Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council defers rezoning for NW Expressway subdivision after neighbor opposition, schedules July 15 meeting
Summary
Council deferred consideration of a proposed subdivision at 11201 Northwest Expressway after a neighboring resident raised habitat and buffer concerns; the developer agreed to discuss additional buffering and the item was deferred to July 15.
The Oklahoma City Council unanimously deferred consideration of a proposed residential development at 11201 Northwest Expressway after a neighbor raised objections about habitat loss, trees and buffers.
Joshua Waters, who said he is the only adjacent neighbor, urged the council to preserve a wildlife corridor and trees, invoking Dr. SeussThe Lorax as a plea to protect natural space: "I'm not here to read a story book. I'm here to remind us that The Lorax isn't fiction," Waters said, and asked the council to give neighbors a voice in the process.
Dean Collitas, representing the applicant and developer, said the developer already purchased a 50-foot swath of land to provide a buffer and that the preliminary plat and zoning approvals are in place from the planning commission. Collitas described engineering features including a detention pond, a clubhouse planned near the southwest corner of the site and an intention to place the sewer in the front of lots to avoid grading at the back and preserve trees where possible. Collitas also said some of the existing trees are cedars that present fire and allergy concerns, and that floodplain on the site limits grading in places.
After the applicant and neighbor spoke, councilmembers proposed a two-week deferral to allow staff, the developer and the neighbor to meet and try to resolve concerns. The council voted to defer the item to the July 15 meeting; no zoning decision was made and the matter will return to council after the parties meet.
