ABSTRACT
City design starts with the natural landscape, and in Omaha the most significant landscape element is the creek system and the valleys it has created. Creating new development regulations for Omaha involves three sets of design issues: green, civic, and neighborhood. "Green" means relating development to the city's characteristic landscape setting and making the built environment more sustainable. A city in harmony with its green landscaped setting, and with walkable neighborhoods, civic places, and mixed use districts that are suitable destinations for public transit is part of the smart growth spectrum, which starts at transportation for the entire multi-city region and the preservation of regional open space. The areas of civic importance in the master plan, and in three overlay zoning districts, include Omaha's traditional downtown, but also the other parts of the city where the most people work, shop, or look for entertainment.
