Published: November 09, 2009 11:10 pm      

Edmond City Council extends disputed plan for Coffee Creek apartment development

EDMOND — Coffee Creek residents will evaluate the City Council’s decision to extend Covell Road Properties owner Derek Turner’s original planned unit development that began in 1996, said attorney Kelly Work, representing a group of residents of the Coffee Creek addition.

The Council voted 4-1 in favor of extending the old PUD, with Councilman Wayne Page casting the no vote. The council did not discuss the new PUD that would have been considered under the new Title 22 zoning laws.

Worries about how the development could impact property values, create traffic congestion for area schools and integrate awkwardly into the neighborhood addition were a backdrop to Turner’s message that the property would be developed as multi-family.

“If the developer, as was suggested in their comments tonight, is really intending to do this development under the restrictions and requirements of the original 1996 PUD, then I think there may be a basis for the Coffee Creek residents to work with them to find a development, a plan that will be appropriate for the Coffee Creek neighborhood, residents and homeowners, and for this applicant,” Work said.

Meanwhile, the City Council continued Turner’s recent PUD proposal under the new Title 22 for 60 days. Covell Properties attorney Todd McKinnis said its continuance could be indefinite because Turner will submit a site plan before the City Council.

“We’ll just have to see what the developer intends to do,” Work told The Edmond Sun.

Work said he expects Coffee Creek residents would continue to resist any attempt to develop 345 apartments on the property.

At question has been a 14.5-acre parcel that is north of Covell Road, east of Kelly Avenue and west of Boulevard. The Coffee Creek PUD was approved by the city in 1996 but expired in 2001, said Bob Schiermeyer, city planner.

Coffee Creek homeowners association spokesman Jon McNaught said he is not sure the City of Edmond followed its own rule of law.

A point of contention is whether the property should have reverted back to single family in 2001 when Turner’s PUD expired. The language of the old Title 22 provides a 30-day notice to the developer before the City Council would decide whether the PUD reverts, said attorney Matthew Winton, representing the 500-home Coffee Creek Community Association.

“That’s what we requested well over two months ago,” McNaught said. “To consider this process a show cause hearing is extremely disappointing as a resident.”

As a taxpayer, McNaught said he isn’t sure which rules the city follows or decides not to follow.

“I guess we’ll have to regroup and decide if we can really understand what happened here,” McNaught said.

Mayor Patrice Douglas told an overflow Council Chamber the city will look at the old PUD to see exactly what Turner would be permitted to do when bringing in a site plan. More than 200 other Coffee Creek residents watched the proceeding televised at the Downtown Community Center, 28 E. Main St.

“Under the old PUD, something has to come back to this council for a site plan for review,” Douglas said. Councilman David Miller said this site plan would consider items such as the location, size and height of buildings.

“We’ve asked the developer to come back with all of the specifics in one document so we can review it in a succinct kind of a manner and have it all in front of us,” Douglas said.



jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114