Planning Commission supports zoning for downsized multifamily development
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
After strong backlash from residents earlier this year, developers reworked plans for a multifamily development near the Ridgecrest neighborhood.
The new proposal includes a mix of single family houses, duplexes and townhouses that would be built on vacant property north of E. Reno Ave. between Glenhaven and Marlow drives. It would include up to 100 dwelling units, which is half the amount of the previous plan.
Russell Smith, chair of the Midwest City Planning Commission, speaks during a meeting last week. (Photo by Jeff Harrison)
The project would be developed in two tracts. The first would consist of single family homes along Glenhaven Dr. on the east side, and tract two would include single family houses, duplexes, and townhouses along Marlow Dr. on the west side.
A duplex consists of two dwelling units with a shared wall. Townhouses include up to four attached dwelling units.
“The density has been greatly reduced from what we proposed before,” said David Box, attorney representing the developer Brentwood Investments.
The multifamily development would be just west of the Villa Gardens Apartments and north of the Crest Foods grocery store.
The developer is seeking to rezone the property as a Planned Unit Development. The vacant property is currently zoned for C-3 Community Commercial and R-6 Single Family Residential.
Midwest City’s Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the zoning request at the Nov. 2 meeting. The zoning request will go to the city council for approval at the Dec. 14 meeting.
A handful or residents spoke at the meeting expressing concerns about parking, traffic and increasing density in the neighborhood.
Kellie Gilles, planning manager for Midwest City, said the single family houses would be required to have garage parking and two spaces in the driveway. Billy Harless, community development director, said the city has codes about street parking and the neighborhood could petition for no parking along Glenhaven Dr. if it becomes an issue.
Original plans called for a 200-unit apartment complex. Residents pushed back on the proposal citing concerns about traffic, parking, and negative impacts on property values in the area. The Planning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend denial of the proposal at their Aug. 3 meeting.
These will be the smallest lots in the neighborhood. The density of the houses AND cars will be a showstopper. The townhouses will be quad plexes. I don’t know where the term TOWNHOUSE came from. Not a town house. The planning commission really didn’t listen to what the residents had to say. I don’t understand the reasoning of the the city planners, wanting to cram houses and apartments on top of each other. The city doesn’t get the tax dollars, they only get the sales tax. They will have people with more income in houses with a little bit of space. The crime rate will be on the increase also, because these houses will not keep their value. Just food for thought