Date:

February 22, 2008

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

Wynn Hjermstad, Urban Development, 441-8211

Mayor Chris Beutler today urged residents to attend one of the public meetings scheduled over the next few weeks on the proposed master plan for the Antelope Valley Research and Development Corridor.

“Public and private research and development efforts have a huge economic benefit to our City,” said Beutler. “By removing the flooding threat from a large area near the University, the Antelope Valley Project presents us with tremendous opportunities to expand in this area. We need the public to be involved as we create a vision for the corridor.”

A proposed master plan has been developed by the Portland, Oregon firm of Crandall Arambula, which also worked with the City on the downtown master plan. The firm will share its recommendations with the public and take comments at a meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 28 in the Lancaster Room at the Cornhusker Marriott.

Follow-up meetings also are set for three specific groups:

• Property owners in the corridor -
• noon Friday, February 29, St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 “M”St., lower level dining room
• 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, Elliott Elementary, 225 S. 25th St., east entrance, room B112
• Downtown property owners -
• noon Tuesday, March 4, St. Paul, lower level dining room
• 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, St. Paul, lower level dining room
• Neighborhood residents - 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, St. Paul, classroom 155/157

Three documents will be discussed at the meetings:

• Antelope Valley Research and Development Corridor Master Plan
• Antelope Valley Planned Unit Development
• Lincoln Downtown Neighborhood Design Standards

The documents will go to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission and the Lincoln City Council for approval. The documents and more information on the Antelope Valley Project are available on the City Web site, lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: antelope).