Oakdale’s City Council voted 4–1 on Nov. 26 to amend the Oakdale Marketplace planned unit development to allow additional residential uses and to adopt new design standards and site plan options.

Community Development Director Andy Kitslov said the action follows a staff study of the Marketplace and adjacent Oakdale Station PUDs after Council directed a review in October 2023 and enacted a moratorium in June 2024 to pause applications. Kitslov told council the amendments reflect market conditions and the city’s review process following workshops and public hearings.

During debate Council member Morecambe argued that the Marketplace area had been intended for commercial uses and said adding residential uses in a busy commercial area creates infrastructure and safety concerns. “Adding a lot of housing there in a busy commercial area does, in my mind, pose a safety risk,” Morecambe said on the record. Council member Engelbrson replied that market realities and possible site layouts — commercial along frontage with residential behind it — make some residential uses appropriate.

After debate the council voted to adopt Ordinance 9‑37 permitting commercial retail uses and certain residential uses on specified property and then approved Resolution 2024‑89 setting additional design standards and site plan options. The ordinance and resolution were adopted by a 4–1 vote, with Morecambe recorded in the transcript as the dissenting vote.

The action ends the moratorium for the parcels at issue and updates permitted uses and design expectations; staff said applicants will still need to submit site plans and comply with newly established design standards before permits are issued.

Kitslov and other staff offered to answer questions and told council that planning commission input and the October public hearing informed the final language approved by council.