Land bank updates advanced

Lawmakers gave first-round approval Feb. 1 to a bill that would make updates to the Nebraska Municipal Land Bank Act.

Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, sponsor of LB699, said the Legislature authorized municipal land banks in 2013, and the Omaha Land Bank was established in 2014.

“The concept was introduced to help Nebraska municipalities to address vacant and abandoned properties without straining public resources,” Mello said.

Currently, the voting members of a land bank board must represent realtors, the banking industry, real estate developers, a chamber of commerce, a nonprofit involved in affordable housing and an owner of multiple residential or commercial properties.

LB699 would stipulate that a single voting member may satisfy more than one of the representational requirements if he or she has the required qualifications.

The bill also would change certain reporting requirements and add urban agricultural activities, including establishment of community gardens, to the list of potential priorities for land use.

An Urban Affairs Committee amendment, adopted 29-0, adds a requirement that a land bank’s governing board include one nonvoting member of the governing body of the municipality that created the land bank.

If a land bank is created by multiple municipalities, the governing body of each would be represented by one nonvoting member.

LB699 advanced to select file on a 31-0 vote.