Moore council narrows proposed PUD for Santa Fe corridor, approves tree buffer and limits on automotive uses

The Moore City Council voted to approve amendments to rezoning application RZ‑1049, converting a vacant lot north of Southwest 30th Street and east of S. Santa Fe Avenue to a C‑3 planned unit development with use limits and landscape protections. Council members approved the measure after staff described the PUD amenities and the applicant committed to enclosed bays and specified hours.

Staff told the council the site is currently zoned C‑3 General Commercial and the applicant originally sought a more intensive use; the applicant amended the request to a PUD to include protections for the adjacent Bluestem Ridge neighborhood. Staff said the PUD caps building height at one story, requires a minimum 20‑foot landscaped buffer between the east property line and improvements, prohibits outdoor storage, and limits the monument sign to 60 square feet per side and 20 feet in height. The PUD includes a condition that water and sewer be extended to serve the site and that stormwater use the existing detention pond to the north.

Planning commissioners moved on additional, on‑the‑floor amendments to restrict the PUD to uses allowed by right under the C‑3 district and to allow only light automotive repair among automotive uses. The amendments also require that six of the 10 trees otherwise required by city code be planted within the eastern landscape buffer adjacent to Bluestem Ridge, that those six trees be evergreens capable of reaching a minimum height of 20 feet at maturity, and that those trees be served by an automatic irrigation system. Planning staff said the applicant agreed to those amendments at the commission.

Applicant representatives described operational and noise controls. Gunnar Joyce, an attorney representing the applicant, said business hours would be “07:30 in the morning to 07:00 at night” and that the business would be closed Sundays. Larry Badison, identified as representing Badison Properties, said the facility would use a closed‑bay design and that the bays would typically remain closed when the building is air conditioned, which he said would keep noise levels “very, very low.”

A council member asked whether future automotive uses could be added without returning to the council; planning staff said any expansion to permit additional automotive uses would require the applicant to return through the rezoning/permitting process. Staff also said it had conducted sound meter testing at similar businesses and found average noise within acceptable urban residential levels, though staff cautioned results could vary with different operational plans.

No residents signed up to speak during the hearing for this item; staff said mailed notice had been sent and two public meetings had been held with no attendees. The council approved the amendment and the companion ordinance motions in separate votes. The amendment (item 4) passed 3–1; the rezoning ordinance to C‑3 PUD (item 5) carried 3–1.

Votes at a glance: amendment to PUD design statement (Item 4) — outcome: approved, yes 3, no 1. Rezoning to C‑3 PUD (Item 5 / Ordinance No. 35‑25) — outcome: approved, yes 3, no 1.

Council discussion and staff materials note the PUD is intended to limit the range of automotive uses that could otherwise be located on the site; staff recommended approval given the mitigations. If the property owner sought different automotive uses in the future, the city said the standard rezoning/permissive‑use process would apply and would require additional public notice and review.

(Shorter background) The council considered the item as companion items 4 and 5; planning commission recommended the PUD with the amendments noted above. The proposal conforms to the Envision More 2040 comprehensive plan according to staff, which said no plan amendment was necessary because the PUD provides amenities that address neighborhood compatibility.

Ending: The applicant thanked the council. The approved ordinance and PUD conditions will be enforced through permitting and site plan review; staff and the applicant said water, sewer and stormwater connections will be made before site development.