The City Council tables its "Missing Middle" zoning rewrite for six more weeks but signs off on the 235-lot Trumble Hills subdivision, Papillion's bid for Hallmark's Merriest Christmas Town enters its final days of voting, and the city hosts its first-ever marathon.
The zoning question that's hung over the last three issues finally moved, just not to a final answer: the citywide "Missing Middle" rewrite got tabled, not decided, while a big new subdivision cleared its last hurdle. Add the closing days of Papillion's Hallmark contest, a return to the regular council calendar Tuesday, and a first-year marathon rolling through Werner Park, and it's a busy stretch for a week that's otherwise light on new development news.
🏗️ Development & Business
A quiet week for new openings and projects. After a run of Tower District news the last few issues (Les Schwab's opening, New Horizon Academy's plans, the $9.5 million parks bond), we didn't find any newly announced Papillion business openings, closings, or developments this week. If you've heard something we missed, reply to this email.
🏛️ Local Politics & Civic News
The "Missing Middle" zoning rewrite is tabled for six weeks, not decided. At the August 18 meeting previewed in last issue, the City Council voted 7-1 to table ORD. 2093, the full rewrite of Chapter 205 that would fold "Missing Middle" housing (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, and larger accessory dwelling units) into zoning citywide, and send it to the city's Affordable Housing Plan Ad Hoc Committee for further work. That committee now has roughly six weeks before the rewrite is expected to come back to Council. We'll follow it.
The 235-lot Trumble Hills subdivision, near S 66th St and Cedardale Rd, is moving forward. The same meeting approved the change of zone from agricultural to single- and multi-family residential (ORD. 2070) and the final plat (RES. R26-0155), both 7-0 with one abstention. The applicant is MDRP, LLC. A related subdivision agreement was also up for a vote the same night; we couldn't confirm its outcome from what the city has posted and will update if that changes.
Here's how to weigh in on what's next. The Council's next regular meeting is Tuesday, September 1 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Papillion City Hall, 122 E. 3rd St. The posted agenda includes a first reading on a change of zone from agricultural to multi-family residential at the southwest corner of S 84th St and Schram Rd (ORD. 2098, applicant McCune Development, "Schram 84"), a third-reading final vote on updates to the city's animal care ordinance (ORD. 2095), and a public hearing and vote on a preliminary plat for a "Dowd's Business Park" development near the northwest corner of S 150th St and Shepard St. Public hearings mean you can speak at the podium on any of these; written comment goes through the City Clerk ahead of time, and there's a Comments from the Floor period for anything else. Full agenda
🌳 Around Papillion
Voting closes Wednesday in Papillion's bid to be Hallmark's Merriest Christmas Town of 2026. As covered last issue, the nomination centers on Winter Wonderland, the city's downtown holiday lighting celebration running since 2009, and the winning town gets to host a future Hallmark holiday movie shoot. You can vote once a day, free, through September 4. Vote for Papillion
The Papillion Police Department earned national CALEA accreditation this summer. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies awarded the department Advanced-level accreditation on July 25, its latest recognition since first accrediting in 2012 and joining CALEA in 2009. It's a credentialing process aimed at continuous improvement in department policy and practice.
📅 This Week's Events (August 30 – September 5)
🥕 Papillion Farmers Market (family-friendly)
📍 Papillion City Park
🕔 Wed., Sept. 2, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Fresh produce, baked goods, and local vendors. Dogs welcome on a short leash. The market runs through September 16. Market info
🎨 Crafts with Cops: Colorful Jellyfish (family-friendly)
📍 Sump Memorial Library, 222 N. Jefferson St.
🕙 Thu., Sept. 3, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
A monthly craft drop-in with Papillion police officers, in the Youth Department. Geared for ages 5-8 and pre-readers birth to 5. Library calendar
⚾ Omaha Storm Chasers vs. St. Paul Saints: Fireworks Friday & Salute to First Responders (family-friendly)
📍 Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way
🕡 Fri., Sept. 4, 6:35 p.m.
Minor league baseball at Papillion's own ballpark, part of a homestand against St. Paul running September 1-6, with a postgame fireworks show. Tickets & schedule
🏃 Nebraska Marathon (inaugural)
📍 Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way
🕡 Sat., Sept. 5, 5:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
The first-ever Nebraska Marathon, with full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K options on a USATF-certified, Boston-qualifying course. Race info
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