A ballot drop box. (George Frey/Getty Images)
GRETNA, Nebraska — Voters here on Tuesday appeared to narrowly approve a good life district ballot measure that’s key to helping fund the buildout of a 2,000-acre, one-of-a-kind tourist destination.
Unofficial results posted Tuesday night showed passage, 1,044 to 1,029, with up to about 20 votes potentially still to come if those residents who still need to show a valid ID bring one to the Sarpy County Election Commissioner’s office by Jan. 21.
A vision of the Gretna good life district proposed by businessman Rod Yates. Boundaries would include and surround the Nebraska Crossing mall centered at Interstate 80 and Highway 31. (Courtesy of Nebraska Crossing)
Gretna Mayor Mike Evans said the close vote in the mail-in special election reflected public confusion over the project and the state incentive, and signaled a need to be clearer as the process moves forward to build a “transformational” tourist magnet at the district site near Interstate 80 and Highway 31, between Omaha and Lincoln.
“There are so many possibilities and opportunities. We can really do good stuff if we work together, and I think that will happen,” Evans said.
Largest, highest-profile
He said he was glad the city now has the green light to create an “economic development program” that essentially will allow Gretna to collect and use the portion of the reduced state sales tax the Nebraska Legislature set aside to go toward building the state’s largest and highest-profile good life district.
When establishing the Good Life Transformational Projects Act, which created the potential for five good life districts in the state, lawmakers approved a cut in the state sales tax, from 5.5% to 2.75%, within the boundaries of the districts.
To access that money, Gretna voter approval was needed for the city to create the economic development program that will establish a new replacement tax to recapture the vacated tax. The difference can now be spent within the boundaries of the district to help build, for example, retail, entertainment and other venues.
Indeed, the tax has been reduced since last April in the portion of the Gretna district within the city limits, and there has been no method in place to recoup the money.
Business leaders estimate that $300,000 to $500,000 a month has been lost. In the meantime, shoppers at Nebraska Crossing, within the district, have been getting a discount.
Mike Evans, mayor of Gretna. (Courtesy of City of Gretna)
“So it’s important to be able to get that eliminated state tax,” said Evans.
Recent controversy has bogged down the Gretna district. The approved applicant for the state-approved district, Rod Yates, terminated his application Monday.
Gretna city officials had rejected Yates’ latest terms to help him develop a mega youth-sports centric campus that he said would bring $5 billion in investment, jobs and tourists. Gretna officials said the demands were too risky for taxpayers, financially and legally.
‘Driverless car’
Yates, in an interview Tuesday before the unofficial results, said he was still pursuing a state lawmaker to introduce new legislation that would help fund his vision at the site. He said he has worked three years to assemble partners and retailers. He had worked closely with State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha in shaping the original law.
Of the Gretna election, he said, “It doesn’t mean anything to me.”
Drew Snyder of Woodsonia Real Estate, who owns other property in the Gretna good life district, said he sees huge potential for the district with or without Yates.
Rod Yates in March 2024 shows a rendering of what the Gretna good life district could look like around his Nebraska Crossing shopping center. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
Right now, he said, the district is like a “driverless car.”
But Evans said multiple other developers are interested in building projects within the district. He said the city will entertain proposals from other developers that can carry out a transformational project.
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has said Yates’ decision to terminate his application does not automatically dissolve the district. The DED has said it will hear from Gretna city officials and other interested parties to determine if the approved project is still viable under the law.
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