Bellevue and Papillion Invite Community Input on New Housing Resilience Plan

As communities across the U.S. face increasingly severe weather — most recently underscored by the devastating floods in Texas — the cities of Bellevue and Papillion, Nebraska, are taking proactive steps to protect residents and strengthen long-term neighborhood viability. In partnership with RDG Planning & Design, they are developing a multijurisdictional housing resilience plan that addresses local vulnerabilities, reduces risk from future weather events, and ensures access to safe, affordable housing through sustainable, forward-thinking strategies.

Community input is essential to ensuring the housing resilience plan reflects local experiences and priorities. Residents are encouraged to share their insights and experiences by completing a short online survey at BPHRP.com.

This federally funded program is structured across six phases. The planning process combines technical analysis with community-focused outreach to build awareness and support informed decision-making. It begins with public engagement and an assessment of existing housing conditions, followed by the development of Housing Land Use Maps to identify areas of greatest vulnerability. Subsequent phases will introduce a Housing Loss Reduction Plan focused on land use policy, code updates and pre-approved development strategies, an education component to help residents act on resilience goals, and a Mitigation and Recovery Funding Plan to guide post-disaster response and long-term investment.

In addition to assessing housing vulnerabilities and infrastructure risks, the plan emphasizes public participation through a range of engagement opportunities. Community workshops, surveys and online tools will offer residents accessible ways to learn about housing resilience and share their perspectives on current challenges and future priorities. By participating in the online survey and subsequent engagement opportunities, residents can assist the city and the planning team in identifying where housing and neighborhoods are vulnerable to disruptions and what housing challenges neighbors face today, as well as inform emergency preparedness efforts and help set priorities for safe, affordable and resilient housing.