The Edmond Sun

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October 25, 2012

Council rezones near tracks for apartments

James Coburn The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Rezoning to permit an office building and eight apartments was approved by the City Council this week for construction on the north side of Hurd, one-eighth mile west of the Burlington Northern railroad tracks. Approval of the project was recommended by the Planning Commission earlier this month.

Zoning was changed from light industrial to a planned unit development. The project will provide the first multi-family use in the area, said Bob Schiermeyer, city planner.

“I don’t think industrial zoning is appropriate or is the ideal zoning for a small site like that in this location,” said Charles Lamb, mayor.

Developer Steve Frakes proposed a 900-square-foot office on the half-acre tract near the southeast corner property, Schiermeyer said. Frakes also built the Hometown Lofts on Fretz, south of Edmond Road.

Construction of the two-story brick apartments include a three-unit apartment building and a larger building with five apartments.

The undeveloped land on the north side of Hurd slopes north to the park-like setting of the downtown detention area and trail, Schiermeyer said. A city-owned parking lot is immediately to the east of land. There is industrial zoning and homes in the area as well as oil well activity, he added.

“The City of Edmond owns a large tract of land to the north that is the downtown detention area,” Schiermeyer said. “We also own some access to Hurd with the parking lot,” Schiermeyer said. “We have a trail in place …and we have a recreational space as well.”

There will be a one-drive approach to the property from Hurd. Frakes will install a fence along the east and west property lines, Schiermeyer said. The fence will secure parking that is intended for recreational use, he said. Another fence on the northern portion of the property extend to a retaining wall.

Parking with four spaces would be diagonal along the street, Schiermeyer said. Neither building will have garages. Two parking spaces will be available for each unit, Schiermeyer said. City Councilwoman Elizabeth Waner said she is concerned with the parking availability.

“I don’t have a problem with rezoning but I think the site plan is going to be interesting,” Waner said.

Lamb said the perimeters of the site plan would be addressed with the council’s tract rezoning approval in the PUD. Variances were approved with the rezoning to PUD, Schiermeyer said.

“If it complies with the PUD as we would approve it tonight, we won’t see it,” Lamb said.

Councilwoman Victoria Caldwell said the PUD is a superior land use from light industrial zoning. The three variances approved include the space between the north boundary and recreational area, the three diagonal parking spaces and the east boundary is closer to the building than would normally be permitted.

Frakes said he believes the parking availability of 20 spaces will balance well with the occupancy of the complex.

“I think the benefit to the area of the rest of the PUD in my mind outweighs the three variances, so I would speak in favor,” Caldwell said.



jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121

 

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