Edmond Planning Commission approves four development items; neighbor raises parking and expired-easement concerns for Broadway site

The Edmond Planning Commission on Nov. 19 approved a series of routine land-use items, including an amended plat that reduces rear-yard setbacks in Lakes at Crosstimbers Phase 2 and a commercial site plan for a building addition on South Broadway, while staff and commissioners agreed to resolve access-easement questions before final permits.

Ken Bridal, city staff, told the commission that franchise utilities, Edmond utilities and the engineering department had no objection to a request to close the east 10 feet of a rear-yard utility easement and recommended approval; the panel approved the easement request 4–0 and staff said it will appear before the Edmond City Council on Dec. 9.

The commission then considered PR21-00030, an amended final plat for Lakes at Crosstimbers Phase 2, where staff said the proposal would add a rear-yard building line and reduce the rear-yard setback in that phase from 20 feet to 10 feet. Tom Gravis, the applicant representative, said the omission of the 10-foot building line on the preliminary submittal was an "oversight on our behalf" tied to an earlier transition between zoning approaches, and that most lots in the phase would move to the 10-foot line while a small set of large, longtime lots on the west side would remain at 20 feet. After questions about fire hydrants and public improvements, the commission approved the amendment 5–0; staff noted the item will go before the Edmond City Council on Dec. 9.

The commission also approved SP23-33, a commercial site plan for the Executive Suites at Covell Creek (the site is zoned E1 and is slightly under 5 acres) that shows three office buildings and a storage building with a northern two-story portion and a proposed average height near 28 feet. Staff described stormwater detention being provided by a regional facility and recommended approval; the commission voted 5–0.

At the public-comment portion of SB24-4, the site plan for a building addition at 1327 South Broadway, Jim Wilmoth, who identified himself as representing American Self Storage, said he was "a little concerned" that the building would nearly double in size without added parking, that delivery truck activity could affect the shared drive, and that the shared-drive easement is currently expired. "We're working with them and the other neighbor to try to get that back in place but it's currently expired," Wilmoth said, adding concern about trees shown on the plan potentially encroaching into the drive.

Bridal responded that the submitted site plan complies with parking standards and that private shared-drive easement issues are typically resolved before final engineering approval or building permits are issued; commissioners agreed to flag the access easement and verify an updated agreement before final stamping. The commission approved SB24-4 5–0.

None of the items generated prolonged public opposition at the hearing; commissioners asked staff to confirm hydrant locations and engineering compliance on the plat amendment and to ensure the Broadway site's access easement is in order before final approvals. Several items approved by the commission will go forward to the City Council on Dec. 9 for Council review.

The meeting adjourned after routine closing business.