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Ag Society making second bid for commercial plans

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By JEAN ORTIZ / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Jun 16, 2008 - 12:44:51 am CDT

The Lancaster County Agricultural Society will make a second attempt at securing approval to build a motel, restaurant and other businesses on 14 acres it owns near the Lancaster Event Center.

The society put the plans on hold more than three years ago  when city leaders delved into discussion about building a new downtown arena and concerns emerged about the potential of creating competing facilities.

The society’s big picture plan at the time also included an $18 million to $20 million expansion. That since has been scaled back to $8 million in work that is now under way.

Story Photo
Lancaster County Event Center. (Eric Gregory)

The commercial plans, however, long sat on the City Council’s pending list. In April, as state leaders made their plans known to move the State Fair to Grand Island, City Councilwoman Robin Eschliman asked the council to reconsider.

But because a land-use planning document has been updated since the society’s first attempt at approval, the Ag Society couldn’t pick up where it left off, said Alan Wood, an attorney representing the group.

The plans are headed to the Planning Commission, which will hold a public hearing Wednesday. The commission narrowly approved the plans in September 2005.

Besides the amendment, the commission will consider a request for a zoning change and special permit. The Ag Society also is asking to annex portions of the 167-acre property, including the 14 acres proposed for development on the southeast corner of 84th Street and Havelock Avenue.

The City Council, which has final say on everything but the special permit, will hold a hearing in July.

Despite the repeat in process, the concept remains unchanged, Wood said.

State law prohibits the Ag Society from selling land, so it intends to enter into a long-term lease with a developer who would build a 75- to 150-room motel, restaurant and other complementing retail businesses, Wood said.

The development could help generate the funds the Ag Society needs to pay for county fair operations and facility improvements, rather than relying on tax dollars, said Event Center Manager Ron Snover.

The Ag Society is one of a handful of subdivisions that receive a small portion of property taxes for their operations.

The county is still paying off some debt from the center’s construction in 2000. Last July, the Lancaster County Board opted to refinance that remaining $2 million and to spend another $8 million on an expansion.

The additions include a third pavilion, parking and enclosing the open-air Amy Countryman Arena.

Work is on schedule, despite the recent severe weather, Snover said.

The pavilion will be ready for its first show June 23. Parking lots should be ready in time for the fair in August and the arena will be complete this fall, he said.

Reach Jean Ortiz at 473-7107 or jortiz@journalstar.com.


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Larry Douglas wrote on June 16, 2008 2:40 am:
" It's a story like this that assures me I made the correct decision in leaving Lincoln last year, after decades of residence. Slow as molasses do it run in the "star city". Three years later, the fair question remains. Three years gone by, and the city leaders remain concerned about competing facilities. In the meantime, no new facilities at all. In a word: Stifling! I suppose I feel the same of Lincoln's entrenched social democrat city leaders as Obama supporters feel about Bush: It's time for change you can believe in. Hey, if you love Lincoln - outrageous taxes & big-brother, anti-business meddling, then you're a'gonna dig that Barack fella. "

 STOP wrote on June 16, 2008 6:11 am:
" Stop this mad rush for our tax dollars. The event center is getting totally out of hand. They are doing what they please at our expense. Does the County Board have the guts to stop this ? NO!!!!! Let's see 20 million here 210 million west haymarket 65 million jail 647 million UNL, anyone else need something besides gas. "

 Compare it to Aksarben wrote on June 16, 2008 8:37 am:
" The events center is one thing that actually makes money. Time to clear cut the State fair grounds and start anew. I personally would like to see the state fair grounds grow much like Aksarben has as a cooperative University/large business park with living, retail, and entertainment areas all in one. I don't see why this is so hard for people to grasp. Drive up to Omaha and check out what is going on at 72nd and Center. It is an amazing turnaround to the vacant aksarben. There is also a comparable distance difference from (UNO-Aksarben village) to (UNL-State fair village?) "

