EDMOND —
A rezoning effort by Hansen Properties failed this week to allow duplexes to be built west of Oak Ridge Drive.
The proposed development, north of Second Street about one-third of a mile west of Interstate 35, brought about 25 nearby residents protesting the item at the Edmond Planning Commission. The item failed 2-3 with commissioners Rob Rainey and Mark Hoose voting in favor of the project.
“I appreciate builders wanting to build and make money on their transactions, but this is wrong,” said nearby resident Ted Petty. “I think all this room is from Oakridge Circle, and we have a real issue with duplexes going in.”
To the north of this PUD is the Windsong addition and the west of the property is an undeveloped flood plain. The Ridge Pointe subdivision is to the east of tract.
The proposed zoning is a mixed use planned unit development on 4.38 acres of land. One of the tracts is already zoned for restricted retail commercial. It borders the front on Second Street and will be left alone for developing a 24,000-square-foot, brick veneer retail center, said Bob Schiermeyer, city planner.
The adjoining piece of land is proposed for the duplexes. Ten duplex lots totaling 20 dwelling units are proposed for a typical lot size of 85 feet by 120 feet, Schiermeyer said.
“The homes all in Windsong are in the $200,000 range,” Petty said. “And you’re talking about putting in very high potential rental properties right next door to that with no green belt protection, or any other than a chain link fence which is ridiculous.”
Nathan Wells said the project will lower the value of his neighborhood. Retail is the proper use of the land, Petty said.
Petty asked if a study has been made on the additional traffic that the development would bring to Oakridge. City Engineer Steve Manek said there has not been a traffic study on the duplexes. Retail would bring more traffic than duplexes, he added. No improvements are planned for Oakridge Drive, which is a one-drive approach to the property.
“This morning I waited five minutes just to turn onto Second Street,” said Wells, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
Former Mayor Dan O’Neil said Oakridge is little more than an overgrown alley and should be completed as a full-scale street. The road was built during the 1930s for people to live in the country, he said.
“Any plan that says we don’t want to finish that road would be incumbent on the Planning Commission to carefully consider that,” O’Neil said.
Jean Kern said Oakridge Circle, a one-lane road, is dangerous to approach in the dark with no turning lane from Second Street.
“Part of the reason that I did buy the home — one of the first homes down there — is the restricted development behind the lots that backs up to the woods. It never crossed my mind that Edmond would consider duplexes,” said Michael Jensen, nearby resident.
Ernie Isch, representing the applicant, said the current zoning is a step-down from the proposed duplex development process. Windsong is complete with 24 units while only 20 units are proposed by Hansen Properties, Isch said.
“If you wanted us to come back and do a single family development, we could actually increase the density,” Isch said. “But we’re planning 3,000 to 4,000-square-foot duplexes, which would be 1,500 to 2,000 per side. They will be very nice.”
Planning Commission Chairman Barry Moore said he approves of the idea of office space for the tract, but that retail does not make sense.
“I think this is an irrational proposition with the duplexes,” Moore said. “I just think this is a bad precedent. I think there is a traffic nightmare out there already.”
The item will go before the City Council on Jan. 8.
jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121
Local News
Planning Commission denies rezoning for duplexes
- Local News
-
-
UPDATE: Tornado touches portions of Edmond
Roger Williams and his wife Shellie, residents in Edmond’s Thornbrooke neighborhood since 2004, were watching the weather reports Sunday as a large storm approached the city.
When they heard reports that a tornado was spotted near Broadway and 15th Street, then Broadway and 33rd Street, the couple and their son Ethan, 11, took cover in a reinforced interior closet. After they closed the door it got eerily quiet, like being in the eye of a hurricane, Roger said. As the tornado passed by, they could hear a few bangs outside.
“I was kind of scared,” Ethan said. -
SLIDESHOW: Tornado strikes I-35 area of Edmond
A violent tornado ripped trees out of the ground as it dropped into southern Edmond late Sunday afternoon along areas east and west of Interstate 35 from 15th Street to 33rd Street, according to various reports. Damage in Edmond is confirmed by the city and included blown out windows at the brand new Mercy I-35 facility that was scheduled to open later this year. Hail also peppered northwest Edmond during the violent storm event.
-
The Big One
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
-
City plans to hire downtown consultant
Conceptual ideas about how the City of Edmond may plan for downtown development were shared this week by David Forrest with members of the business community.
The Central Edmond Urban Development Board has revisited plans made in a 1998 Downtown Master Plan through public meetings and presentations to protect the future development of Broadway. Recommendations by the group will be taken into account by future city councils. -
Feds recommend changing legal alcohol content levels
During the past 15 years alcohol contributed to a third of highway deaths prompting the government this week to recommend reducing state Blood Alcohol Content limits from .08 to .05 or lower.
-
St. Mary’s Episcopal School names new Head of School
Pamela Dockter will become the new Head of School at St. Mary’s Episcopal School effective July 1.
-
Local girl receives crown
Audrianna Page Fredericks recently was crowned Miss Junior Teen Oklahoma United States 2013.
-
‘Locker Hooking’ workshop offers instruction in durable, useful crafting technique
Residents who would like to learn how to use the “locker hooking” technique to make one-of-a-kind items for use in the home or for decoration are invited to attend the “Locker Hooking” Workshop Tuesday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension Service.
-
‘Healthy Cooking With Spices and Herbs’ focus of OSU Extension workshop
As Americans try harder to improve their diets by decreasing fat and sugar, the challenge to make dishes tasty as well as healthy becomes that much more important.
-
5-18 Calendar
The Edmond Senior Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. F or information about Edmond senior programs, stop by and pick up a monthly calendar, check out the Web site at edmondseniorcenter.com or call 216-7600.
Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and reservations are needed a day in advance by 11 a.m. For lunch reservations, call at 330-6293 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
