City of Wood River, are member Communities of NMPP.
Several Communities in the States of Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and North Dakota
are also members of this electric supply organization.
The passage of legislation, in 1981, allowed the formation of the Municipal Energy
Agency of Nebraska (MEAN), a wholesale electric supply organization. This
organization is a program operated by NMPP. Since its inception, MEAN has relied
upon member generation as part of its power supply and, with its growth, has secured
additional sources of electric generation from other organizations. Today MEAN
supplies wholesale electricity to more than 69 Communities in Colorado, Iowa,
Wyoming and Nebraska, including the City of Wood River. Collectively, these
Communities subscribe to the core philosophies of local control and working together
in providing reliable, low-cost energy and energy-related services to member
Communities.
MEAN participated with the Public Power Generation Agency along with four other
regional utilities on the construction of the Whelan Energy Center Unit 2, near
Hastings, Nebraska. The 220-megawatt coal fired power plant began operation in May
2011, supplying MEAN with 80 megawatts from the plant. MEAN also has a 50-
megawatt, long-term participation power agreement with the Nebraska Public
Power District (NPPD). The agreement provides MEAN with energy priced at a
fixed rate from NPPD through 2023.
SECTION 6
ENERGY ELEMENT.
INTRODUCTION.
PUBLIC POWER DISTRIBUTION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 118 / 151
Section 6 Energy Element.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 6.2
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
MEAN expanded its renewable energy capabilities with the following
projects:
1.) A 20-year power purchase agreement with Waste Management, Inc.,
for six megawatts of capacity from a landfill gas project near
Mitchellville in Central Iowa, which has been online as of 2012;
2.) The signing of a power purchase agreement for up to eight megawatts
from Nebraska Public Power District’s Laredo Ridge Wind Facility
near Petersburg, Nebraska. The 80-megawatt wind farm began
production in 2011; and
3.) MEAN is seeking additional renewable opportunities, including the
Broken Bow, Nebraska Wind Facility.
As of 2014, approximately 41 percent of MEAN’s energy
generation was from coal, an additional 21 percent of its total
sources was purchased from other coal energy producers, 17
percent was from other market purchases, 13 percent was from
renewable resources including wind, hydro-electric and other
renewable energy sources and 8 percent was purchased nuclear
power.
Currently, MEAN’s total renewable energy component is 13
percent of its total electric capacity. By comparison, the mission
statement of NPPD includes the goal of producing 10 percent of its
energy supply from renewable sources by 2020. This would involve the
development of at least 80 megawatts of wind-generated power every two
year period to achieve the 10 percent goal by 2020.
In order for NPPD to meet its goal of 10 percent of its generating capacity
from renewable resources, primarily wind, the District will need to have
533 megawatts of total wind generation by 2020. As of July 2014, the
State of Nebraska had a total wind turbine production of 810 megawatts
generated from 473 operational wind turbines. The Nebraska Energy
Office estimates that the average annual output could generate enough
power to supply 250,700 homes.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 119 / 151
Section 6 Energy Element.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 6.3
Table 6.1 is a comparison of electrical revenue purchased by each of the
Sectors during 2014, in the City of Wood River. The Total Revenue generated by the
consumption of electricity was $1,352,695, throughout 2014. The Residential Sector
was the largest consumer of electricity in this one year period at $1,006,628, or 74
percent of the total consumption of electricity. The Commercial Sector, which includes
commercial and industrial businesses, was the next largest user of electricity at 17.7
percent or approximately $238,807.
The Municipal Sector which includes local governmental facilities, accounted for 5.8
percent of the total annual revenue amounting to $78,727. The smallest consumer of
electricity was the Irrigation Sector which included the agricultural crop producers
that purchased electricity for the City of Wood River to power electrical generators to
irrigate their fields. The Irrigation Sector amounted to 2.1 percent of the total
revenue or approximately $28,531.
TABLE 6.1
ELECTRIC REVENUE BY SECTOR
WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA
2014
2014
REVENUE
2014
% OF TOTAL
Residential $1,006,628 74.4%
Commercial $238,807 17.7%
Municipal $78,727 5.8%
Irrigation $28,531 2.1%
Total $1,352,695 100%
Source: City of Wood River.
Hanna:Keelan Associates, P.C., 2015.
STATE-WIDE TRENDS IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION
The Nebraska Energy Office 2014 Annual Report utilizes energy date
compiled in 2011. During the last 51 years, the State of Nebraska, as a
whole, has vastly increased energy consumption. However, percentage
share of personnel income has remained constant. In 1970, 11.8
percent of the percentage share of personal income was spent on
energy. As of 2011, 12 percent was spent on energy usage. The
peak percentage occurred in 1980 at 17.1 percent.
ELECTRICAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 120 / 151
Section 6 Energy Element.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 6.4
Trends in the Total Energy Consumption for the State of Nebraska is
mirrored in each of the individual energy categories, coal, natural gas,
gasoline and distillate fuel oil (primarily diesel fuel), nuclear power
and hydroelectric production. Each of these energy types are detailed
between 1960 and 2011, as follows:
Coal consumption increased from 20 trillion BTU in 1960 to
385.38 trillion BTU, as of 2011. Peak use of coal was established
in 2011, surpassing the previous high set in 2010. The increase is
attributable to coal energy used to generate electricity.
