Bartlesville planning commission recommends keeping original comprehensive plan language, rejects committee amendments

The Bartlesville Planning Commission voted unanimously April 20 to recommend City Council keep the original language of the city’s comprehensive plan, Endeavor 02/1945, and reject proposed amendments prepared by a five-person working group.

Greg Collins, special projects manager for the City of Bartlesville, summarized the outreach and committee process that led to the 2024 plan and described the ad hoc committee that later reviewed public concerns. Collins said the city’s updated comp plan was adopted by resolution on 11/04/2024 after roughly 12 months of public engagement, including five advisory-committee meetings, four open houses, three pop-up events and multiple Planning Commission and City Council workshops.

The recommendation matters because the comp plan functions as the city’s guiding policy for land-use decisions; the commission’s vote will be transmitted to City Council, which will make the final determination. Collins told commissioners that staff formed a working group — comprised of resident Sarah Burnett, Councilman Larry East, Councilman Trevor Dorsey and architect Dan Kelleher, with staff support from Larry Curtis, community development director, and Collins himself — to consider amendments raised after adoption.

In public comment, resident Dean Castellas urged the commission to respect the original CPAC process and language, framing his remarks in civic terms about leadership and followership. Castellas closed his remarks with a direct remark from his prepared remarks: “empty wagons rattle the loudest.” Resident Siobhan Robles likewise urged the commission “to reject all amendments and honor the integrity of Endeavor 02/1945 as it stands,” saying the original plan reflected extensive community engagement and that implementation, not revision, should be the focus.

Commission discussion focused on process and deference to the year-long outreach that produced the adopted plan. Several commissioners said they supported portions of the proposed edits but were reluctant to reopen the entire plan after broad community input. One commissioner said a perfect plan is unlikely and noted both support for and concerns with parts of the working-group redline; another said many pages raised questions that would require additional review.

After discussion, a motion to recommend that City Council retain the plan’s original language and reject the working group’s amendments passed on a voice/roll-call vote. Recorded votes in favor were: Mr. Dossett (Aye); Mr. Hibdon (Aye); Miss Freeman (Aye); Mr. Kolaw (Aye); Mr. Munkers (Aye); Mr. Kirkpatrick (Aye); and Chairman John Kane (Aye).

The commission chair and staff noted that, as a recommending body, the Planning Commission’s action will be forwarded to City Council for final action.