Norman City Council approves two SPUD rezonings, preliminary plat for mixed-use site on Classen Boulevard

The Norman City Council on Aug. 26 unanimously approved two simple planned unit development (SPUD) rezonings — one to allow an off-premise sign along Interstate 35 and another to allow mixed commercial and residential development at 2880 and 2886 Classen Boulevard — and approved the preliminary plat for the Classen property.

The SPUD for Interstate Drive was presented on second and final reading and passed unanimously. Caitlin Turner, an applicant representative, told the council the SPUD is limited to about 0.1 acre on the far east side of the site and “is restricted to just that sign use as to not cause any issue or concern with those neighbors and just mitigate the issues that they’ve dealt with in the past,” and that the Planning Commission gave a unanimous recommendation of approval.

The council then took up a rezoning and preliminary plat for property north of Highway 9, at 2880 and 2886 Classen Boulevard. Sean Regan, representing the applicant, described the proposal as a mixed-use SPUD with commercial buildings facing Classen Boulevard and 18 residential units behind them. “About 13,000 square feet of commercial, 18 residential units,” Regan said, and staff reported the site is about 2.75 acres, mostly infill with utilities in place.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the Classen proposal fits AIM Norman comprehensive plan policies encouraging commercial-front/residential-back configurations on local commercial corridors. Council discussion focused on compatibility with adjacent single-family zoning, parking, pedestrian connections through the site and stormwater detention.

Key facts and council direction - The Interstate Drive SPUD is limited to an approximately 0.1-acre area and is for an off-premise sign along I-35; Planning Commission recommended approval. - The Classen Boulevard SPUD covers about 2.75 acres. The proposal shows roughly 13,000 square feet of commercial space in two front-facing buildings and 18 residential units behind them. - Staff said the development would be about 67% impervious (approximately 33% pervious). The applicant seeks to plat the entire site into one lot; staff recommended approval of the preliminary plat. - Stormwater: council asked about detention; the applicant confirmed runoff will be piped to the stormwater system and discharged at a controlled release rate via a detention basin at the southwest corner of the site. - Parking: under Norman’s removed-minimum parking policy, the developer proposed parking they deemed necessary. Staff and the applicant said the proposal is slightly below recommended commercial parking levels and roughly close to recommended residential levels; council members asked the applicant to maintain pedestrian connectivity, including a clearly marked crosswalk between the two commercial buildings and sidewalks linking the rear residential area to Classen Boulevard.

Public comment and concerns Ward 4 resident Steve Ellis spoke during both rezoning items. On the Interstate Drive SPUD he said SPUDs should be used only when a project provides a distinctive public benefit, warning against routine use of SPUDs as a way to avoid standard rules. “The general idea behind a SPUD is it’s supposed to be a kind of deal where the city gives some leniency to an applicant in return for something that’s supposed to be special,” Ellis said.

Council outcome and next steps - The motion to adopt the Interstate Drive ordinance on second reading and on final reading passed unanimously (yes: 9, no: 0). Identifier: interstate-drive-spud (ordinance number not specified). - The motion to adopt the Classen Boulevard rezoning ordinance on second reading and final reading passed unanimously (yes: 9, no: 0). Identifier: classen-2880-2886-spud (ordinance number not specified). - The preliminary plat for 2880 Classen Boulevard addition (SPUD) was approved unanimously (yes: 9, no: 0).

Council members asked staff and the applicant to preserve appropriate trees where practical, align the site curb cut to existing breaks across Classen Boulevard, add high-visibility pedestrian crosswalks between the two commercial buildings, and ensure sidewalks connect the residential units to the commercial area and the Classen sidewalk. The approvals allow the applicant to proceed with platting and subsequent permitting.

For the record: council discussion and votes took place in open session; no protests were filed and Planning Commission recommended approval for the SPUD and preliminary plat.