Commissioners approve rezoning for 80‑acre Collinsville subdivision despite flood concerns from neighbors
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Summary
The board approved rezoning of an 80‑acre tract in Collinsville from AR to RS‑20 (half‑acre lots). Neighbors warned of existing flooding, retention ponds and long emergency response times; the applicant said engineered hydrology will hold post‑development runoff to existing rates.
Rogers County commissioners on Jan. 8 approved a zoning change for an 80‑acre tract in the Collinsville area (Case 2654), clearing the way for a proposed subdivision of half‑acre lots.
Planning staff said the property is north of Highway 20 at East 126th Street North and North 161st East Avenue and recommended RS‑20 zoning; the planning board had voted 6–0 to recommend approval. The presenter said the property is in the River Valley planning area and consistent with the comprehensive plan.
Several nearby residents, including Leslie Fritz and Mark Enan, told the board the site contains ponds and connects with nearby creeks and rivers and that past subdivision development had increased runoff. Fritz and other neighbors said the area has experienced ‘‘severe amounts of flooding and water retention’’ and warned that additional lots could increase runoff and water quality problems. A recurring concern was emergency response time: multiple speakers said it can take 30–45 minutes for emergency services to reach the area.
The applicant’s engineer, Joe Pace of Patriot Engineering, said a base flood elevation had been determined and that compensatory storage and release rates were engineered so post‑construction runoff would not exceed the existing release rate. He said the hydrology report is available on request.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the rezoning from AR to RS‑20 and the motion carried. The preliminary plat for the neighboring Coves at Stone Canyon (Phase 5) was handled earlier in the meeting; construction plans and final plat review will return to the board in future proceedings.