What is the Urban Design Element (UDE)?
It’s a framework that establishes the city’s long-range policies, goals and standards as a general guide for its physical development. The UDE centers on three components: Green Omaha, which calls for the preservation and enhancement of the city’s natural setting and public park system; Civic Omaha, which calls for the definition and improvement of the city’s civic places and public image; and Neighborhood Omaha, which calls for the preservation and enhancement of the diverse character of the city’s residential neighborhoods. Q: Who developed the UDE? A: The UDE was developed during a 14-month process lead by a partnership between the Mayor’s Office, the Planning Department and Omaha by Design in collaboration with national urban planning consultants, a volunteer Working Review Committee and hundreds of interested citizens. Q: Why is the UDE necessary? A: The charter of the City of Omaha lists urban design as one of the required components of the Master Plan. The UDE was passed by the
