City Council Approves Street Permits, Liquor Licenses for Upcoming Block Party

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Lincoln City Council unanimously approved multiple liquor licenses and special event designations Monday, clearing the way for downtown venues to participate in Project NO Street Block Party, a free event scheduled for Thursday on O Street. All council members voted in favor of the resolutions.

The council granted Class I liquor licenses to two new establishments: Ybor, a restaurant at 1900 K Street, Suite 150 operated by Good Life Community Development, and Good Evans, located at 2820 Pine Lake Road, Suite 1 and operated by Pepperjax Development LLC. The council also approved a manager application for Pioneer Health Foods Inc. dba China Inn at 2662 Cornhusker Highway.

The council's most significant action involved granting special designated outdoor liquor permits to 11 downtown venues for the April 30 block party, which will feature a 400-by-95-foot outdoor area on O Street between 14th Street and Centennial Mall from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Approved venues include the Brass Rail, Pita & Naan, The Junction, Iguana's Pub/Voda Lounge, Bodega's Alley, Duffy's Tavern, Itsumo Ramen, Bourbon Theatre, Fat Toad Pub, Sandy's, and Yia Yia's.

The event is designed to support downtown businesses during the Project O Street construction, which is upgrading water mains, stormwater systems, sidewalks, lighting and accessibility features along the corridor. The block party will run from 6 to 10:30 p.m. with entry screening and wristband distribution beginning at 5 p.m., and will feature live performances from local acts AM/FM and Church of Blues.

In other action, the council approved the Third Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement between the West Haymarket JPA and the City of Lincoln, updating the operational and management responsibilities for downtown facilities. The council also adopted several land use ordinances including amendments allowing accessory buildings in the agricultural-residential district to be located in side yards up to 5 feet from the property line, and updates to regulations governing sidewalk cafes in the public right-of-way.

Petitions reviewed by the council included a special permit for Bryan Medical Center East Campus to expand its emergency department and relocate the Fairview House, and a proposed zone change for Turbine Flats Planned Unit Development to add approximately 4.47 acres with a change from H-3 Commercial to R-6 PUD designation. All items passed on unanimous votes.