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Planning commission continues rezoning hearing for Heffner Road site after neighbors raise traffic and noise concerns
Summary
The Oklahoma City Planning Commission on March 13 continued a rezoning application for property on East Heffner Road after neighbors and commissioners raised concerns about traffic, noise and site intensity; the applicant agreed to meet with neighbors and return with revisions.
The Oklahoma City Planning Commission on March 13 moved to continue a rezoning application for property at 1501 East Heffner Road after nearby residents raised concerns about traffic, noise and the intensity of proposed activities.
The applicant is seeking rezoning from R-1 to allow limited commercial uses under a special planned unit development; the application included a request to allow personal recreation (an outdoor baseball practice facility for ages 8–18) and limited indoor components, and a proposed reduction of parking to 47 spaces. Neighbor Pat Garrett told the commission, “We ask that you all deny this,” and said adjoining property owners had submitted a petition opposing the change.
Commissioners said the proposal as presented did not sufficiently address neighbors' core concerns. Commissioner Pennington said he was “against changing it to commercial” in its current form and urged further discussion between the applicant and neighbors; other commissioners said they believed some redevelopment could be workable with different siting, reduced intensity or additional mitigation.
After discussion, Commissioner Pennington moved to continue the case (referenced at the hearing as SPUD 17 30) to give the applicant time to work with neighbors and revise the site plan; Commissioner Powers seconded the motion. The commission voted to continue the item to the April 10 planning commission meeting.
The application and neighborhood comments The applicant told the commission the site is roughly three acres and has been on the market for about five years. The proposal presented at the hearing would limit outdoor field use to practice only (no games) and include batting-cage elements and an indoor component; the applicant said access would be from Heffner Road only, not Crest, and suggested the reduced parking would lower on-site traffic.
Neighbors disputed that characterization. Pat Garrett, who identified his address as 1705 East Heffner Road, said dozens of adjoining property owners signed a petition opposing commercial zoning and noted existing commercial uses in the area had been set back or buffered: “We just feel this does not meet any of the requirements that the neighbors want,” he said. Commissioners and neighbors raised noise, hours of operation, and the potential for increased traffic on local roads as key issues.
Next steps The commission’s formal action on March 13 was to continue the case to the April 10 meeting, allowing the applicant time to consult with neighbors and return with a revised site plan or additional mitigation measures. The applicant told the commission at the hearing, “we are willing and able to meet with the neighbors and try to get to an agreement.” No final rezoning decision was made on March 13.
Speakers from the hearing included the applicant’s representative (identified on the record), resident Pat Garrett, and multiple planning commissioners who led the discussion and moved the continuance. The item will return to the commission’s docket on April 10 for further consideration.
