McAlester council approves two rezoning measures — C‑5 at S. George Expressway and R‑1B on N. Main

McAlester — The McAlester City Council approved two separate zoning ordinances after staff presentations and brief council questions.

Planner Miss Clifton presented the first request from Foresight Group to reclassify an 8.95‑acre parcel at 5001 S. George Expressway to C‑5 (Commercial and Commercial Recreation). The parcel was previously part of an Oklahoma Department of Transportation highway right‑of‑way and lacked a zoning designation; Miss Clifton said the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on Jan. 20 and noted the proposal fits the surrounding highway‑adjacent uses. Council members asked about driveway access and ODOT approval; staff said any access or safety permits must be approved by ODOT and that the city maintains the service road after it transitions off US‑69. The council approved the rezoning by roll call.

On a separate motion, the council approved a request from ABC Business Ventures to rezone a parcel at 3001 N. Main Street from C‑3 to R‑1B (single‑family). Planner Clifton said the change would enable resale and financing of the single‑family property and that planning staff and the commission recommended approval.

Both measures passed with unanimous roll call votes. Staff noted ongoing site plan and engineering reviews will proceed separately; ODOT will have final say on any driveway and highway access work.

Clarifying details: the C‑5 parcel was described as about 8.95 acres; the R‑1B parcel’s square footage was given in the packet as 15,002.70 sq ft (as presented). ODOT driveway permits and engineering approvals remain outstanding and are required before any site work or access changes will be permitted.

Next steps: developers will pursue site plan and engineering approvals; ODOT will review and approve highway driveway decisions as needed.