Planning commission forwards AIM Norman land‑use and six master plans to City Council; stormwater plan passes 7‑1

The Norman Planning Commission voted to forward the AIM Norman comprehensive land‑use plan and six associated master plans to the City Council for consideration. Commissioners recommended adoption of the land‑use plan and the housing, water‑utility, wastewater‑utility, transportation, and parks plans unanimously; the stormwater master‑plan update was recommended 7‑1.

The AIM Norman package combines a citywide land‑use framework with six master plans for housing, water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation and parks. Ingrid Giuffrida and Siobhan Evans, co‑chairs of the citizen steering committee, opened the commission’s presentation. Giuffrida said the steering committee’s work began in September 2023 and “all of the plans were passed out of their subcommittees unanimously, and, all of those plans plus the land use plan were unanimously endorsed by the steering committee.”

Consultants described the substance behind the plans. Amy Hazy of RDG Planning and Design said the steering committee and consultants sought compromise across contentious items and emphasized the plans are intended to be regularly reviewed and updated. Hazy explained the land‑use approach emphasizes an intensity‑based framework, nine character areas, and an urban‑reserve concept intended to protect Lake Thunderbird and future service feasibility.

Cole Niblett of Garver summarized the water utility master plan. He told commissioners Norman’s water portfolio now relies mainly on Lake Thunderbird, the Garber‑Wellington Aquifer, and treated wholesale water from Oklahoma City; “Lake Thunderbird … currently supplies about 70% of our water demands,” he said. Niblett said the plan projects average day demand near 23 million gallons per day (MGD) by 2045 and identifies a potential 9 MGD supply gap within the 20‑year horizon. The plan’s most cost‑effective short‑list of responses includes increasing purchases from Oklahoma City, expanding local Garber‑Wellington well capacity, and planning for indirect potable reuse that would augment Lake Thunderbird.

On wastewater, Garver recommended continuing to use and expand the existing water‑reclamation facility rather than adding a new plant during the next 20 years; the report projects roughly 17 MGD of average wastewater flow by 2045 and prioritizes trunk‑main and eastern conveyance improvements.

Brett Cabiness summarized the transportation update. Public input prioritized pedestrian safety and active‑transportation networks; the plan includes a comprehensive trails network, a “special‑use” design concept for East Alameda (one lane each way, a raised median, shoulders for vehicular safety, and 12‑foot side paths on both sides for bicyclists and pedestrians), and a toolkit for assessing roundabouts versus signalized intersections.

Alan Dennis presented the stormwater master‑plan update and described three graduated water‑quality treatment zones: Zone 1 (closest to Lake Thunderbird and major tributaries) would require treatment of the first 1.5 inches of runoff; Zone 2 would require 1 inch; Zone 3 would require 0.5 inch. The stormwater report also recommends stronger protection for stream planning corridors/water‑quality protection zones, expanded monitoring, incentives for developments that exceed minimum stormwater requirements, and a transparent capital‑project prioritization method. That stormwater package passed the commission 7‑1.

Parks and recreation presenters summarized priorities including a comprehensive trails network, upgrades to several neighborhood facilities, evaluation of a new recreation center and splash/spray facilities, modernization of the park development fee and parkland‑dedication rules, and programming expansions for teens, adaptive programs, and outdoor education.

After discussion and brief commissioner clarifications (notably, questions about roundabout language and a requested disclaimer where the draft transportation maps show turnpike corridors), the commission made individual motions for each resolution. The commission recommended the land‑use resolution (R‑2425‑101), the housing strategy (R‑2425‑102), the water‑utility plan (R‑2425‑103), the wastewater plan (R‑2425‑104), the stormwater update (R‑2425‑105), the transportation plan update (R‑2425‑106) and the parks and recreation and cultural master plan (R‑2425‑107) to City Council; the stormwater recommendation carried 7‑1 while the other plans passed on votes of 8‑0.

Speakers who presented substantive material included steering‑committee co‑chairs Ingrid Giuffrida and Siobhan Evans; consultants Amy Hazy (RDG Planning and Design), Cole Niblett (Garver), Brett Cabiness (Garver), Alan Dennis (stormwater lead), and parks presenters. Commissioners asked for clarifying language and requested that staff include several commission comments in the packet forwarded to council, especially requested clarifications about the compatibility scoring for “civic” uses and a disclaimer on transportation maps showing turnpike corridors.

Next steps: the planning commission’s recommendations and staff materials will be forwarded to the City Council. Staff advised the ordinances and implementation updates that accompany the plan are scheduled for the council’s June consideration; staff said the first reading of related code amendments is planned for June 10 and second reading and council action on June 24.

The commission’s packet and consultant reports record more detailed technical material (parcel‑level land‑use recommendations, the housing action framework, the water and wastewater CIP lists, stormwater treatment zones and cost estimates, and the parks program priorities) for council and public review.