Meeting Summary
The City Council approved several land use and zoning changes, including rezoning for residential development at Tecumseh/12th Ave NE, a commercial storage building at Highland Parkway, and a mixed-use building on Jenkins Avenue. They also approved a special use for the Emergency Operations Center and line maintenance facility. Pam Marcus was recognized with the 2022 Norman Animal Welfare Volunteerism Award.
Key Decisions & Votes
Red Canyon Ranch East Land Use & Rezoning
30:00The Council approved amending the 2025 Land Use Plan and rezoning property at the northwest corner of East Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northeast from commercial to low-density residential, allowing for 28 additional residential lots as an extension of Red Canyon Ranch. The preliminary plan for Red Canyon Ranch East was also approved.
621 Highland Parkway Rezoning
44:50The Council approved amending the 2025 Land Use Plan and rezoning property at 621 Highland Parkway from R1 single-family dwelling to a Simple Planned Unit Development (SPUD) to allow for the construction of a 3,900 square foot commercial storage building, specifically tailored to the owner's intended use.
765 Jenkins Avenue Rezoning
52:20The Council approved amending the 2025 Land Use Plan and rezoning property at 765 Jenkins Avenue from R3 multi-family dwelling to a Simple Planned Unit Development (SPUD) for a three-story mixed-use building with commercial uses on the ground floor and multi-family residential on the upper two stories. The SPUD narrative was amended to remove specific uses like child care centers, hotels, and small animal hospitals.
Special Use for Emergency Operations Center/Line Maintenance Facility
1:06:40The Council approved an ordinance granting a special use for municipal purposes for property north of East Robinson Street, allowing for the Emergency Operations Center and a line maintenance facility. Relief was granted for masonry requirements, some parking requirements (allowing gravel), and landscaping, given the site's remote location and budgetary constraints.
Upcoming Community Events
United Way Fundraiser (Dunk Tank)
1 PM to 5 PM at Westwood Golf Course. Several council members will be in the dunk tank.
Legacy Park Hispanic Heritage Month Concert
7 PM to 9 PM at Legacy Park, featuring Lee Hernan and Venezuelan food by OK Sandwich.
Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Day
12 PM to 4 PM at Andrews Park, featuring plant sales, games, crafts, educational stations, Story Time, and guest speaker Sara Dykman.
National Night Out
Ward 6 has two events (Park Place, Hall Park); Norman Police Department will host theirs at the Sooner Mall.
Safety Town Rededication
5 PM at Sooner Mall.
Max Westheimer Airport 16th Annual Aviation Festival
9 AM to 2 PM, featuring modern and vintage aircraft.
Financial Matters
Purchase of two vans for transportation services
Discussion regarding the purchase of two vans, including ADA accessibility and CNG conversion, for transportation services identified in a homeless gaps analysis and other community needs. The vans are purchased off a state contract.
Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) Grant
Acceptance of a grant from OHSO for the police department to conduct high visibility enforcement, saturation patrols, and education campaigns directed towards traffic safety. The grant amount was reduced this year due to less enforcement activity.
Public Comments
Public comments addressed concerns about the city's public comment process, advocating for spontaneous comments during agenda items. Other comments focused on pedestrian safety, specifically issues with cars parking on sidewalks, blocked crosswalks by construction, and the need for ADA-compliant elevators in multi-story public access buildings.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Items 18-20 related to the University North Park Business Improvement District and the Downtown Business Improvement District were postponed until October 11, 2022, to allow time for legal notice.
Deadlines
- National Hispanic Heritage Month ends October 15th.
- Fall cleanup begins October 8th for Monday customers, continuing on October 15th (Tuesday), 22nd (Wednesday), 29th (Thursday), and November 5th (Friday).
Watch For
- Improvements to the city's website and new permitting software.
- Further discussion on the city's disaster debris cleanup plan.
- Future projects focusing on more units and less bedrooms for housing needs.
