Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lawton council approves permit extension for 2207 NW Pollard; reconsiders and allows permit for 2011 SW Douglas
Summary
At a special meeting Aug. 27, the Lawton City Council approved an extension allowing a new investor to pull permits for 2207 Northwest Pollard Avenue and, after reconsideration, granted the owner of 2011 Southwest Douglas Avenue permission to pull permits despite an earlier staff recommendation to deny.
The Lawton City Council on Aug. 27 approved an extension allowing a new investor to pull permits to remodel a dilapidated house at 2207 Northwest Pollard Avenue and, after a separate reconsideration, allowed the owner of 2011 Southwest Douglas Avenue to pull permits to begin repairs.
City staff told the council that 2207 Northwest Pollard Avenue was declared dilapidated on Feb. 27, 2024 and a first permit was issued April 10, 2025; a new investor asked for additional time to pull permits. Jonathan, a city staff member, said the new investor was “in the process of closing on the house right now, so they can pull permits to get this livable.” The council voted in favor of allowing the investor to continue pulling permits (roll call recorded: Hankins Booker — Yes; Epps — Yes; Chapman — Yes; Gill — Yes; Hampton — Yes; Weager — Yes; Williams — Yes).
The council’s handling of 2011 Southwest Douglas Avenue unfolded more narrowly. Staff reported that 2011 Southwest Douglas Avenue was declared dilapidated and that, as of the morning of the meeting, “no inspections have been done to this property.” Staff’s formal recommendation had been to deny permit extensions for that address. A motion to deny passed on the initial vote. The property owner, Arthur Wilkerson, then addressed the council and described health and family obstacles that had prevented work on the house: “Due to some health issues and family issues that caused me to go out of state... I'm asking for another extension.” John, a city staff member, told the council that “no inspections were done to this date of the, of the property.”
After Wilkerson spoke, a councilmember moved to reconsider the denial; the motion to reconsider passed on a roll call. The council then approved a motion to allow the owner to pull permits to continue work on 2011 Southwest Douglas Avenue. The council did not adopt any additional conditions on the record beyond the permit authorization; the recorded votes on the reconsideration and the later allowance showed a majority in favor.
Why this matters: Council action invokes Code review and oversight that triggers when a property remains dilapidated for more than 180 days and affects neighboring residents' safety and property values. Allowing permits enables renovation and potential return to occupancy; denying extensions can start timelines for abatement or demolition.
What the council said and next steps: Staff repeatedly told the council the property files showed no inspections and, for properties put on the city’s D&D (dilapidated and dangerous) list, the council discussed a standard timeline referenced during several public comments: roughly six weeks to pull permits and six months to complete substantial work, with the option to request an extension if good progress is shown. No further conditions or deadlines specific to 2207 Northwest Pollard or 2011 Southwest Douglas were entered into the record beyond the permit authorizations recorded at the meeting.
Votes at a glance
- 2207 Northwest Pollard Avenue — Motion to allow new investor to pull permits: Approved (roll call: Hankins Booker — Yes; Epps — Yes; Chapman — Yes; Gill — Yes; Hampton — Yes; Weager — Yes; Williams — Yes). - 2011 Southwest Douglas Avenue — Staff recommendation to deny permit extensions: Motion to deny (passed); after owner comment the council voted to reconsider (passed) and then voted to allow the owner to pull permits (passed).
