Published: February 22, 2006 05:36 pm      

Neighbors question 111-acre project

Neighboring residents were unsure of their support of a proposed 111-acre development along Interstate 35 but came to the Edmond Planning Commission with plenty of questions.

Summit Development proposes a planned unit development master plan that will include single family homes, high-end condominiums, commercial and office projects. The project is north of East Second Street and south of Danforth on the east side of I-35. It will abut the Mountain View and Brook Forest additions.

The Planning Commission voted 3-1 for both items with Elizabeth Waner casting the only no vote. Commissioner Barry K. Moore was absent.

Shawn Thompson owns property in Mountain View and brought questions about the proposed density of the project.

“We as land owners have received very little information about traffic, green areas and parking,” Thompson said.

He also questioned the need for the C-3 multi-family zoning proposed for the center of the long, vertical project.

Frank Pearce, who applied last year to subdivide a 5-acre tract in Mountain View for two homes, also said he is concerned about the quickness of the application without dialogue with the residents. He urged the Planning Commission to postpone the vote on the master plan amendment and the rezoning until after the city completes its Edmond Plan III update and the residents talk with the developers.

“I’m not necessarily in favor of it or opposed to it,” Pearce said.

Ronnie Williams, an Edmond Neighborhood Alliance representative, said he appreciates the buffering of the existing homes with more single family homes, but he questioned the potential for traffic problems at Danforth and I-35.

Attorney Randel Shadid, representing Summit Development, tried to reassure residents that the terrain of the property will not allow for the maximum density of six homes per acre.

He said he could not commit to a number of homes on an acre, but did agree to meet privately with all residents who are concerned before the March 13 City Council hearing on the issues.

Planning Commission member Suzy Thrash said she was concerned about the number of apartments proposed on the west side of the project.

Shadid responded that some of the commercial zoning could develop instead as upscale office buildings, but that it was too early in the process to know.

Attorney Todd McKinnis, also representing the developers, said it’s standard practice for developers to seek the highest density zoning possible to give them more flexibility in designing the project.

He also tried to allay fears about traffic snarls by saying the developers plan a five-lane drive to come out near the Oklahoma Christian Schools and Life Church sites with a traffic light that could improve safety there.

Dan Thompson, an 11th-grader at Bishop McGuinness High School was in attendance with the Edmond Youth Council.

This select group of students from Edmond-area schools go through a multi-week process to learn more about city government and Tuesday was their night to attend the Planning Commission.

Thompson was particularly affected by the discussion because his family recently moved to the Mountain View addition.

“I think I agree with Mr. Pearce,” Thompson said afterward. “I think it’s a little too fast and it’s not well-developed enough because there’s a lot of things that haven’t been addressed yet.”

In particular, the Youth Council member said he is concerned about traffic congestion, which he said is already tough to navigate at Second Street.

“At Second Street it takes me forever,” Thompson said.

Mike Galiga, a partner in Summit Development, promised a high-quality project because he is an Edmond resident a few miles from the site and said he will be happy to address the traffic and other concerns.

He does not believe the project will clog Danforth as he envisions 80-90 percent of the traffic utilizing Second Street.

(Business Editor Lisa Shearer may be reached via e-mail at lshearer@edmondsun.com.)