Planning board approves Harney Street vacation for Nebraska Medicine clinic over Clarkson objections

The Omaha Planning Board voted 5–1 on June 6 to recommend vacating portions of Harney Street between Farnam and 41st–42nd Streets to allow Nebraska Medicine to construct a new clinic and to reconfigure Farnam Street as a two-way corridor.

Nebraska Medicine said the grade of the existing Harney Street (8–9% in places) prevents an ADA-compliant patient drop-off at the proposed clinic at 42nd and Farnam and that the proposed vacation and associated public improvements (more than $3 million in public-work-like improvements the hospital will fund) will improve access and safety across the campus. Counsel for Nebraska Medicine emphasized years of prior coordination with the city and said the vacation is essential for the project and that the hospital has invested millions in design and early construction.

Clarkson Regional Health Services — a large neighboring landowner and the owner of the Lot 5 parking garage — testified in opposition, saying it had not been included sufficiently in planning conversations and that vacating the roadway could impede future operations of the garage. Clarkson requested the board hold over the vacation to continue negotiations and to ensure access arrangements and easements are in place. Public Works staff explained the plat and vacation processes are linked, and identified administrative steps (damages committee, council consideration) that will follow any board recommendation.

Board deliberations considered public-benefit trade-offs, rights-of-way, lease relationships (Clarkson leases portions to Nebraska Medicine) and the damages/plat recording steps that must follow. The board approved the vacation with conditions and encouraged ongoing coordination between Nebraska Medicine and Clarkson to document access arrangements and to minimize operational surprises. The motion passed 5–1.