The Omaha Planning Board heard a request on February 4, 2026 from Crushing It LLC to amend their existing special use permit at a site northeast of 28th Avenue and Deer Park Boulevard — the former Schooler Elevator property. The request: reduce the required buffer zone between their scrap and salvage operation and the nearest residential property from 450 feet to 300 feet. The reason isn't business expansion — it's a collapsing 1890s-era city sewer line running underneath their property.
A 42-inch diameter brick sewer line from the 1890s, buried approximately 30 feet deep, partially collapsed under Crushing It's property. The company voluntarily removed all inventory from the sewer easement area. With that storage space gone and uncertainty about how long city repairs will take, they need the buffer reduction to relocate inventory elsewhere on their property. Lance Pollson, CEO of Crushing It (20308 Gretna), and attorney Daniel Paulie of Smith Paulie Law Firm (355 Farnam Street) represented the applicant. The company employs over 200 people. The application was filed proactively in coordination with city staff.
This is genuinely fascinating infrastructure history. The sewer line is 135 years old — built from brick, 42 inches in diameter, buried roughly 30 feet underground. When a partial collapse was discovered, Crushing It voluntarily cleared all inventory from the easement area above the line. The damage extends well beyond the company's property, which Crushing It's legal team argues suggests the collapse wasn't caused by surface activity. Hawkins Construction is potentially involved in repair bids. The unresolved question of who bears liability for the sewer damage — the company or the city — adds complexity to the timeline. The city's need for permanent easement access could further restrict how Crushing It uses portions of their property going forward.
Two reasons. First, aging infrastructure affects everyone. If an 1890s brick sewer line can collapse under an industrial site, similar vintage infrastructure runs beneath neighborhoods across older parts of Omaha. Understanding what's beneath your property matters — especially if you're planning a basement finishing project or a home addition that involves excavation or foundation work. Second, Crushing It employs over 200 people and operates on the former Schooler Elevator site (the old Scoular grain elevator that was recently demolished). Industrial employers like this are part of Omaha's economic engine, and their ability to operate smoothly affects the broader community. The Omaha Daily Record tracks these planning actions for public transparency.
Written complaints were filed against Crushing It throughout 2024 regarding repeated violations of the 450-foot separation requirement. Video evidence and work-stop orders from the city planner were cited. The company characterized these as a "misinterpretation" — they believed the 450-foot requirement applied only to processing activity, not storage of inventory. The distinction matters legally but doesn't change the practical reality: inventory was too close to residential properties, and the current application aims to formalize a reduced distance that the company can actually maintain given the sewer situation.
The application moves forward with conditions. The sewer repair timeline will determine how much of the property remains restricted long-term. For Omaha homeowners, this story is a reminder that aging infrastructure creates both challenges and opportunities. If you're planning any project that touches your foundation, utilities, or subsurface systems, working with a qualified contractor who understands what's beneath the surface is essential. Davis Contracting brings that kind of site awareness to every custom home build and renovation project across the metro.
