Council defers rezoning at 6300 NE 60th amid neighbors’ septic and safety concerns

The Oklahoma City Council voted to defer final action on a rezoning request for property near 6300 Northeast 60th after residents and several council members raised concerns about septic systems, bordering institutional uses and access to utilities. Resident Lori Turner, whose property borders the site, said the development would abut a facility she described as “court ordered criminally insane,” and she raised safety and trespass concerns, saying there is no fence between the properties. Turner also raised wildlife and septic concerns and said she opposed the rezoning. Planning Director Jeff Butler and Senior Planner Sarah Welch told the council the planning commission had approved the PUD zoning prior to a comprehensive-plan amendment; the commission left the area designated as “urban future” with a condition reserving easements for future utility extensions and indicated the comp-plan amendment would be reevaluated if utilities were extended. Sarah Welch said Tract 1 allows a minimum lot size of three-quarter acre and up to 180 dwelling units; Tract 2 allows up to 36 units for senior independent living. Council members voiced reservations about lot sizes and the number of septic systems clustered in the development. One councilor said the DEQ minimum lot size is half an acre and that this proposal uses three-quarter-acre lots, but other councilors said clustering many aerobic septic systems remains a concern. Councilman Pennington moved to continue the item for two weeks to allow the applicant and council members to work on reconfiguration and respond to neighborhood concerns; the motion to defer to the July 29 meeting passed unanimously.