The Edmond Sun

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Discussion

June 18, 2008

City looks at rezoning Broadway corner

James Coburn

EDMOND — What to do with a sequestered piece of property due to eminent domain was the focus Tuesday night of the Edmond Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission approved the rezoning of property on the southwest corner of Broadway and Covell. Assemi Development has not identified its plans for its property, but requests the City of Edmond to rezone a 5-acre tract from a restricted commercial district to a general commercial district (E-1) usage.

The City of Edmond’s use of eminent domain divided a 10-acre tract of land in 2007 so the city could reconstruct Broadway’s approach to Covell. Future construction nearby on Covell will include constructing the Covell underpass and temporary relocation of the railroad.

As a result of the original tract of land divided by eminent domain, Assemi Development needs rezoning done on its remaining southwest tract for future development, said Randel Shadid, representing the property owner. Assemi Development’s property on the southeast side of Broadway and Covell is zoned for single family, but is projected for office development.

This land has notable roots in Edmond’s history. At age 34, Nannita Regina H. Daisey was a correspondent for The Dallas Morning News when she made headlines for the paper after boarding the first train traveling from Purcell to Guthrie. The ’89er staked her claim on what is now the southeast corner area of Covell and Broadway.

Charles Roach, who lives on Cobblestone Circle, said it’s premature to rezone the property because of the impending Covell underpass. Future development of Covell will bring additional traffic to the Broadway and Covell intersection, he said.

“So we’re looking at a piece of property that’s going to be seen by a lot of residents and visitors coming into Edmond,” Roach said. “So I would suggest that we need to take a better look at this rather than just a rezoning issue.”

Shadid pointed out that litigation due to eminent domain between the city and Assemi development has been resolved. Shadid said during the property’s litigation, the city’s “outside” attorney agreed to give an entrance to the property from an incline on Covell, although it is not in compliance with the city’s codes, Shadid said.

“We were willing to take anything we could get to have some access on Covell,” Shadid said. “Obviously, if we don’t have any access on Covell at all, we’re pretty well dead as a commercial tract.” Another entrance to the property is projected to be built west into the property from Broadway.

“Based on the litigation and what’s taken place, we’re asking you to approve the zoning to E-1 at this location,” Shadid said.

This item will move to the Edmond City Council on July 14.



jcoburn@edmondsun.com |

341-2121, ext. 114

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