The ‘unattractive narrative’ and Edmond development

By: Kathryn McNutt//The Journal Record//October 4, 2021

EDMOND – It has been nearly a decade since an apartment complex opened in Edmond, where residents currently are protesting three proposed multifamily developments.

During that time, construction has moved ahead on more than 6,000 single-family houses while existing multifamily consistently has 94% to 96% occupancy, Edmond City Councilmember Josh Moore said.

“There’s demand for more,” said Moore, a real estate developer and homebuilder. “We want a component of each type of housing, so when we have a number like that, we know that we’re off balance.”

Since April, the City Council has approved zoning changes to allow the development of three multifamily residential projects opposed by nearby residents who cite concerns about traffic congestion and overcrowded schools.

“We’ve got three of them on the table, all being fought vigorously by different groups,” said Councilmember David Chapman, a real estate developer and associate professor of real estate.

“It’s not a pretty story … the title is ‘not in my backyard,’” Chapman said. “I think this is the biggest threat to Edmond, Oklahoma, this attitude among citizens not to have diverse housing.”

Denying zoning that fits the city’s comprehensive plan takes rights away from property owners and developers who are not responsible for traffic problems, Chapman said.

“It’s the city’s obligation to control traffic and make the changes needed and we’re prepared to do that,” he said.

Todd McKinnis, an attorney representing all three projects, said the opposition is consistent regardless of the location.

“There’s this unattractive narrative that runs through the system that the idea of multifamily is somehow offensive on its face,” McKinnis said. “But our city does not have adequate housing to accommodate the people who want to live here.”

New census data show Edmond’s population to be 94,428, an increase of 13,000 people or 16% since 2010.

Oak View

The most recent project drawing opposition is Oak View, a mixed residential plan for the southwest corner of Sorghum Mill Road and N. Broadway. The property currently is a pipe storage yard that abuts railroad tracks.

“If it (multifamily) doesn’t fit there, I don’t know where it does,” Moore said before the City Council voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning from light industrial use July 26.

Premium Land LLC proposes to build a mix of single-family, two-family and multifamily homes on the 143 acres.

Councilmember Stacie Peterson, whose ward includes the property, cast the only no vote.

Peterson said she is concerned most residents would be entering and exiting the development “extremely close to a railroad crossing.” Because of that and two elementary schools within a mile of the site, “I felt the traffic backup was going to be quite extreme and possibly dangerous,” she said.

Six residents spoke in opposition to the rezoning at the meeting.

Donald McClaugherty said it would be like dropping “a small city of 1,526 people” in the backyard of current residents and it would be better to spread it out. “We favor reasonable, controlled Edmond growth,” McClaugherty said.

“To bring in transient people in apartments, that creates a whole new level of challenges for the city,” Denise Bland said. “I do have a little bit of concern about bringing transient people in. I have concerns about how these people take care of the properties.”

Councilmember Christin Mugg said, “We’ve got to quit saying that people who rent are not quality people who aren’t going to take care of their residences. I find that really, really offensive. … It’s not factual and I think it’s damaging to our sense of community.”

Other projects

Randy Entz, director of planning and zoning, said the multifamily projects are in response to the market need for housing that teachers and police officers who work in Edmond can afford.

Legend V Apartments, 2133 E. Second St., was the last complex to open in Edmond, he said. That was in 2012.

After Case Development of Tulsa received zoning approval April 12 for a 300-apartment project at Interstate 35 and Memorial Road, residents of nearby Edmond Oaks – opposed to the effect on traffic and schools in the area – collected enough valid signatures to put the rezoning to a vote of the people.

McKinnis filed a protest alleging fraud was committed by volunteers who collected the signatures. The matter is tied up in Oklahoma County District Court with a hearing set for Dec. 3.

“There’s a serious obstruction of democracy going on in my hometown,” blogger and Edmond Oaks resident Paula Burkes wrote. “The lawsuit insults the integrity of our signature gatherers with such outlandish claims as we used our hands to hide the informational paragraph at the top of the signage pages so that citizens believed they were signing a separate referendum petition altogether.”

Tommy Scott, another Edmond Oaks homeowner who helped gather signatures, said the City Council is not listening to the people it represents. “Let the people decide. Let their voices be heard.”

A second residents’ petition to overturn zoning approved for a 276-unit development near E.C. Hafer Park is awaiting a court hearing Dec. 2. The property east of Bryant Avenue and north of 15th Street has been considered for a number of developments over the years. Projects in 2008 and 2017 were blocked by referendum petitions.

The issue could be settled next week without the hearing. Voters will decide Oct. 12 if they want to pay an additional ¼-cent sales tax for one year to purchase the 22 acres from Sooner Investment and preserve it as park land.

The ‘unattractive narrative’ and Edmond development | The Journal Record