Planning commission defers Woody Creek final plat after staff flags unapproved flood study, FEMA mapping

The Oklahoma City Planning Commission on Oct. 9 postponed action on the final plat for Woody Creek at Westbury after public‑works staff told the panel a flood study submitted for the project has not been approved and several lots appear to lie within the 100‑year flood plain.

Ron Walters, the developer, described the subdivision as a gated community for residents 50 and older with 79 home sites, homes ranging roughly from 1,800 to 3,000 square feet and a clubhouse and pool. Walters told the commission he has already invested “$8,000,000 on the ground” and said, “My interest is $1,424 a day,” urging the panel to allow him a short time to resolve outstanding items.

Public Works planner Berry Lodge told the commission the submitted flood study had outstanding review comments, and that several lots fall at least partly within the 100‑year flood plain. Lodge said that, because of that, the applicant may need a FEMA Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) before the city could safely approve the plat and ensure finished‑floor elevations would allow buyers to obtain flood insurance. “The flood study has never been approved,” Lodge said.

Commissioners and staff noted the project’s construction had moved ahead in places before those formal approvals were resolved; staff summarized that some reviews had been bypassed because the work came in as private development. Commissioners said approving the final plat without a completed flood‑plain process risked creating lots and building envelopes that could later be ineligible for insurance or permits. Commissioner Meek, who led the discussion, said the commission would defer action to allow the developer time to work with staff and Public Works.

A motion to defer the item to the Nov. 13 planning‑commission meeting carried. The transcript shows the commission did not read a roll‑call vote tally on the record. The developer said he would seek to resolve the outstanding items within the deferral period.

The commission’s deferral preserves the commission’s ability to review the finalized flood study, any LOMAR results from FEMA, and any required changes to finished‑floor elevations and infrastructure before establishing lot lines or issuing approvals that would allow lot sales and building permits.

Next steps: the item is scheduled to return to the planning commission Nov. 13; Public Works and planning staff will continue their review and the developer will work to resolve the outstanding flood‑study and documentation items.