Stillwater council approves code changes, hires consultant to rewrite land-use rules and OKs dialysis clinic permit

The Stillwater City Council on Nov. 3 approved a package of land-use and administrative measures, including hiring a planning consultant to rewrite Chapter 23 of the city code and approving a specific-use permit for a kidney dialysis center.

Mayor William Joyce read a proclamation declaring November 2025 Homelessness Awareness Month and recognized Mission of Hope for its shelter and supportive-services work before the council moved into business items.

Development Services staff presented a specific-use permit (CCD-25-149) for 1525 Southwestern Road to allow a kidney dialysis center in the Commercial Shopping zoning district. Henry Bibelheimer, Development Services, described the parcel’s location at the southern edge of Fountain Square and said the request aligns with the comprehensive plan. With no public speakers signed up and a 4–0 planning commission recommendation, the council accepted the planning commission’s recommendation and approved the permit by a 5–0 vote.

The council also approved two related text amendments to Chapter 23. Staff explained a change (CC-25-150) that removes “unit/condominium ownership” from the list of regulated uses so condominium ownership is not restricted to the Commercial Business district; required state condominium documentation will still be submitted to the city for review. Separately, a sidewalk-cafe amendment (CC-25-151) would permit table-service areas adjacent to a building while preserving a 6-foot unobstructed pedestrian path outside the cafe barrier, aligning downtown standards with common built-environment practice. Planning recommended both amendments (each 4–0) and the council approved both with unanimous 5–0 votes.

Councilors moved an ordinance (No. 35-84) to advance changes to Chapter 23 definitions and use tables to second reading, and advanced a companion ordinance (No. 35-85) amending sidewalk, street and parking-lot table-service rules; both ordinances were advanced to second reading by 5–0 votes.

Planning staff also recommended awarding a professional-services agreement to Civic Dynamics LLC for a full Chapter 23 rewrite and related text-amendment support, not to exceed $110,000. David Barth outlined a roughly 12-month timetable with public drafts and multiple stakeholder meetings. The council approved the contract and an associated budget revision, voting 5–0 to authorize the work.

On other business, the council adopted Resolution CC-2025-28 to call a general municipal election for Feb. 10, 2026, with a potential runoff on Apr. 7, 2026; the candidate filing period was stated as Dec. 1–Dec. 3, 2025. The council also adopted Resolution CC-2025-29 selecting CONSORT North America as the preferred consultant for the city’s bridge inspections (inspection window April 1, 2026–March 31, 2028); staff noted ODOT will administer and pay for the inspections because Stillwater qualifies under the state program (28 bridges within city limits). Both resolutions passed 5–0.

The meeting recessed for Stillwater Utilities Authority and Stillwater Economic Development Authority business; when the City Council later reconvened it entered executive session under 25 O.S. §307(B)(1) to discuss personnel matters and returned with no action recommended.

Next steps: the Chapter 23 rewrite will begin with a kickoff meeting and public engagement over about a year, the two ordinances will return for second reading, and the approved specific-use permit and resolutions move forward under the normal implementation processes.