02/17/2020
OPPOSE LB794: a bill to eliminate zoning protections in Lincoln’s older neighborhoods
Near South Neighborhood Association has just learned there is a bill (LB794) being debated in the State legislature that would override Lincoln’s zoning code and allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in all Lincoln neighborhoods – regardless of the current neighborhood zoning. LB 794 obliterates Lincoln zoning codes that have protected older neighborhoods for nearly two decades. The bill’s introducers say this is necessary in order to create affordable housing in Lincoln. However, as decades of experience have shown, LB794 will not create quality affordable housing.
Instead, it will encourage the same kind of faceless, low quality, slip-in apartments that devastated neighborhoods in Lincoln in the 1960’s and 1970’s. LB794 is the same kind of one-sized fits all, sweeping legislation that has taken decades to try and recover from. Why would we inflict that kind of damage on neighborhoods that have worked so hard to recover and improve?!
For those neighborhoods that were lucky enough not to be rezoned to allow for apartments in the 1960’s, LB794 will now open the door in your neighborhood for exactly that same kind of activity – tearing down houses to slip in apartments. Specifically, this bill forces Lincoln to allow duplex, triplex, and four-plex apartments in every part of every neighborhood regardless of the current zoning. By eliminating Lincoln’s zoning code, LB794 removes our local ability. For example, right now the City of Lincoln is creating an Affordable Housing Action Plan to continue thoughtful, nuanced, community-based planning efforts to preserve and promote all housing types and build a level of density that can be supported by the existing infrastructure. This is a far better solution than the legislation created by LB794.
PLEASE TAKE TIME AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO EMAIL THESE STATE SENATORS & ASK THEM TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BY OPPOSING LB794.
Lincoln Senators:
Patty Pansing-Brooks [email protected]
Anna Wishart [email protected]
Kate Bolz [email protected]
Adam Morfeld [email protected]
Matt Hansen [email protected]
Mike Hilgers [email protected]
Urban Affairs Committee:
Justin Wayne [email protected]
John Arch [email protected]
Tom Briese [email protected]
Sue Crawford [email protected]
John Lowe [email protected]
Megan Hunt [email protected]
Regards,
Vish Reddi, President
Near South Neighborhood
