Plan amendment decision Project in Edmond moves forward despite objections
EDMOND — For at least a decade, eastside homeowners have rallied against additional singlefamily homes and commercial property in their neighborhoods.
A big thorn in their sides was city council approval in September 2007 of a 1,240-acre retail, office and residential development.
The project, then-called Canyonwood, made way for Caliber Development Co. to build up to 1,950 singlefamily homes.
The proposed development is between Sorghum Mill and Covell roads and Post Road and Douglas Boulevard.
Developers called it “a community within a community” with commercial stores and offices in the center surrounded by houses.
Then-mayor Dan O’Neil described it as the largest single-family development ever approved in Edmond.
One big advantage for the city was that the developer spent millions of dollars to run water and sewer services to the east side of the city, allowing for future growth.
City officials then did not have plans or the money to provide utility services to that part of the city.
It took more than a year and seven revisions of the original plans before council members gave their OK. Property owners were there every step of the way, protesting against the massive development.
New plans for phases one and two for the 1,200-acre piece of property were presented to planning commissioners Tuesday. There were protests again.
David Box, the developer’s attorney, said the original concept didn’t work after being tried in Oklahoma City.
The new concept calls for commercial development to be along arterial streets with houses in neighborhoods in the center of the project.
Planning commissioners recommended approval of four requests — preliminary plats for phases one and two, a change to the city zoning plan from single-family residential to residential and commercial planned unit development, and rezoning a portion of the property from general agricultural to residential and commercial planned unit development.
City council members on March 14 will make a final decision on the plan amendment and rezoning request for the development now called Woodland Park.
“I’m sorry to rain on your parade,” neighbor Mary Ann Trotter said. “I object. I don’t know why you feel you need commercial.
“Honestly, I believe we don’t need commercial and housing. I oppose all development.”
Matt Austin, owner of Woodland Park Development, proposes to put commercial development along Covell Road between Douglas and Post. Another commercial tract is on 8.268 acres on the northeast corner of Douglas Avenue and Coffee Creek Road.
“I object to wall-to-wall commercial and on the corners,” neighbor Terry Kyle said. “This is a beautiful area with all residential large acreage lots. People invested millions of dollars or more.
“People are concerned it will completely change the nature of the area.”
Phase one includes 26.05 acres with 70 single-family lots on the north side of Covell Road and a quarter mile west of Douglas Boulevard. The lots are 7,150 square feet or larger.
Phase two is 65.17 acres with 86 single-family lots on the east side of Air Depot, north of Covell.
A 50-acre parcel of land on the southeast corner of Coffee Creek and Douglas Boulevard was sold to Edmond Public Schools.
The proposed development is between Sorghum Mill and Covell roads and Post Road and Douglas Boulevard. City council members on March 14 will make a final decision on the plan amendment and rezoning request for the development now called Woodland Park.