Council approves planned-unit development for Earthly Dwellings at Sixth and Colorado with reduced parking requirement

The Chickasha City Council on Aug. 18 approved Ordinance 25-09, a planned-unit development (PUD) authorizing eight small dwellings on the northeast corner of Sixth and Colorado, with a parking requirement amended by the council to 10 spaces, two of them designated handicapped.

Supporters said the project, led by Earthly Dwellings, is intended to add walkable housing near downtown and attract students and service workers to live close to jobs. "There are plenty of single people in town that would like to spend $700 a month for rent," said David Lewis, one of the project's founders, during the public hearing.

The council’s amendment reduced the parking required from the city staff recommendation of 16 spaces (two per dwelling) to the developer’s requested configuration of eight on-site spaces plus two accessible spaces. Council discussion emphasized that the PUD is a zoning action; final building occupancy, life-safety features and storm-shelter requirements will be determined later through building-permit plan review under the city-adopted building codes.

City planner Rachel (last name not given in the record) told the council that the planning commission had recommended approval with a condition restricting occupancy to one person per unit as presented to that commission. Rachel explained that occupancy limits are ultimately set by the building-code review process: "The occupancy is determined through the International Property Maintenance Code that has been adopted by the city of Chickasha," she said, and the council “cannot agree to an occupancy limitation tonight because the council cannot forgo the building code.”

Project proponents said the units will be roughly 400 square feet each (the packet included an earlier reference to 384 square feet that the developer said has been revised to about 400). The developer told council members the site plan includes on-site parking adjacent to an alley behind the units and that Sixth Street has public parking that could serve occasional overflow. The developer also said the project is self-funded by donations to the nonprofit and will not rely on federal housing subsidies.

Council members voiced concerns about neighborhood conditions adjacent to the site and enforcement responsibilities. Council Member Clark noted nearby deteriorated houses and past reports of drug activity and said new, occupied housing could help stabilize the block. Several council members also pressed the developer about long-term management; the developer said Earthly Dwellings would form a homeowners-association–style management structure and retain an attorney to pursue lease enforcement and evictions if necessary.

After public comment and extended discussion, Council member (motioner not specified in the public record) moved to approve Ordinance 25-09 as a PUD with the amended parking requirement of 10 spaces (including two accessible spots). The motion passed on roll call.

The council and staff noted additional approvals will follow if the developer submits engineered building plans: site drainage, accessible-unit standards (if the council later requires them), and life-safety features such as fire protection and required egress windows will be evaluated at permit review.

Votes at the meeting show the ordinance passed following the council amendment. The planning commission had previously approved the PUD unanimously with the one-person-per-unit language that was in the PUD packet submitted to the commission.

The developer said work would begin after final plans are completed and building permits are issued; no construction start date was specified in the record.