Published: August 22, 2008 10:36 pm      

Council to set safety center vote

EDMOND — The Edmond City Council will vote Monday night to approve an election proclamation for the proposed Public Safety Center use of Barnett Field at Kelly Avenue and Main Street. Voters will have the final say on Nov. 4 in deciding whether to approve a 10-year ad valorem tax to pay for the $31.5 million facility.

The Council voted unanimously in July to approve Barnett Field as the site for the new Public Safety Center. Edmond’s Police Department, the Central Communications Department and the Emergency Management Department would be housed in the Public Safety Center.

“The council has made it clear that they would work to find replacement land somewhere in Edmond for those fields,” Assistant City Manager Steve Commons said Thursday night at a meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “That’s a commitment that they’ve made publicly and they will probably reiterate it again when they have their conversation on Monday.”

Also on the council’s agenda is the consideration for site plan approval an addition to Faith Bible Church, which is north of the Thunderhead Hills addition on north Coltrane.

Nearby residents have said at two previous Planning Commission meetings that solutions are needed to modify the site plan’s proposed lighting, design for 406 additional parking spaces, second-floor windows, fencing, tree preservation, landscaping, privacy and drainage.

Forward with Faith is the church’s theme for the $6 million project, which includes a Family Life Center, Children’s Education Building and three common areas. The addition will provide FBC with an additional 32,000 square feet of ministry space, according to its Web site, www.edmondfaithbible.com/new-building-plans.

In addition, the council will consider site plan approval for a Weathers Warehouse at 209 W. Second St., and the rezoning of property at 2015 E. Second St. for a self-storage facility.

Two proposed hotels east of Broadway and south of Bob Howard Used Cars will be discussed for rezoning. The Planning Commission previously recommended approval by a 5-0 vote.