Natural Gas consumption rose and fell during the 51 year period
between 1960 and 2011, beginning at 140.4 trillion BTU, peaking
in 1973 at 230.7 trillion BTU and, by 2011, increasing to 173.6
trillion BTU.
Gasoline and Diesel Fuel consumption increased in Nebraska
between 1960 and 2011. Gasoline consumption rose by 25 percent,
from 78.7 to 97.8 trillion BTU, as of 2011, and peaked in 1978 at
115.9 trillion BTU. Diesel fuel consumption quadrupled from 24.1
trillion BTU to 113.1 trillion BTU. Petroleum consumption,
overall, peaked in 1978 at 246.1 trillion BTU.
Nuclear power generation began in Nebraska in 1973 at 6.5
trillion BTU. Usage has increased to 72.5 trillion BTU as of 2011,
but peaked in 2007 at 115.7 trillion BTU.
Renewable energy consumption has fluctuated, beginning in
1960 at 13.4 and ending at a record high of 164.9 trillion BTU as of
2011. Hydropower was the primary renewable energy source from
1960 to 1994. Biofuels or ethanol production began in 1995
equaling hydropower. As of 2011, 69.3 percent of all renewable
energy produced came from biofuels. 9.5 percent from
hydroelectric, 6.2 percent from wind and 4.6 percent from wood
products. Very small amounts came from geothermal and solar
energy.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 121 / 151
Section 6 Energy Element.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 6.5
The Nebraska Energy Office, in 2011, published the “Nebraska’s Total Energy
Consumption by Sector.” State-wide, the Industrial Energy Sector consumed more
than a third, 43 percent, of Nebraska’s total energy consumed in 2011. Twenty-Three
percent of the energy consumed in the State was in the Transportation Sector, The
Residential Sector consumed 18 percent and the Commercial Sector consumed 16
percent.
The only Sector to see an increase in consumption between 2010 and 2011 was the
Industrial Sector.
Nebraska is ranked fourth in wind energy resources in the Nation. Approximately 1.8
billion Kilowatt Hours were generated by utility scale wind energy facilities in
Nebraska. The State has 422 operational wind turbines capable of producing 734
Megawatts. An average annual output from the 13 wind facilities across Nebraska
could potentially power 244,880 homes.
“NET METERING”
In 2009, the State of Nebraska Legislature approved and signed into law,
LB 439 (Nebraska State Statute §70-2001 to 2005), which is also
referred to as “Net Metering.” This law allows individual residences
and businesses to supplement their standard electric service with one, or
combinations of, five alternate energy systems, including Solar, Methane,
Wind, Biomass, Hydropower and Geothermal.
Net Metering
Small Residential
Wind Energy Systems
NEBRASKA ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY SECTOR.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 122 / 151
Section 6 Energy Element.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 6.6
By implementing these types of alternative energy systems, individuals
will reduce their reliance on public utility systems, potentially generating
more electricity than they use and profit by the public utility districts
purchasing their excess energy. The Wood River Planning Commission
chose to allow usage control of Net Metering by allowing residential and
businesses property owners to seek a Special Use Permit, if the
applicant can document they are in conformance with the provisions of
the Small Wind Energy Conversion System provisions in the Zoning
Regulations.
Local Zoning Regulations will be able to control the placement of
individual energy systems to limit their impact on adjacent property and
the visual character of residential, commercial and industrial areas.
LARGE SCALE WIND TOWERS
Commercial Wind Energy Conversion Systems or what are commonly
referred to as “Wind Farms” are potentially permitted as Special Uses in
the “AG Agricultural” Zoning District.
430’ Wind Turbines
Commercial Scale Wind
Energy Systems
(Nebraska State Capitol = 400’)
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 123 / 151
Section 6 Energy Element.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 6.7
ENERGY CONSERVATION POLIC
The most effective means for the City of Wood River to reduce its total energy
consumption in each of the Energy Sectors (and by energy type) is by conservation
practices and by continuing to promote the conversion to alternative energy systems
when appropriate.
The following is a list of policies to guide energy practices throughout the City:
Promote the use of “Net Metering” or the use of one or more
combinations of the five alternative energy sources to reduce
residential, commercial and industrial facilities consumption of
energy.
Utilize the Wood River Zoning Regulations to control the
placement and operation of alternative energy systems.
Require compliance with the Special Use permit process so that
established conditions are met by the applicant.
Adopt the NMPP net metering service it established to assist the
City in complying with Nebraska’s Net Metering Law.
Promote the development of vocational education opportunities in
high schools, trade schools, Community and State colleges and
universities to educate the current and future workforce in
alternative energy design, fabrication of equipment and
maintenance.
Assist Hall County in providing for the use and placement of
large scale Commercial Wind Energy Conversion Systems,
commonly referred to as “Wind Farms” in locations throughout
the County.
