Oak Ridge Council approves property transfer to Oklo, several zoning changes and multiple infrastructure contracts

Oak Ridge — The Oak Ridge City Council on April 2026 approved a package of development, zoning and procurement measures that included authorizing the city manager to transfer Heritage Center Industrial Park parcels to Oklo to support a proposed advanced nuclear fuel recycling facility, ratifying several zoning-ordinance amendments and awarding contracts for road resurfacing, airport planning and utility equipment.

The most consequential vote authorized staff to move forward with property transfers to Oklo, a private nuclear technology company. The city manager said the proposed project could involve roughly 800 jobs and about $1.68 billion in private investment and described the transaction as complex, involving state approvals and planned clawback and phasing provisions. Council voted 5–1 to approve the resolution after members requested to see clawback language and other transactional details before final property deeds are executed.

Why it matters: Council members and staff framed the Oklo matter as an economic development opportunity tied to Oak Ridge’s growing role in nuclear technology. At the same time several council members pressed for transparency and firm clawback protections to ensure public interests are protected if job or investment commitments change.

Council also spent extended time on zoning…