Jenks planning commission approves rezoning for 25‑unit multifamily project at 5th and Aquarium Place

The Jenks Planning Commission unanimously approved a rezoning request (JZ25‑698) on Sept. 4 to allow a 25‑unit multifamily project at the southeast corner of 5th and Aquarium Place.

Staff planner Ms. Hilton told commissioners the comprehensive plan had long envisioned multifamily for the site and that notice requirements (a 30‑day sign and a quarter‑mile radius notification) were met. "Staff recommends approval of this rezoning request to RM‑3 residential multifamily," she said.

Applicant Duane Phillips of Oak Properties described the development, distributed brochures and said the project — presented in materials as the "555 Aquarium Apartments" — would represent about $8,500,000 in total investment. "This project will have 25 units," Phillips said, listing a proposed mix of seven two‑bedroom units, four three‑bedroom units and 14 one‑bedroom units, including one ADA unit. He described on‑site amenities including a workout room, a playroom and a dog park and said the development would increase annual ad valorem tax receipts from roughly $4,100 currently to about $140,000 after completion.

Commissioners pressed for detail on unit sizes and parking. Phillips said the two‑ and three‑bedroom units would be about 1,877 square feet of livable space with roughly 477‑square‑foot two‑car garages and that guest parking would be provided in front and on the side, estimating roughly two dozen visitor spaces. On rents, he said comparable projects in the Tulsa area have been priced at roughly $1.65 per square foot and that units in this development would "be about $2,800 a month." Commissioners noted those rents would require relatively high local incomes.

During public comment, Justin (gave an address) asked whether the city had documented direct communications with Jenks Public Schools about how new apartments would affect school demographic planning. Ms. Hilton responded that school demographers reference the city’s comprehensive plan and that the schools have access to land‑use materials, but she said she did not have specific documentation of project‑level conversations to provide to the commenter. "They have access to our comprehensive plan," she said. The chair interjected that on‑agenda project questions should be directed to the school district when they exceed the item’s scope.

A nearby resident raised concerns about neighborhood density, pedestrian safety and heavy boat/trailer traffic in the vicinity, asking commissioners to consider those impacts when approving additional apartments.

A motion to approve the rezoning passed on a unanimous roll call vote (recorded 'yes' by the commissioners in attendance). The commission did not attach additional conditions in the motion as recorded. The rezoning approval permits RM‑3 uses subject to submittal of required platting and building permits under city code.

The commission moved on to a separate PUD amendment item later in the meeting; no additional conditions to the JZ25‑698 approval were recorded.