SANFORD: Innovation Campus plans are all show, little substance

I greedily clicked on the link that would take me to the latest set of drawings and maps. My eyes were immediately drawn to the swirling greens, blues and browns on the upper left side of the site plan, instantly entertained by the dynamic curving shapes and pleasant earthy color scheme.

Then my critical mind reasserted itself, studying intensely the muted tans and grays of the lower portions of the map. The frown forming above my eyebrows deepened.

On Oct. 23, high-powered consultants made yet another presentation to the NU Board of Regents concerning the master plan and business plan for Nebraska Innovation Campus, to be built on the Old State Fair Grounds. It amounts to a lot of show and very little substance, bark without bite, all hat no cattle – choose your metaphor. Basically, the planners are playing magician, waving a colorful scarf so that one can't see what their other hand is doing.

The Nebraska Innovation Campus can be divided into two sections: the Salt Creek and its unbuildable floodplain on the north and the buildable area on the south bordering Salt Creek Roadway, anchored by the bulk of the Devaney Center in the southwest corner. They are using the north half to create an interesting drawing of open spaces which will compensate for the boring and uninspired plan of the actual development.

The plan includes two east-west "Main Streets" which join a "Green Street" running north-south, just to the west of the existing 4-H Building which is to be retained and renovated. This "Green Street" is to include a park-like urban rain garden to collect storm water runoff, provide plant habitat and welcome greenery and pedestrian space in what is otherwise billed as an urban environment.

The trouble is, as admirable as the consultant's intentions might be, they are once again missing key opportunities, paying lip service to principles and misunderstanding important definitions.

First, a north-south "Green Street" is hindered by its orientation. Buildings on either side will ensure the street is in shade a good portion of the day, detrimental to plants and people. It would be far more beneficial to reorient the "Green Street" east-west and take advantage of southern exposure and escape the strong north winds.

Sunlight has many positive psychological and physiological effects, and even in the heart of summer its least favorable aspects can be mitigated by umbrellas and awnings. But for long Nebraska winters and blustery autumns and springs, the sun is a welcome companion.

Throughout the presentation, the consultants describe their desire to "adopt environmentally sensitive land use practices, plan for innovative, sustainable buildings and landscapes, and move toward a net zero energy and carbon neutral campus."

Unfortunately, actually saying you want to try to be sustainable and planning for and creating true sustainability are not the same. A quick glance at the plan reveals a dearth of surface parking lots, a bitter pill sweetened by the round green dots of street trees.

In one option, the floodplain is (supposedly) a semi-natural habitat, while in the other, it boasts a three-hole golf course. While a golf course might be appealing to many and preferable to more parking lots, it can under no circumstances be considered sustainable or a "sensitive land use."

Likewise, "moving toward" net zero energy is basically a fancy way of saying "better than average." The plans and drawing include three large commercial wind turbines, which I applaud, but what is the likelihood of those dreams becoming reality? Where is the mention of discussions with LES or University Utilities to see if the capital and, more important, political will exist to make them happen?