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Planning commission delays vote on People City Mission expansion to resolve floodplain, traffic and loading concerns
Summary
The commission continued the public hearing for an amendment to People City Mission's special permit and a proposed 69,000-square-foot women-and-children shelter for two weeks so staff, Watershed Management and the applicant can resolve grading, floodplain and Q Street truck/pedestrian issues.
The Lincoln-Lancaster Planning Commission on June 11 continued the public hearing on a proposed amendment to People City Mission's existing special permit to expand its campus and add a 69,000-square-foot women-and-children facility. Commissioners voted to continue the hearing for two weeks to allow more detailed grading and watershed review and to resolve outstanding traffic and loading-dock questions.
Why it matters: People City Mission is Lincoln's largest homeless services campus. The project would add beds and program space for women and children and allow repurposing of the existing building for expanded men's services. The site sits largely within a mapped floodplain and immediately abuts a public street (Q Street) that currently functions as campus circulation.
What staff said: Planning Department staff presented the amendment and noted much of the proposed expansion area is in floodplain. Watershed Management has been reviewing allowable fill and required conservation easements. Staff recommended conditional approval tied to watershed and grading conditions and standard permitting review.
Applicant presentation and community issues: Tim Gergen and Jeff Chadwick of Clark & Anderson described a two-story, 69,000-square-foot addition and sitework that would raise the facility and parking out of the floodplain and provide fenced courtyards, a gym/chapel and new loading access. Applicant representatives asked the commission to reconsider or soften a condition (condition 1.4) that requires the applicant to "revise the loading area and pedestrian crossing on Q Street to the satisfaction of LTU (Lincoln Transportation & Utilities)." The applicant said the project and campus circulation will rely on a midblock pedestrian connection across Q Street and an angled loading dock that routes trucks to the First Street signal; LTU staff had raised safety and right-of-way concerns about that arrangement.
Watershed, floodplain and traffic concerns: Staff emphasized the unresolved watershed grading and floodplain conservation easement issues and said LTU staff should review any midblock crossing and truck maneuvers because the loading movements could conflict with pedestrians if not configured carefully. The applicant agreed to develop a revised grading/drainage submittal and asked for time to work with LTU on the crosswalk/loading layout.
Decision: Because the public hearing had been closed, the commission reopened it and voted to continue the hearing for two weeks to allow staff and the applicant to resolve the watershed/grading submittal and to have LTU review the proposed midblock pedestrian crossing and loading-dock arrangements. The motion carried 6-0.
Quote: Pastor Tom Barber, People City Mission, explained the program need: "We started in 1907. ... We're out of space. ... This winter had 430 folks there in cubby holes. I had women and babies on mats on the floor. ... We are out of space." That testimony framed the applicant's urgency.
Next steps: The applicant will submit a revised grading and drainage plan to Watershed Management for review; the applicant and LTU will work on a pedestrian/loading configuration; the commission will reconvene the hearing in two weeks.
