Commission approves rezoning of 3400 Classen Boulevard; staff to study traffic signal warrant

The Norman Planning Commission approved a straight rezoning to C-2 and a preliminary plat for roughly 1.48 acres at 3400 Classen Boulevard, Ward 7.

Laura Hoggett of the planning department summarized the request as a straight rezoning from A-2 to C-2 and said the site is consistent with the AIM Norman urban living center designation in character and scale. "This is straight C-2 so they, any use that's allowed in C-2 would be allowed on this property," Hoggett told the commission.

Libby Smith, representing the applicant, described the request as speculative rezoning: "We're proposing to rezone it to C-2 general commercial," Smith said, adding the end user is not yet identified and the site plan is illustrative.

Commissioners and staff discussed a single written protest (1.4% of the notification area) that asked for a traffic signal at Highway 77 and Southlake Boulevard. David Riesland, the city's transportation engineer, said whether a signal is installed "has nothing to do with the fees collected. It has to do with... are their traffic volumes sufficient to warrant the installation of a traffic signal?" He explained ODOT would be involved because Classen is an ODOT roadway and that the city has been collecting impact fees toward a signal but must still prove current volumes meet signal warrants.

Several commissioners asked whether the signal warrant study would be done now or later; staff said the warrant study and any construction plans would be completed separately from the current rezoning approval and could require weather‑appropriate traffic counts in January. A motion to approve the rezoning and preliminary plat was moved, seconded and carried 6-0.

What happens next: staff can initiate traffic counts and a warrant study; any signal installation would require engineering plans and coordination with ODOT and funding decisions.