Published: March 14, 2006 05:36 pm            

111-acre I-35 project gains zoning approval

EDMOND — Several east Edmond residents left disappointed Monday night after the Edmond City Council gave the go-ahead for a new 111-acre development along Interstate 35.

A site plan process still must come before the City Council at a future date, but it unanimously approved the rezoning plan for the odd-shaped property just north of Second Street and stretching at one point to Danforth on the east side of I-35.

The eastern-most boundary of the property will develop as single family housing and with no more than 4 homes per acre, said Randel Shadid, one of two attorneys representing Summit Development. The single family housing also serves as a buffer to existing homes in the Mountain View Park Addition.

“This land is now under one ownership, which allows us to do a little bit better planning,” Shadid said of the project.

Other plans call for about 8 acres of a gated townhome community adjacent to the single family tract with varying commercial and office structures possible for the front half along I-35.

However, Shadid said there is the potential for the “E-1” General Commercial tracts on the south side of the project to develop as apartments. The zoning granted Monday night does not allow for apartments, but if the developer decides upon that route, he will have to come back before the council and request another rezoning and present a site plan, Shadid said.

Several residents objected to the possibility of apartments on the heavily forested property, which contains about 40 acres of what’s known as “remnant forest.” That term means a stand of trees that potentially has not been cut or logged since before settlement of the Edmond area in the late 1800s.

“It’s in our financial best interest to have a tree preserve,” Shadid told the council.

In between the Planning Commission meeting and Monday’s public hearing, Shadid met with several neighbors of the proposed project and made agreements with them that included:

n Not more than four homes per acre, with Shadid noting due to the terrain it most likely will be closer to three homes an acre.

n The townhomes will not exceed two stories in height.

n A stockade fence will separate the existing housing addition from the one proposed by Summit.

n A forester will be hired by Summit to help it develop a tree preservation plan and do a tree study of the property.

n And before any commercial site plan is brought to the council, a traffic study will be provided.

Traffic was cited as a concern by residents and is one reason why a traffic signal on Second Street will be installed at the developer’s expense to help alleviate safety concerns expressed by neighboring Life Church and Oklahoma Christian Schools.

Mike Buckmaster said he believes the proposed access to Danforth “is going to cause major problems.”

Because Summit does not own the property on the north end of the project next to Danforth except for a small sliver, the best access plan to Danforth cannot be achieved, Shadid said.

Bruce Carpenter, another resident in the area since 1979, said he and his family moved to their location for the obvious reasons of wildlife, trees and tranquility.

“Now comes along a project like this,” he said. “What protection do you have? Now it seems like you can do darn near anything. Zoning doesn’t mean anything anymore in Edmond.”

Shadid said no one should get “hung up” on the apartments issue because that is not a done deal. Ward 2 Councilor Paula Sanford pointed out that under the current “E-2” open display zoning on one portion of the land apartments already were allowed.

With the zoning changes approved Monday night, it was actually a downgrading of what can go there without further amendments to the plan, Shadid said.

Mayor Saundra Naifeh said while she was voting for the plan amendment and rezonings, when it comes time to discuss the site plan she most likely will not support apartments at the site.

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

        

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