Sarpy County Board considers new design standards.

Publication: Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, NE)

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COPYRIGHT 2007 Omaha World-Herald

Byline: Joe Dejka

May 7--Sarpy County is putting its best facade forward.

The Sarpy County Board will consider adopting architectural design standards Tuesday to govern new buildings along Interstate 80 and other highways in the county.

The standards, proposed for a quarter of a mile on either side of the highways, would keep out eyesores like junkyards while requiring new buildings to use fancier architecture, signs and landscaping.

Critics say the standards, written with input from real estate developers, are lenient and include a grandfather clause that undermines the goal of attracting upscale development.

However, a Gretna city councilwoman who helped write the standards said the grandfather clause would guarantee that developments approved several years ago, but not yet built, could proceed under the rules that existed at that time.

Much of the land along the I-80 corridor through Sarpy County is undeveloped. When La Vista landed Cabela's and...

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