Ongoing Demise of Cherry County Viewscape

Construction of four cellular-service towers in Cherry county continues the ongoing demise of the viewscape in this portion of the north-central Sand Hills.

In April 2012, the cellular company Viaero applied for permission to construct the towers from county officials.

One tower location was in section 6, T34N R26W, along Highway 12 northeast of Valentine, and about one-half mile northward of the northern edge of Fort Niobrara NWR, and within three miles of the Niobrara River. This tower is self-supporting, with a 195 foot height.

It would be nothing new in particular, as there are other towers in this vicinity of the town.

Another tower locale was for the south side of Merriman, in section 20, T34N R37W, and self-supporting, meaning no guy wires were needed. Its height is 120 feet, apparently being a locus for service in the immediate area.

Further south were two new towers which significantly changed the landscape perspective. Both constructs were 330 feet in height, included guy lines and had a blinking line on its top.

The so-called "James Valley" tower occurs in section 7, T29N R37W, which is along Highway 61 and just south of Clifford Creek.

Further south along the same roadway, is the "Rothwell" tower in section 11, T25N R38W, on property recently sold by the Wearin Brothers Cattle Company. The tower site is directly east of the former headquarters for this ranch operation.

The blinking light at the apex of the tower is undoubtedly visible from the other hilltop in the area, perhaps even Old Baldy, off west near the county boundary. Two nights spent atop this dune years ago, provided a perspective to remember.

The Highway 61 corridor is also the location of two other communication towers.

Miles south of Merriman, past the Niobrara River valley, is the 1000+ foot-tall tower which issues the signal for Nebraska Public Radio, and maintained by Nebraska Educational Telecommunications. This tower has many guy lines. It is a dominant feature.

In 2001, a cellular company got permission to construct a tower in section 20, T27N R37W, just a few miles east of the highway.

Depending upon the perspective, and viewing conditions, the prominence of these towers varies. The blinks of lights are certainly obvious on a clear night from any of the local hills hilltops.

The leases provide cash money for the property owners. The only thing they have to do is enter into an agreement, and then sign the back of the checks regularly received.

Lights of a 330 foot tower can certainly be visible from more than 15 miles distant on a clear night. A 1000 foot tower, with even a greater number of lights can be seen from ever a broader extent of the hills. The overall impact, spreading across a vast number of miles, has permanently altered the sandhills. It is obvious that their construction meant a loss of the very essence attributed to the region as a vast landscape, the proverbial sea of grass.

The demise of the night skyscape will continue. Its essential nature is already gone.

View Tower and Hill Locations - north-central Sand Hills, Nebraska in a larger map

Company Withdraws Cherry County MET Tower Proposal

A proposal from Bluestem Sandhills L.L.C. to erect four meteorological towers was withdrawn by the company before it could be considered by the Cherry County board of commissioners at their meeting on the afternoon of February 12th.

Technical engineers withdrew their application at 9:55 a.m., according to the county zoning administrator. The meeting was to start at 2 p.m.

Each tower would have provided details essential to evaluating the potential for generating wind energy with turbines. Each tower would have had a height of 197 feet above ground level, and include something like four sets of guy-wire. Because of their height, an indicator light would not be required at the top of the structure, as they are federally mandated only for structures more than 199 feet tall.

Locations for the proposed towers, as provided by the Cherry county zoning administrator, were:

* southwest 1/4 of section 34, T26N R33W

* northwest 1/4 of section 30, T27N R35W

Both of these sites are on property owned by the Lone Creek Cattle Company, an agribusiness company based from Lincoln, Nebraska.

* southeast 1/4 of section 20, T25N R28W

This parcel is owned by Bureau of Educational Lands and Funds, the Nebraska agency responsible for school section tracts throughout the state. There has not yet been an agreement reached upon the lease amount, nor the period of time that a tower might be placed upon the property, according to a spokesman. "It is clear that we support wind turbines," he said, based upon decisions made by the board. Also, the BELF is a member of the Cherry County Wind Energy Association, and has enrolled 28,000 acres, to fulfill association requirements.

* southeast 1/4 of section 18, T34N R31W

The site is located along Highway 20, southwest of Kilgore, on property owned by the Rothleutner partnership.

These permanent structures required approval by county officials.

There has also been a mobile MET tower along a county road south of Cody, an official in the courthouse at Valentine indicated. No further details were available as to its owner or purpose.

A fifth tower had originally been proposed, but was not included in the postponed request.

Approved Plan Precludes Potential Greenspace

The City of Omaha Planning Board has approved a concept plan to develop an industrial park on a large tract of land in east Omaha.

This development would preclude any opportunity to greenspace amenities for a large land parcel, which lies between a neighborhood and Levi Carter Park.

Currently, privately-owned, the site extends from Ames Street to Locust Street, on the west side of Levi Carter Park.

According to the proposal — presented at a November 7th planning board meeting — the site would be purchased from the current owner, and if they would not agree to sell, it would be taken through eminent domain procedures.