The placement of large scale wind towers is not compatible with
uses in the limited development areas of the One-Mile Planning
Jurisdiction of Wood River.
As other sources of Alternative Energy Systems are developed or
become cost-effective for use in Nebraska, amend planning
documents of the City to locate and control their operation.
ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICIES.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 124 / 151
Section 6 Energy Element.
City of Wood River, Nebraska | Comprehensive Development Plan – 2035. 6.8
Promote the use of conservation methods to reduce the
consumption of energy usage in each of the individual sectors
including residential, commercial, and industrial (which includes
agricultural and public uses).
Promote the expanded use of solar and geothermal exchange
energy systems for applications throughout the Wood River One-
Mile Planning Jurisdiction. Subareas of the Community, such as
the Downtown, residential areas or individual subdivisions, are
encouraged to collectively pursue an alternate energy source or
combination of sources to lower energy consumption and to make
energy more affordable.
Promote the rehabilitation of agricultural, residential, commercial,
industrial and public/quasi-public buildings utilizing
weatherization methods and energy efficient or “green building”
materials in conformance to the “LEED” Certified Building
techniques.
Implement conservation programs supported by NMPP and NPPD
for its member communities. For example, the Custom Lighting
Efficiency Program is a commercial lighting incentive that
provides cash incentives to businesses that replace old lighting
fixtures with energy-efficient light fixtures such as LED to reduce
consumption and energy costs.
The City of Wood River could also access grant and loan programs
to replace street light fixtures with LED fixtures that reduce
consumption and are more efficient.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 125 / 151
WOOD RIVER ONE- AND SIX-YEAR
ROADS PLAN.
APPENDIX
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 126 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 127 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 128 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 129 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 130 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 131 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 132 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 133 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 134 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 135 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 136 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 137 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 138 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 139 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 140 / 151
Grand IslandRegular Meeting - 12/2/2015Page 141 / 151
Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Regular Meeting
Item M1
Ramblin' Rose
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 142 / 151
November 18, 2015
Dear Members of the Board:
RE: Final Plat – Ramblin’ Rose Subdivision.
For reasons of Section 19-923 Revised Statues of Nebraska, as amended, there is
herewith submitted a final plat of Ramblin’ Rose Subdivision, located in Hall County
Nebraska.
This final plat proposes to create 1 lot, on a tract of land in the Southwest Quarter
(SW1/4) of the Southeast Quarter (SE1/4) Section 24, Township 12 North, Range
12 West of the 6th P.M., in Hall County, Nebraska, said tract containing 3.21 acres.
You are hereby notified that the Regional Planning Commission will consider this
final plat at the next meeting that will be held at 6:00 p.m. on December 2, 2015 in
the Council Chambers located in Grand Island's City Hall.
Sincerely,
Chad Nabity, AICP
Planning Director
Cc: County Clerk
County Attorney
County Public Works
County Zoning
Manager of Postal Operations
Ripp Land Surveying
This letter was sent to the following School Districts 1R, 2, 3, 19, 82, 83, 100, 126.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 143 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 144 / 151
WHITE CLOUD RD W
24-12-12
25-12-12
LOCATION MAP ¯
ProposedRamblin' Rose Sub.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 145 / 151
150TH RD NHIGH STWHITE CLOUD RD W SUEZ STNEBRASKA HIGHWAY 2 W
SAID STMEDINA ST W
BERBER STNEBRASKA 11 HIGHWAY NEGYPT ST WHARB RDSYRIA ST W
OASIS ST
KANSAS ST W
INGALLS RD24-12-12
13-12-12
25-12-12
19-12-11
23-12-12
18-12-11
30-12-1126-12-12
14-12-12
BNSF Railroad Main LineBNSF Railroad Main Line
LOCATION MAP ¯
ProposedRamblin' Rose Sub.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 146 / 151
Hall County Regional Planning
Commission
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Regular Meeting
Item M2
Graf Acres Subdivision
Staff Contact: Chad Nabity
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 147 / 151
November 18, 2015
Dear Members of the Board:
RE: Final Plat – Graf Acres Subdivision.
For reasons of Section 19-923 Revised Statues of Nebraska, as amended, there is
herewith submitted a final plat of Graf Acres Subdivision, located in Hall County
Nebraska.
This final plat proposes to create 1 lot, on a tract of land comprising a part of the
Northeast Quarter (NE1/4) of Section Twenty Three (23), Township Nine (9) North,
Range Ten (10) West of the 6th P.M., in Hall County, Nebraska, said tract
containing 5.483 acres.
You are hereby notified that the Regional Planning Commission will consider this
final plat at the next meeting that will be held at 6:00 p.m. on December 2, 2015 in
the Council Chambers located in Grand Island's City Hall.
Sincerely,
Chad Nabity, AICP
Planning Director
Cc: County Clerk
County Attorney
County Public Works
County Zoning
Manager of Postal Operations
Benjamin & Associates
This letter was sent to the following School Districts 1R, 2, 3, 19, 82, 83, 100, 126.
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 148 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 149 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 150 / 151
Grand Island Regular Meeting - 12/2/2015 Page 151 / 151