HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011.04.11_Planning Commission MinutesOWASSO PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
Monday, April 11, 2011
Owasso Old Central
109 North Birch, Owasso, Oklahoma
MEMBERS PRESENT
Charles Brown
David Vines
Dr. Paul Loving
Dr. Mark Callery
Tammy Laakso
MEMBERS ABSENT
STAFF PRESENT
Karl Fritschen
Marsha Hensley
Dan Salts
Daniel Dearing
Rodney Ray
Julie Trout Lombardi
The agenda for the regular meeting was posted at the north entrance to City Hall on April 6,
2011 at 1:00 PM.
1. CALL TO ORDER - Charles Brown called the meeting to order at 6:OOPM and declared
a quorum present.
2. ROLL CALL
3. Recognition of New Planning Commissioner Tammy Laakso. - Charles Brown
introduced new commissioner Tammy Laakso.
4. ELECTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON - The Chair opened the
floor for nominations for Chairperson, Charles Brown nominated Dr. Callery, with the
nomination being seconded by Dr. Loving. Hearing no further nominations, the
nominations were declared closed and Dr. Callery was elected Chairperson by
acclamation effective May 1, 2011.
5. ELECTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION VICE CHAIRPERSON - The Chair
opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chairperson. David Vines nominated Dr.
Loving, with the nomination being seconded by Charles Brown. Hearing no further
nominations, the nominations were declared closed and Dr. Loving was elected Vice
Chairperson by acclamation effective immediately.
6. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF March 7, 2011 REGULAR
MEETING - The Commission reviewed the minutes of March 7, 2011 regular meeting.
Dr. Callery moved, seconded by David Vines, to approve the minutes. A vote on the
motion was recorded as follows:
David Vines - Yes
Charles Brown - Yes
Dr. Mark Callery - Yes
Dr. Paul Loving - Yes
Tammy Laakso - Yes
OWASSO PLANNING COMMISSION
April 11, 2011
Page Noe 2
The motion was approved 5 -0.
7. OUSP - TTC - Consideration and appropriate action related to the request for the
review and acceptance of a unified sign plan for the Tulsa Technology Center located at
1/4 of a mile north of East 106" Street North and just east of the Owasso Expressway.
Charles Brown presented the item and Karl Fritschen reviewed the staff report. The
property location was described and surrounding land use was also described. The
applicant is requesting a Unified Sign Plan to allow for the display of up to 8 signs on
the Tulsa Technology Center site. Tulsa Technology Center USP includes the
following signs:
One LED two sided billboard 35' in height and 48' wide with 672 Sq. Ft. of
display area per side. Located on the west side of the property along 140`' East Ave.
It should be noted that the billboard pole was grandfathered into the City in
February 2000 when the property was annexed into the City Limits.
One two sided LED sign 23' in height 10' wide with 130 Sq. Ft. of display area
per side. Located on the west side of the property along 140" East Ave.
One (2) two -sided back lit sign 20' in height and 10' wide with approximately 60
Sq. Ft. of display area per side located on the west side of the property along 140`'
East Ave (frontage road along US -169).
One (2) sided sign 14' in height with 60 Sq. Ft. of display area per side located on
the east side of the property along 145"' East Avenue.
Four (4) wall mounted signs located on the east, south and west side of the building
totaling 256 Sq. Ft. of display area. (64 Sq. Ft. per sign)
The Technical Advisory Committee reviewed the sign plan for TTC at their regularly
scheduled February 23, 2011 meeting. All comments that were made has been addressed.
Staff recommends approval of unified sign plan for the Tulsa Technology Center.
Discussion was held regarding the billboard sign. Also discussed was the level of
brightness. A representative from TTC was present and stated that the LED signs have
adjustable brightness.
David Vines moved, seconded by Dr. Callery, to approve the unified sign plan for the
Tulsa Technology Center subject to TAC recommendations. A vote on the motion was
recorded as follows:
David Vines - Yes
Charles Brown - Yes
Dr. Mark Callery - Yes
Dr. Paul Loving - Yes
Tammy Laakso - Yes
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April 1.1, 2011
Page No. 3
The motion carried 5 -0.
So OA 11 -02 (Detachment) - Consideration and appropriate action related to a request for
the review and acceptance to detach approximately 20 acres of land. The property is
located approximately lhmile north of 116" Street North on the east side of North Mingo
Road.
