Midwest City Council adopts Comprehensive Plan 2045 after consultant presentation, public concerns about 10th Street

The Midwest City Council adopted the Midwest City Comprehensive Plan 2045 following a detailed presentation by consultant Don Thomas of Freese and Nichols and an extended round of council questions and public comments.

Don Thomas described the document as a community-driven policy blueprint rather than a binding ordinance, saying, “It is not a legally binding ordinance. Um but it should provide the support to modify or adopt programs, policies, and ordinances that support the plan,” and urging council members to use the plan’s implementation chapter and action matrix to guide future decisions. Planning staff and the consultant said the update began in late 2024, replaced a 2008 plan, and incorporated input from 24 stakeholder groups, three large public outreach events, targeted surveys and multiple steering‑committee meetings.

The plan frames development around a nodal pattern that concentrates higher‑intensity land uses at arterial intersections and supports multimodal corridors, updated thoroughfare classifications (including upgrades for Air Depot and Reno), and a stronger emphasis on sidewalks, trails and complete‑streets design. It also calls for diversified housing options, programs for housing rehabilitation and a metrics-driven implementation chapter with timeframes, potential funding sources and assigned lead parties. The consultant recommended an annual internal review of implementation progress and a substantive update about every five years.

Council members used the presentation to probe what “flexible” land‑use regulations mean in practice and who will lead implementation. Several members and residents pressed for near-term, prioritized investments in aging corridors. One council member said of a major local route, “10th Street is a gateway in and out of this city. … it is in deplorable condition,” urging the council to treat corridor repairs and small-business attraction as immediate priorities. Staff replied that turning undeveloped corners into viable nodes typically requires classifying the corner appropriately on the future‑land‑use map and ensuring water, sewer and street infrastructure are in place.

After public comments and questions, the council moved, seconded and voted to adopt the Comprehensive Plan 2045. The plan’s adoption carries forward the policy guidance for land use, transportation, housing, community character and an implementation matrix intended to help staff, the planning commission and the council coordinate capital improvements and regulatory updates.

What happens next: staff and the planning commission will use the plan as the policy basis for zoning and subdivision reviews, and the implementation chapter identifies funding sources and lead departments for specific actions. The consultant recommended an annual internal check‑in and a more formal plan update about every five years to respond to demographic and market changes.