Once acquired, the 70-acre tract would be developed for industrial use by adding necessary infrastructure such as power and other essentials, including a road extending along the its west side. The site already has adjacent railroad access, which is being conveyed as a beneficial feature in the planning department proposal.

A site layout indicates the potential for five lots comprising 52 "usable" acres. Five lots are proposed, varying in size from five to 15 acres.

The remaining 18 acres are three "outlots" and the roadway. The outlots include three parcels:

• the bluffs on the west side of the tract, comprising five acres;
  
• a triangular area on the northwest corner of the tract, two acres; and
  
• a linear area of two acres within Levi Carter Park.
  

Nearly the entire area is on the floodplain of the Missouri River.

There is no indication that the outlot within Levi Carter Park would be transferred to public ownership and become an area within the park.

Site plan for Ames to Locust Industrial park. Image provided by the Planning department of the City of Omaha.

Destroying an Opportunity

The approved concept — as there were no specifics presented to indicate any particular site development features — will preclude any greenspace, development. The following personal comments were presented in opposition to the plan.

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These comments express my opposition to the planning department proposal. I am well acquainted with the Carter Lake area, have done more than 100 bird surveys of the area since March 2011. There are many obvious points contrary to the industrial park proposal, including:

• the proposal does not mention Levi Carter Park in any manner, though it is directly east of the development site;
• three people actively involved with the Carter Lake renovation project were not even aware of the proposal to impose an industrial park adjacent to lake property;
• there is no indication of a space where stormwater runoff will be dealt with onsite, to avoid any flow into Carter Lake, were a water quality improvement project — which cost millions — is nearing completion;
• the "taking" of private property via eminent domain by the City of Omaha, to promote so-called economic development, and done with an intent to resell the property to private entities;
• apparent loss of woodlands along the bluffs, since, based upon comments by a city planner, the intent is to create the greatest extent possible of "usable" acres for development, and which might require the extensive use of retaining walls along the bluffs;
• imposition of an industrial development on the floodplain of the Missouri River;
• establishing industrial development upon a land tract where alternative discussions have previously proposed that green space be the primary feature; and,
• obviously ignoring of the North Omaha Revitalization Plan, approved by the planning board and Omaha City Council in July 2011, which denotes the site as an extension of Levi Carter Park, with the bluffs, northward and southward, as a green space.

Instead of industry, the space could be a welcoming green places for the north Omaha community.

The bluffs and the bottoms of the property parcel could be rehabilitated to provide a direct connection from the neighborhood to the west and to the already green spaces of Levi Carter Park.

There could be a hiking path, which would conform with a stated goal within the revitalization plan of making Levi Carter Park a large-scale asset for the local community and others.

This parcel of property has many options for its use, and the appropriate use is one that will match what the community prefers. The best use is as a greenspace, according to the comments provided by people at the charettes and meetings associated with efforts which resulted in the North Omaha revitalization plan.

Placing heavy industry at this site is wrong, and the proposal submitted by the planning department should not be passed.

Additional comments were expressed that others also oppose this plan, but had not yet had sufficient time to prepares alternatives plans and concepts. Again the importance of providing them an opportunity to express their views, was indicated.

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As an opponent, these comments were presented after the proponents spoke.

Jobs and Economic Development Primary

The driving force behind this proposal is to develop a tract into a place of concrete and buildings where various businesses can provide jobs and economic development. This was the theme of the presenter from the Planning Department. The site is perhaps the only large tract in East Omaha where light industrial or warehousing development could occur.

According to the department representative, the land-owner had approached the city of Omaha to see if they would be interested in purchasing the property.

The "site is very, very important" to the development of industry, said Bridget Hadley, of the planning department. She claimed 5-700 jobs would be created.

Additional similar comments of support were provided by the Omaha city council member, from the 2nd district. Then the chamber of commerce spokesman expressed their support, extending his perspective to the point that "surrounding land use is compatible." Another speaker conveyed the similar comments in support of economic development.

The proponents were given a chance for rebuttal, but no such opportunity was provided for any opponent.

Hadley indicated that particular details would be finalized after the site is acquired and shovel-ready. She said truck traffic would occur on Commercial Avenue (i.e. North 16th Street) and along Locust Street. Another rebuttal point was that "no specific decision has been made on the size of the retaining wall," though, according to engineers, one would be necessary to prevent "fallage" in the tract street.

Another person from the planning department said the site would be designed to retain stormwater. Rick Cunningham said there is a railroad track between the tract and the park, and "it is not going away." Industrial is the "highest and best use," he indicated, in adding his opinion.

There is no plan to change the zoning of the land from heavy industrial, according to a question and response.

A motion for approval was made by Anna Nubel, a member of the planning board, and then seconded. The item was approved, but not by a majority.

Chairman of the board, Thomas O. Kelley, voted against approval, with a comment that any use of eminent domain to acquire the property is not proper and may be illegal.

Another opportunity for public comment will occur when the Omaha City Council makes a decision on the project proposal.