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August 4, 2009

Rezoning makes way for daycare

By BOB GIBBINS

Tahlequah city councilors approved ordinances to rezone two pieces of property that will keep plans in motion for a daycare center and a 20-unit apartment complex.

The ordinance for the daycare was passed unanimously, and the project at 701 S. Campbell Road has had little or no fanfare since inception.

The property was rezoned from R-1 to R-1 special use to allow for the day care.

Veraman Davis is the petitioner on the other proposal, and discussion on his request to rezone 426 Goingsnake from R-2 to R-3 has drawn opposition from several residents of the neighborhood. The Planning and Zoning Commission was split 3-2 in its vote to recommend rezoning to the council.

Discussion at the Planning and Zoning level lasted for approximately an hour, and city councilors heard another hour of the neighborhood’s concerns at the previous meeting.

Opposition focused on increased traffic in the area and too many apartments in the area, as well as trash and animal concerns. Davis has assured the council those problems will not occur, and said he believes his project will improve the neighborhood.

Ward 2 Councilor Jack Spears agrees with Davis, saying he lived in the area as a child.

“Goingsnake has changed,” he said. “It’s not that stable [of a] neighborhood. I think this will help property values in the neighborhood.”

Ward 1 Councilor Jason Nichols, whose jurisdiction includes the property, said the decision was difficult.

He said he spoke with Davis and people in the neighborhood.

“I did some research on my own,” he told the audience.

“The apartment complex would have less density than the multiple duplexes he [Davis] could build.”

Nichols said he had been leaning toward voting against the rezoning after the previous meeting, but changed his mind after researching the issue.

Ward 4 Councilor JoAnn Bradley also said she believes the council’s decision was a tough one. She visited the area several times, including before the meeting Monday.

“We need to be ready to change with the times,” she said.

Councilors also approved a $35,000 invoice from KiBois Area Transit System for support of public transportation costs in the city.

The $35,000 matches the amount provided by the city last year.

Approval was also given for the NSU Parents Program to use Norris Park Sept. 25 from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the Parent, Family and Friends Weekend event.

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