Announcements
- Pam Marcus was awarded the 2022 Norman Animal Welfare Volunteerism Award for her 1098 hours of service, primarily laundry and repairs.
- The city's website is being improved for better user-friendliness, especially on mobile devices, with an announcement and navigation guide forthcoming.
- New software for the permitting process is being implemented to improve service.
- National Hispanic Heritage Month ends on October 15th.
- Councilmember Grant announced her intention to run for re-election for Ward 5.
- Fall cleanup dates are scheduled for October 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, and November 5th, depending on regular sanitation pickup days.
- A replay of the Community Planning and Transportation Committee meeting discussing the disaster debris cleanup plan is available on the city's YouTube channel.
- The Norman delegation attended an interim study on the turnpike, presenting the city's concerns to state legislators.
- A rededication of Safety Town will take place on October 3rd at 5 PM at Sooner Mall.
- The Max Westheimer Airport will host its 16th annual Aviation Festival on Saturday, 9 AM to 2 PM.
Agenda Summary
Item 1: Approval of minutes
Approval of city council special session minutes of June 7, 2022, study session minutes of July 19, 2022, conference minutes of June 26, 2022, finance committee minutes of August 18, 2022, and City Council/Norman Utilities Authority/Norman Municipal Authority/Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority minutes of August 9, 2022.
Item 2: 2022 Norman Animal Welfare Volunteerism Award
Consideration of a resolution awarding the 2022 Norman Animal Welfare volunteerism award.
Items 3-20: Consent Docket
Approval of routine agenda items designated for unanimous consent. This included a grant from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office for the police department.
Item 21: Resolution amending Norman 2025 land use plan (Tecumseh/12th Ave NE)
Amending the land use plan to place property on the northwest corner of East Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northeast in the low density residential designation, removing it from commercial designation.
Item 22: Ordinance rezoning property (Tecumseh/12th Ave NE) - Second Reading
Rezoning property on the northwest corner of East Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northeast from Planned Unit Development District to Planned Unit Development District for residential uses.
Item 22: Ordinance rezoning property (Tecumseh/12th Ave NE) - Final Reading
Final reading of the ordinance rezoning property on the northwest corner of East Tecumseh Road and 12th Avenue Northeast for residential uses.
Item 23: Preliminary plan for Red Canyon Ranch East
Approval of a preliminary plan for Red Canyon Ranch East, a planned unit development.
Item 24: Resolution amending Norman 2025 land use plan (621 Highland Parkway)
Amending the land use plan to remove property located at 621 Highland Parkway from low density residential and place it in the commercial designation.
Item 25: Ordinance rezoning property (621 Highland Parkway) - Second Reading
Rezoning property located at 621 North Highland Parkway from R1 single-family dwelling District to SPUD simple planned unit development.
Item 25: Ordinance rezoning property (621 Highland Parkway) - Final Reading
Final reading of the ordinance rezoning property at 621 North Highland Parkway from R1 to SPUD.
Item 26: Resolution amending Norman 2025 land use plan (765 Jenkins Avenue)
Amending the land use plan to remove property located at 765 Jenkins Avenue from low density residential and place it in the mixed use designation.
Item 27: Ordinance rezoning property (765 Jenkins Avenue) - Second Reading
Rezoning property at 765 Jenkins Avenue from R3 multi-family dwelling District to SPUD simple planned unit development District.
Item 27: Ordinance rezoning property (765 Jenkins Avenue) - Final Reading
Final reading of the ordinance rezoning property at 765 Jenkins Avenue from R3 to SPUD.
Item 28: Ordinance granting special use (North of E Robinson Street) - Second Reading
Granting special use for municipal use for property located north of East Robinson Street, approximately 2000 feet west of 24th Avenue Northeast, currently in the A1 General Agricultural District, for the Emergency Operations Center and line maintenance facility.
Item 28: Ordinance granting special use (North of E Robinson Street) - Final Reading
Final reading of the ordinance granting special use for municipal use for property north of East Robinson Street.