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Capital Medical Zoning Commission says it governs development in 1.5-square-mile district; panel weighing plan updates
Summary
The Capital Medical Zoning Improvement Commission described its jurisdiction, public-engagement process and need to update a master plan last revised in 1994. Commissioners said city building codes still apply and that state-owned property is not subject to city permits.
Officials from the Capital Medical Zoning Improvement Commission told a legislative committee the commission supervises land use and development in a roughly 1.5-square-mile district that includes the state Capitol complex, OU Health Sciences Center and several residential historic districts, and that it needs an updated master plan.
Casey Jones, administrative support for the commission, described the panel’s responsibilities: site-plan and exterior-design review, conditional-use permits, variances, rezoning petitions and public hearings for private development within the district. Nathan Walden, commission chair, said the commission meets monthly and runs subsidiary advisory committees for historic preservation and a citizens advisory committee; those groups also hold monthly public meetings.
Jones traced the commission’s origin to separate zoning bodies created in 1954 that were consolidated in 1970. He said the commission acts similarly to a municipal planning and zoning body, but that its statute establishes membership and powers; the commission has about 11 members, including several ex officio positions and public members, and at least two members must own or reside within the district.
Jones said the commission is due for an updated master plan (the last update was about 1994), and he described the statutory district boundaries roughly from Northeast Eighth Street to Northeast Thirtieth Street and extending west to I-235 and east near Kelly Avenue. The district contains the Lincoln Terrace and Wilson Harn historic districts and the Capitol View neighborhood, he said.
Committee members asked whether the commission’s jurisdiction duplicates other entities. Jones said the Capital Preservation Commission retains jurisdiction for Capitol grounds and the Governor’s Mansion, and city building codes apply to private development for building-permit purposes; state-owned property is not subject to city building permits. Jones said transfer of powers to Oklahoma City or other entities is legally possible but would require transition planning.
No permanent rules were presented and no committee actions were taken at the hearing. The commission offered to supply maps and cost/transaction reports requested by committee members.
