Apr 09 2010
Petak’s High Five: Projects Bellevue needs to complete
This week, Executive Editor Ron Petak presents his top five projects Bellevue needs to complete. Next week, look for Sports Editor Eric Taylor’s top five songs that make him turn off his radio.
5) Fort Crook Road
Slow and steady are the key words in this long-term project. The Coreslab cleanup just north of Cornhusker Road is moving along nicely, but city officials need to target the next cleanup spot sooner than later. The sooner there are more cars on Fort Crook, the better.
4) 270 acres at 36th and Capehart
City leaders need to make a decision on what to do with the property – preferably the sale of the land to a) generate some revenue for the city and b) let a developer get moving on bringing his/her ideas to the Planning Commission.
3) The Cat Osterman Experience (aka the baseball/softball village)
The first pitch at the first weekend tourney is next weekend, so it’s critical for the city to find complementary businesses that will keep guests in the area. In tournament parlance: We don’t want to go “one and done” with this project.
2) Haworth Park and Kramer Park
A lot has already been done north of Mission Avenue thanks to the efforts of the Bellevue Junior Sports Association, but there’s so much more to do at the city’s jewel on the river. Privatizing the marina this winter was a good thing, and city officials can’t afford not to continue to invest their efforts on the area.
1) Fairview Road improvements
This one is barely on the radar, but Bellevue’s future is here. Interstate access, new bridge to the south – there’s little not to like about making Fairview Road the major east-west corridor south of Offutt. The possibilities are endless, but nothing will come about without the city targeting the area as its No. 1 priority.
Ron:
Although your list for the HIgh 5 is fairly good, you missed one BIG problem in Bellevue’s future development. Until 36th St. (maybe 25th St.) is improved, there should be NO further development in that corridor. We have lived in Leawood for a long time and the traffic is mainly a nightmare most of the time on 36th. It should be widened with turn lanes to accommodate the present traffic for all the housing developments and schools that have grown up south of Capehart Road. I realize that funds may be short, but the widening of 36th St. is about 20 years over due.
Fairview Road that you mentioned on your list was just widened and is quite nice to use now. It needs no further improvement until the rest of the roads in this part of Bellevue/Sarpy County are brought up to useable width to handle the highly increased traffic.
Ann Williamson
Agree with #3, however, living and working in close proximity of the rendering plant, I’m painfully aware of how the odors of this plant can drive entire neighborhoods indoors at times. The first time this plant stinks up a game for both the players and fans, it could have a telling impact on just how serious Bellevue is about keeping the teams and fans coming.