Planning commission approves Office Light rezoning in Florence that retains multifamily allowance over neighborhood objections

The Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted to approve a rezoning request and optional development plan (ODP) that would allow Office Light uses — and retain multifamily residential as an allowed use — on a tract in the Florence area after several hours of public comment and heated exchanges between neighbors and the applicant.

The commission approved the staff-recommended rezoning to OL with the submitted ODP following a failed motion to amend the plan to explicitly exclude multifamily housing. The vote followed more than a dozen residents testifying about environmental, traffic and property-value concerns and the applicant stressing that his firm intends primarily to sell lots rather than build multifamily dwellings.

Neighbors said the…