Jenks adopts Downtown Master Plan; business owners press for parking and ADA safeguards

The Jenks City Council voted on June 23 to adopt a comprehensive Downtown Master Plan, a document consultants said offers multiple options rather than immediate changes and is intended as a flexible implementation guide.

The plan, prepared by Beck Design with traffic and economic partners, draws on a year of public outreach, market analysis and parking studies. Consultants emphasized the plan’s goal of preserving downtown character while allowing for phased changes to sidewalks, parking patterns and building frontages.

Why it matters: downtown businesses and property owners said they were not adequately notified about the vote and warned that removing parking before replacement spaces are available could harm small businesses. Several speakers said the city must pair any changes with clear transition steps, ADA access improvements and communication to affected merchants.

Public comment and debate: Longtime downtown business owner James Pierce said a recent short closure already reduced his sales dramatically: “My sales were off 71% for that week compared to the same week the year before. For the month, I was off 40%.” Other commenters asked the council to ensure crosswalks, wider sidewalks and at least one additional ADA parking space downtown to maintain access for customers with disabilities.

Consultants and staff responded that the master plan itself does not authorize immediate construction or remove parking overnight. Councilor Brown told the public, “This is not about picking parking tonight,” and urged incremental implementation, additional engagement and the creation of drop‑off and limited‑time spaces in future design phases.

Technical questions: A member of the public asked whether Walter P. Moore and other consultants relied on the city’s 2022 Transportation Master Plan and whether dwell‑time or other usage studies informed parking options. Consultants said they used the 2022 plan, conducted on‑site counts and applied technology and case studies to project year‑round parking demand; they said a standalone dwell‑time study was not included but that comparable case studies were reviewed.

Council action: After discussion and public testimony, the council approved adoption of the plan; staff and consultants said the plan will be used to guide later, discrete decisions that will come back for review and funding when specific projects are proposed.

What’s next: The city will continue outreach on parking options, consider targeted interim safety measures (crosswalks, ADA spaces) and evaluate phased implementations before any construction. Residents concerned about particular blocks were encouraged to contact planners directly for more detailed conversation.

Journalist’s note: The master plan adoption was a recommendation vote; none of the plan’s specific capital projects were approved for immediate construction at the June 23 meeting.