Planning commission recommends approval for curb-cut and driveway relocations on NW 10th Street; traffic, widening discussed

The Yukon Planning Commission on Oct. 13 recommended approval of a curb-cut and driveway relocation application filed by SMC Consulting Engineers on behalf of 10 West Center LLC for property at 11200 NW Tenth Street.

Representatives for the developer, including David Box (civil counsel) and Terrence L. Haines of SMC Consulting Engineers, presented the application and traffic analysis. Box said the request involves four existing driveway cuts; the application before the commission sought relocation of two of those (Driveways 2 and 4) and included traffic studies demonstrating compliance with separation standards. Box said minimum separation requirements in the city code are 100 feet and that the proposed configuration provided greater separation (he cited a minimum of about 355 feet between certain openings).

Haines said the traffic study supports widening NW Tenth Street to five lanes to provide turning lanes and stacking capacity, and the developer’s traffic engineer said the proposed signalized entrance at Bryce Court (Driveway 1 on project exhibits) would accommodate left- and right-turn stacking. Haines said the study recommends widening approximately 600 feet east of the site to support westbound left-turn movements into the development; the developer committed to work with city staff on cost-sharing for traffic improvements.

Developer and applicant representatives described the application as a relocation of two existing access points; two other existing entrances (Driveways 1 and 3) would remain in place but would be modified as part of future improvements. The applicant said curb-cut approvals for the two relocations would limit the total number of entrances to four.

Neighbors raised concerns about traffic, noise and lighting. Jeff Wilson, who lives two houses east of Bryce Court, questioned lighting, noise and the character of the retail development; Bob Oden, whose property backs to Tenth Street, described heavy existing traffic and said added development should be sensitive to traffic impacts. Applicant representatives said Oklahoma City (adjacent jurisdiction) has revised commercial lighting and signage standards and that new development would be subject to updated lighting and screening requirements.

Planning staff noted the item would also go to the Traffic Commission and then to City Council. On a motion that cited the staff report and public testimony, the commission voted to recommend approval. Recorded votes were “Yes” from Chairman Wright, Vice Chairman Geiss, Commissioner Clark, Commissioner Knuckles and Commissioner Jones. The motion included agreement with the staff report’s seven recommendations and no additional conditions beyond standard improvements and coordination with traffic staff.

The developers stated their intent to limit multifamily in the approved project area and concentrate commercial uses; they cited prior litigation in Oklahoma City over earlier multi-family proposals on the site. The application will proceed to the Traffic Commission for detailed technical review and then to the City Council for final approvals and for discussion of funding for roadway widening and signalization.