A proposed development in northeast Lincoln would offer a "unique setting" and a type of high-density housing that Lincoln hasn't seen at the scale being proposed.
A local developer is proposing to build 58 traditional homes and town homes along with 50 small "cottage style" homes on small lots. Those residential uses would take up more than half of 62.5 acres on the north side of Superior Street between 35th Street and Salt Creek.
The rest of the property would be devoted to an RV park with 45 spaces along Salt Creek, and an agricultural area that would be used for community farming.
Local developer and home builder Marty Fortney said he wanted to provide affordable housing while also getting some use out of a large chunk of the property that is either in the floodplain or floodway.
The result, which combines small, affordable homes, with a working farm and an RV park, is a "really unique use of the property that Lincoln hasn't seen before," Fortney said.
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The cottage-style homes will be anywhere from 700-1,100 square feet, Fortney said, with prices ranging from $125,000-$160,000, well below the average price of a new home in Lincoln.
"Not everybody wants a big house," he said.
The "epicenter" of the development, however, will be the working farm, which will have vegetable gardens, fruit and nut trees and a small number of livestock.
Fortney said he envisions the farm as an attraction that would be educational while also providing products that can go to local food banks and co-ops.
The RV park is included in the project to help pay for the costs of running the farm, Fortney said. The project also contains a small commercial development, likely mini storage units, that would be developed along Superior Street.
Members of the Planning Commission generally expressed support for the project, calling it "unique," "creative," "exciting" and "kind of cool."
Maja Harris, who is originally from Sweden, said it's not unusual to have campsites and RV parks next to residential developments in her home country, and it seems to work out well.
"I'm willing to give your concept a try," she said.
Tim Gergen, a civil engineer with The Clark Enersen Partners, said the site of the RV park is an ideal location in an urban setting that will offer "great views" of Salt Creek.
The Planning Commission voted 6-1 to approve a zoning change to facilitate the project. The lone "no" vote came from Commissioner Deane Finnegan, who said she could not support the RV park as part of the project.
The Planning Commission also voted in favor of two other housing developments Wednesday.
It approved a zoning change and preliminary plat for 162 single-family homes on 20 acres near South Folsom Street and West Denton Road, as well as an annexation and zoning change of 9.25 acres of land at Northwest 48th and West Holdrege streets where 23 single-family homes and 18 town homes are being proposed.