Charles Brown presented the item and Karl Fritschen reviewed the staff report. The
location and the surrounding land use was described. Karl explained that the new owners
of the property have no plans to develop it in a similar fashion as was approved with
OPUD 04 -02 and recently purchased the land for agriculture related uses (raising of
horses). The location of the property is somewhat isolated in terms of its proximity to
other adjacent parcels within the City Limits or to those developed at an urban density.
The property does not share a contiguous boundary with any other property within the
City Limits. Whenever parcels are annexed, the City of Owasso becomes responsible
for providing Police, fire and EMS services. If annexed properties are scattered
throughout the region, they become fragmented as opposed to being part of more
contiguous portions of the City. This has the effect of making it more expensive to
provide services to these areas and may cause logistic issues with respect to providing
timely emergency service. On March 30, 2011 the annexation committee met,
discussed the request in depth, and voted to send the recommendation to the Planning
Commission. Staff recommends approval of the request to detach the property from the
corporate limits of the City of Owasso. A brief discussion was held regarding the
possibility of a variance in order to allow a horse ranch. Mr. Ray explained the history
of the subject property to the Commissioners. Mr. and Mrs. Dix were present to
answer any questions. Mr. Dix handed out a letter to the Commissioners that he sent to
surrounding property owners (attached). The letter was to explain his intent to restore
the property to the conditions which existed prior to the purchase by Mr. Sokolosky
and Mr. Kimball.
David Vines moved, seconded by Dr. Callery, to approve the above described
detachment. A vote on the motion was recorded as follows
David Vines -- Yes
Charles Brown - Yes
Dr. Mark Callery - Yes
Dr. Paul Loving - Abstain
Tammy Laakso - Yes
The motion carried 4 -0.
9. Final Plat - Lake Valley IV Extended - Consideration and appropriate action related to
the request for the review and acceptance of the Lake Valley IV Extended Final Plat of
three (3) lots, on one (1) block, on approximately 0.6060 acres of land, located at East
110`h Street North and North 154 " East Avenue.
Charles Brown presented the item and Karl Fritschen reviewed the staff report. The
OWASSO PLANNING COMMISSION
April 11, 2011
Page No. 4
location and the surrounding land use was described. The applicant is requesting the
review and approval of the final plat consisting of 3 lots in one block in order to
develop one additional lot and modify two adjoining ones as part of the Lake Valley IV
development. The proposed change covers 0.61acres and involves the closure of a
unimproved platted right -of -way, and the addition of a reserve area. The use of the
property is governed by PUD 08 -01, which allows single family homes. The property
adjoins Ranch Acres Estates II to the east, which is comprised of 2.5 acre home sites in
Rogers County. The lots sizes in Lake Valley IV are significantly smaller and average
5,500 to 6,000 SF. The Final Plat for Lake Valley IV Extended was reviewed by the
Owasso Technical Advisory Committee at their regularly scheduled meeting held
March 30, 2011. At that meeting, utility providers and city staff were afforded the
opportunity to comment on the application and request any changes or modifications.
The following comments were made.
• Public Works - Check the legal description for closure.
• Community Development - May need to prepare a separate action for
closure of the right -of -way. Should not hold up the platting process.
• David Vines - Fencing needs to be the continuation of existing fencing.
Staff recommends the Planning Commission approve the final plat for Lake Valley IV
Extended subject to addressing the above TAC comments.
Dr. Loving moved, seconded by David Vines, to approve the final plat for Lake Valley
IV Extended subject to Staff and TAC recommendations. A vote on the motion was
recorded as follows:
David Vines - Yes
Charles Brown - Yes
Dr. Mark Callery - Yes
Dr. Paul Loving - Yes
Tammy Laakso - Yes
The motion carried 5 -0.
10. Status Report on Public Works Projects - Roger Stevens This item is rescheduled for the
May Planning Commission meeting.
IL Report on Monthly Building Permit Activity.
11 Report on Items Previously Forwarded to City Council.
• Maple Glen II Rezoning
13. Economic Development Director Report.
14. Adjournment - Dr. Callery moved, seconded by Dr. Loving to adjourn the meeting.
A vote on the motion was recorded as follows:
OWASSO PLANNING COMMISSION
April 11, 2011
Page No. 5
David Vines - Yes
Charles Brown - Yes
Dr. Mark Callery - Yes
Dr. Paul Loving - Yes
Tammy Laakso - Yes
The motion carried 5-0,qnd t1 meeting wa§ adjourned at 7:10 PM.
