Omaha City Council approves liquor licenses, plats, UNO agreements and $165,000 settlement

The Omaha City Council approved a package of routine business at its meeting, including three liquor licenses, several preliminary and final plats, zoning approvals, three agreements with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and a $165,000 settlement in Petersen v. City of Omaha.

Why it matters: The approvals clear the way for new businesses and development projects across the city, authorize grant-style contracts with UNO for public-safety and community programs, and finalize a city settlement that resolves pending litigation.

Votes at a glance — key outcomes from the meeting: - Item 6: Approved a Class C and Z liquor license for Golden Sheaf Event Center and Tasting Room, 3309 Oakview Drive Suite 104. Motion passed 7–0. Proponent: Sean Ilg, president and part owner of Golden Operations. - Item 7: Approved a Class C liquor license for Tracks (second location), 18111 Q Street, Suite 107–108. Motion passed 7–0. Proponent: Nikki Connor (applicant, on Zoom). - Item 8: Approved a Class I liquor license for Cane Nails, 343 North 70 Eighth Street, with a waiver of Rule 7. Motion passed 7–0. Proponent: Alan Compton on behalf of K Veil LLC. - Items 9, 10 and 11: Approved preliminary and final plats including Bel Air Village, replat 3 (near 100th and 20th & Shirley Streets) and Smelter Plant replat 3 (401 Riverfront Drive). Motions passed 7–0. Proponents included Scott Loes for Chabad Lipovich and Chris Kneig of HDR. - Item 12: Approved a PUR overlay district northeast of 18th and Locust Streets (proposed four-story, 36-unit affordable housing project). Motion passed 7–0. Proponent: Lawrence Butler for Locust Blocks 16 14 LLC. - Items 13–38: Consent items previously noticed were approved as a block. Motion passed 7–0. - Item 39: Approved a settlement agreement in Gordon and Josephine Petersen v. City of Omaha in the amount of $165,000. Motion passed 7–0. - Item 40: Approved the appointment of Cecil Hicks Jr. to the Library Board. Motion passed 7–0; Hicks spoke in support of his nomination. - Items 48–50 (contracts with UNO): The council advanced three UNO agreements announced on the agenda: $88,777 to the UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (item 48), $32,005 for collaboration with the District of Nebraska Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force (item 49), and $268,174 to implement the "Engaging Networks within the Community of Omaha to Maintain and Promote a Safe Society" project (item 50). Public hearings for those items were held and closed; no opponents spoke on the record.

Meeting procedure and public comment: Most items drew brief applicant statements and no public opposition. Applicants and project representatives spoke to the council for clarity or to answer members’ questions; several planning-related items were presented by City Planning staff.

Background and supporting details: Several development items were presented as recommended by the Planning Board and Planning Department. For example, the Smelter Plant replat adjustments were described by Chris Kneig (HDR) as changes to right-of-way alignment tied to Riverfront Drive safety and to allow construction of two pickleball courts adjacent to the Cubit Luminarium. The PUR overlay item (Locust Blocks) was described by Lawrence Butler as a preliminary design stage affordable housing project of four stories and 36 units.

What the council did not decide: Some agenda items listed as public hearings (such as the property-acquisition ordinance for Pacific Street washout repair, item 44) had hearings closed in the meeting record but did not show a separate roll-call vote in the transcript excerpt provided.

Ending: With the routine package approved, the council moved remaining non-action items to future agendas and adjourned. Several land-use and licensing matters will proceed to permitting and administrative follow-up per standard city processes.