Planning panel approves Covell Creek Corner preliminary plat after hours of traffic and safety debate
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Summary
The Edmond Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat for Covell Creek Corner on April 7 by a 3–0 vote after extensive public comment raising traffic, left-turn and drainage concerns; applicants said the plat complies with ordinances and that required right-of-way and engineering details will be addressed at final plat.
The Edmond Planning Commission voted 3–0 April 7 to approve consideration of a preliminary plat for Covell Creek Corner, a roughly 9.7-acre development at the northwest corner of Covell and Coltrane that proposes one lot, two driveways and roadway widenings on Covell and Coltrane.
The developer’s team — represented by attorney Todd McInnis and engineers Mohammed Khan and BJ Hawkins — told the commission the plat meets ordinance requirements and that private investment tied to the plat will enable intersection and drainage improvements the city cannot currently afford. “We don’t rely on anecdotal stories,” McInnis said during his response to residents, adding the engineering analysis has been reviewed by the city and that “we will work with the city engineering and provide the necessary right of way.”
Neighbors spoke at length, pressing safety concerns about unprotected left turns on Covell and the project's proximity to existing traffic bottlenecks. Barry Black, president of the Ashford Oaks HOA, cited city planning documents and a prior traffic-control assessment to argue that the Covell corridor is intended as a parkway with raised medians to block unprotected left turns, and he urged planners to deny the plat. Other commenters described recurring flooding near Coffee Creek and questioned whether the traffic study used developer-supplied data.
City staff and the applicant said the traffic-impact analysis was reviewed by the city traffic engineer and that the submitted plan includes roadway widenings and on-site detention to meet Title 23 drainage requirements. Traffic consultant BJ Hawkins said the intersection currently operates at roughly level-of-service C in the morning and D in the evening, and that the proposed improvements would make operations “as good or better than” today’s conditions during peak hours.
Commissioners asked staff for clarity about the timing and source of any city-funded intersection improvements; staff said they are exploring options with consultants but could not provide a timeline. The chair and staff emphasized that the preliminary-plat approval authorizes preparation of a final plat and construction plans, and that final engineering review and any additional right-of-way dedications will occur before construction.
The commission’s approval was procedural in this stage; the final plat and construction plans must still meet city engineering standards before building can begin. The item will return to the city for subsequent approvals and could be subject to further review by the City Council.