Chairperson
Vice Chai son
4
Date
April 11, 2011
(Ladies &) Gentlemen:
My name is John Dix. My address is 12221 N. 9r E. Ave., Collinsville, 74021
We're coming to you this evening with the hope and purpose of correcting a situation that
began in 2005 with the purchase of 20 acres just South of my house by Noble Sokolosky
and Tom Kimball. At the time, this property, as well as all of my 100 acres, was outside
the city limits of Owasso although within the Owasso fenceline, in Tulsa County and zoned
AG.
Most of our land as well as the subject property was a part of the former Pavey Dairy
Farm. The dairy farm, after the passing of Ivan Juanita Pavey, had been bought from
the heirs by Jim Roberts, a Skiatook developer, for the purpose of further development.
As the property was previously contained within in a larger lawsuit between the City of
Owasso and Washington County Rural Water District #3 over the rights to provide water
service to it, Mr. Roberts, without access to the main for Washington County #3, decided
to sell the property.
He split the property into two long 40 acre parcels, and, as the North half was the
preferable half, we placed it under contract in 1996, fully with the intent, after the sale
of our house in Pleasant View, to buy the South half, too. Unfortunately, our house took
13 months to sell and the South half was sold to Pat & Judy Schumacher. Later, in
February, 1999, we were able to purchase the Eastern half of that 40 acres from the
Schumachers.
Mr. Schumacher had the idea of developing the West half into a mini- storage. As I was,
at that time, a Director of Real Estate for QuikTrip Corporation with some experience in
these matters, I wrote him a letter detailing the difficulty he would have in creating that
development and making sure he understood our and the neighbor's opposition to that idea.
As the Schumachers, understandably, wanted to maximize the value in the land, they
contacted Mr. Sokolosky to see if he would have interest in it. He and Mr. Kimball
needed additional land for development and a deal was struck.
As you know, Mr. Sokolosky and Mr. Kimball then, feeling that being within the City of
Owasso would create a more desirable permitting path to follow, requested to be annexed
into the City of Owasso, which was approved. They then filed a preliminary plat and PUD
which included provisions for 95 lots, all on this 20 acres. As you may remember, we, and
the neighbors, came to the P & Z and the council meetings at the time to voice our
opposition to this plan as it was not in keeping with the flavor and character of the
neighborhood by which it is surrounded, which is all 2 ' acre and larger lots.
This plan would have done irreparable harm to the value of those neighbor's properties as
well as ours, with ours being the largest single owner property in the area.
Since that time, we lived in fear that this 20 acres would eventually become a low income
eyesore with which we would have to suffer and deal every day for the rest of our lives.
Before Christmas 2010, and since nothing had happened on the property for several years
we decided the time was right to take a pro - active approach, make an offer to purchase
the property and see what would happen. Surprisingly, the response was positive and
negotiations began. In January, 2011 we closed on the property.
After closing we wrote the neighbors a letter letting them know we were now the owners
of the property and the threat of this development, under which they had all been living
for the past 6 years had been eliminated and that previous plan would never come to pass.
The response has been one of overwhelming relief by all.
Our desire, here today, is to restore the property to the conditions which existed prior to
the purchase by Mr. Sokolosky & Mr. Kimball.
Shortly after my retirement from QT, in 2008, I was appointed and recently re- appointed
as a member of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission. As a result I can
appreciate the difficulty cities and counties have in balancing their land and capital needs
along with the needs of their constituency. In our deliberations, as I'm sure you do as
well, we look for a compelling reason not to grant the requests brought forth by applicants
which are in accordance with the comprehensive plan and other zoning regulations.
As this original annexation was as a result of a request by the then owner of the property
for the sole purpose of development which is now not going to happen and not by the city,
and as the property does not lie contiguous to any other property within city limits, we see
no other compelling reason not to grant this request by us, the current owner of the
property, to restore it to it's original condition and help preserve the character of the
neighborhood to our benefit as well as that of all those we call neighbors.
We appreciate your consideration of this request.
John & Judy Dix
Owners, Prairie Lane Farm LLC
Trustees of the John A. Dix and Judy A. Dix Revocable Trust