Commission approves modification allowing cottage‑home proposal in floodplain at 719 S. Trenton in 6‑3 vote

The Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on Jan. 21 approved a modification (MR‑26) to the Subdivision and Development Regulations that relieves the requirement in Sec. 5‑090.2F that flood hazard areas be placed in a reserve or overland drainage easement and preserved as open space for a proposed cottage‑home development at 719 South Trenton Avenue.

Staff and the Technical Advisory Committee recommended denial of the modification, noting the property is designated Parks and Open Space in the Pearl District Small Area Plan and is identified in the Elm Creek/6th Street drainage, detention and conveyance planning work. Applicant advocate Kevin Anderson argued the proposal would create needed homeownership opportunities and described the city drainage plan as unfunded and speculative. Public Works staff, as reflected in the minutes, confirmed the Elm Creek plan is active; commissioners debated the tradeoffs between creating housing now and the potential future cost if the city ultimately needed to acquire developed properties for the drainage facility.

Commissioner Bulmash argued in favor of approval, saying denying the project could lead to denser development that might be more costly to acquire later. The motion to approve the modification passed 6‑3 (Ayes: Bulmash, Fugate, Hood, Shivel, Turner‑Addison, Walker; Nays: Craddock, Humphrey, Whitlock). The minutes record no in‑person public speakers on this item; the decision will be forwarded to the appropriate city review and permitting processes.