Residents raise driveway, ownership and drone concerns as Stillwater planners consider Richmond Road data center preliminary plat

At a public hearing Aug. 5, the Stillwater Planning Commission heard a preliminary plat for a large development along Richmond Road that the applicant says will include data center facilities. Staff and the applicant said the property is zoned IG (general industrial) and that site work already underway is covered by a mass-grading plan, an earth-change permit and a drainage study submitted for the broader property.

Staff opened the item by describing the site roughly a half-mile east of Perkins and south of Richmond Road and said the parcel was presented on the preliminary plat as "Sub 2409." Staff told the commission the "proposed preliminary plat meets the subdivision and zoning requirements" and that the comprehensive plan recommends industrial uses at this location.

Joe Parks of Olsen Engineering, the applicant's representative, told commissioners the developer will repave Richmond Road from Perkins to the new site entrance and that the primary access will be off Richmond Road: "They're redoing Richmond Road, and, to the entrance of the site, which will be off of Richmond Road." Staff later clarified the facility address will be 1500 East Richmond Road.

Several nearby property owners spoke in opposition or to correct the record. Crystal Hayes, who gave a mailing address of Post Office Box 324 for privacy, said she "vehemently oppose[d]" any change that would affect her driveway and repeatedly asked the city and developer not to disturb her access: "Don't mess with my driveway. I'm begging you, don't mess." Hayes also said the notices she received listed different distances (1,300 vs. 1,500) and disputed the ownership labeling on the applicant's map.

David Winslow said a corner quarter on the map "belongs to our trust, not the Sheddrix," and asked staff to correct the adjacent-owner listings so notices are sent to the proper owner on county records. Development Services Director David Barth told the commission the applicant will correct the mistake: the adjacent-owner list on the preliminary submittal appears to be an applicant error and will be fixed.

Barth also clarified tax-incentive boundaries and utility plans: "Lot 7 is not within the tax incentive district. Lot 7 will house the OG&E substation. Lots 1 and 2 ... match exactly tax incentive districts 1 and 2," he said. Barth said the applicant has submitted a mass-grading plan for the entire 300-plus acre parcel and has filed a drainage study and earth-change permit to prepare site detention, building pads and temporary construction access.

On drones, staff said the city enforces FAA limits near the airport but has no local ordinance that bans flying a drone over another person's property: "I don't believe there's anything that says you can't fly a drone over somebody else's property," staff said, and added the FAA places limits on proximity to the airport and altitude.

Commissioners closed the public hearing after testimony and staff findings. Staff recommended Alternative 1, to accept the findings and approve the preliminary plat as presented. A commissioner moved to accept staff findings and approve the proposed preliminary plat; the transcript does not record the vote or its outcome. The record shows staff will require the applicant to correct the adjacent-owner listings and that property owners impacted by road work will be given notice before driveway work occurs.