 RW wrote on June 16, 2008 10:01 am:
" None of this is "hard to grasp", its the fact that Lincoln and Nebraska
is almost the highest taxed place, yet NOTHING can be built unless the
taxpayers are forced to pay for it. Its not that way in other cities.
Anything built in Lincoln doesn't pay for itself, the taxpayers have to pay for it, which will be for an arena & convention center because Nebraska goes for the juglar and no one wants to buy or come to Nebr
because it will cost you your life savings! Been that way for 50 years,
I've had to listen to it from people in other states besides my own
experience of knowing you buy before you get to the state line!!!! Always
a joy to come home - NOT!! The sad thing, like the 'FOUND" "POT OF GOLD"
you can't trust anyone!!!! And like Mr. Douglas, if Lincoln leaders think
they've pulled the wool over everybodys' eyes, think again, and yes thats
what you will get with Obama too!!!! "

 JR wrote on June 16, 2008 10:28 am:
" Larry, I think you are a bit confused, and using your confusion as a cheap shot towards something totally unrelated. Let me put it in a simpler form. You are comparing apples to oranges. The reason the whole Ag Center was put on hold was final decisions had to be made. Big decisions. To me, three years is not a long time to wait for a decision, as long as progress is being made and answers are being sought. Would you propose they go ahead and build both projects without any consideration of the realities? Now that, certainly does sound like the current administration in DC, doesn't it? But instead of wasting tax dollars, the Lincoln administration waited and did some thinking, did some investigating, and actually changed their minds on both projects. Imagine where we would be today if the leaders in DC had done the same thing? Actually thought through what might happen and what really is our goal. And as for your "outrageous taxes & big-brother, anti-business meddling" comment ... well, that just sort of diminishes any hope of a serious, thought provoking conversation on your part. "

 Future Home wrote on June 16, 2008 11:03 am:
" of the Lincoln State Fair "

 think again wrote on June 16, 2008 11:04 am:
" think again if you are ever going to see living, retail, and entertainment areas all in one with the plans that UNL has for the state fair property. Their only plans involve research and research only. "

 Oh God wrote on June 16, 2008 11:09 am:
" As if the city hasn't already gotten itself in over its head now the county ag wants money. This will be a done deal and the taxpayers will be ask again to pay for its downfall. I agree with Larry Douglas about his decision to leave. I went a few years before him and only read the online to see how good i've got it now. It seems everyone complains about whats happening in lincoln , but, very few leave. I've often said that after graduating why I stayed in nebraska to begin with, let alone staying under I was tax poor. Live and learn huh? "

 check the master plan wrote on June 16, 2008 1:20 pm:
" UNL's plan for State fair park is not for "research and research only". Check the master plan. Many of the new buildings are set for retail and corperation space. There is also a large amount of park designated areas. I think there is a distinct possibility to see apartments/condos in this area if it is not set as University land and is sold to a private deleloper. This would allow for a "husker village" type of setting for young professionals to live just outside of downtown yet have easy acess through the new parkway to downtown.

Check Omaha's tax levee. It is fairly close to Lincoln's. And as far as nebraska goes: Nebraska ranks #22 for overall tax burden, still .9% LESS than the average burden the average us citizen faces (includes the #9 state tax rank). So stop your complaining! I'm getting tired of everyone saying how high your taxes are. Yes... property taxes are higher by percentage. But you can't buy a $135,000 good starter home anywhere else but lincoln and omaha. It'll cost you $275,000+ in Denver. So precentage rate are all relative. you should be glad cost of living/owning a home is so cheap here. "

 mzgo wrote on June 16, 2008 1:50 pm:
" Folks you MUST be able to read and process what you are reading. What NEW tax debt is being accrued with this action? The article says: "a developer who would build a 75- to 150-room motel, restaurant and other complementing retail businesses, Wood said." I would assume that the County will get SOME money for "leasing out" this land "

 Developer wrote on June 16, 2008 4:02 pm:
" If one developer can persuade the ag group wouldn't there be others interested in it? If they knew the County was interested in doing this?
This should be put out for bid and award to the highest bidder. "

 J wrote on June 16, 2008 4:06 pm:
" We need to get the Aksarben comparison out to more people. If you are in Omaha, drive to Aksarben and see the progress. It is a great area that Lincoln does not have, but desperately needs. This would be a great thing. UNL is better at getting research dollars and works with private companies to do research, so this is why the focus is on research, as opposed to business like the Aksarben area. "

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