Midwest City leaders to consider mixed-use development on east side
Midwest City leaders will consider a request to rezone 38 acres near SE 15th St. and Westminster Rd. for a multi-family housing development. Photo by Jeff Harrison
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
Midwest City Planning Commissioners will consider a mixed-use project that would bring multi-family housing and commercial space to the east side.
The proposed development would include nearly 300 new dwelling units – both apartments and townhouses, and commercial space near SE 15th St. and Westminster Rd. The property is located on the east side of Westminster Rd., between SE 15th St. and Sheffield St. It is west of the Oakwood East housing development.
The developer is seeking rezone 38 acres to allow for medium and high density residential and commercial space. The property is currently zoned as a planned unit development with space for commercial, residential and office uses.
Seth Koenig owns the property. Aaron Hale with Engineered by Design LLC is the applicant for the rezoning.
The mixed-use project would be divided into three parcels – each with different zoning, according to a conceptual site plan.
The commercial portion is slated for 6 acres on the north end of the property, near the intersection of SE 15th St. and Westminster Rd.
The high-density residential with apartments would be located just south of that on about 22 acres. The developer plans to build 12 three-story buildings with a total of 216 units.
Medium density residential zoning would be located on the south end of the property. It would consist of 83 townhouses.
City staff also raised concerns about the project’s impact on city infrastructure. In a letter to the developer, Brandon Bundy, director of engineering and construction services for Midwest City, said the development would overtax the existing sanitary sewer system that serves the area. Midwest City is currently undergoing a study of the sanitary sewer system on the east side.
Improvements to Westminster Rd. will not be required as part of the zoning. Bundy said they will require a traffic study as part of the building permit or platting.
Developers offered to stagger the development into two phases. About half of the residential units would be completed in spring 2023 and the rest by spring 2026. The timeline for the commercial portion was uncertain.
In a staff report, Billy Harless, community development director, recommended the city deny the zoning request until the sewer study is completed and capacity issues can be addressed.
Residents have also pushed back against the project over concerns about traffic, stormwater drainage, increased crime, and overcrowding of local schools. As of Friday, the city received protests from 42 of the 76 residents who live within 300 feet of the development and received notice. Since at least 50% of the property owners signed the protest, the proposed zoning changes will require a super majority vote by the city council.
Last year, residents opposed a large residential development in the area. The proposed Summerview development would have included a mix of 900 single-family homes and apartments. The developer withdrew the proposal in November.
The nearby Boulevard at Lakeside apartment complex, 11300 SE 15th St., was built in 2016 despite strong opposition from residents in the nearby Oakwood East neighborhood.
The planning commission will review the zoning request at Tuesday’s meeting and make a recommendation to the city council.
The city council will consider the request at the Sept. 27 meeting.
This is not a good idea, we do not need more apartments in Midwest City , Crime will go up , in these uncertain times who will be able to move into these ? What about the strain on our sewer / water system , traffic ? . Property values will go down , LEAVE MIDWEST CITY ALONE we don’t need more people . Schools are already overcrowded . This will just make OUR property taxes go up , AGAIN home owners will be the ones that suffer .
As it stands now, the city can’t even maintain Westminster for current traffic, The city allowed, without comment, for OKC to shut down Douglas between I-40 and I-240 so traffic has already started shifting to Post and Westminster, all two-lane roads. Traffic is already an issue and will only become more of one.
Anything going to the planning commission in this area has been disputed because of lack of proper infrastructure (currently fluctuating water pressure, flickering power outages, etc) and nothing but two-lane roads in the area, Apparently, they will just continue to “consider” (rubber stamp) any proposal, not withdrawn by the requester and not consider the desire of the area residents.
Commercial zoning in this area is also not needed because there are already more than is needed. Most sit empty and undeveloped. Within a 1-mile radius of the planned area, there is already about 10 or more empty or abandoned commercial buildings/offices.
Recently 15th was widened but turn lanes don’t exist where needed. The new light on 15th and Westminster doesn’t change satisfactorily for the amount and direction of traffic. Westminster and 29th, more two-lane and 4-way stop.
Why can’t they build a normal single family home neighborhood instead? Where are all these people to fill up this complex and the one on the east side as well? Builders need to stop being so greedy and just build normal neighborhoods.
There is a specific reason we built a home in Oakwood East. The undeveloped land on Westminster between 15th and 29th streets was a positive for us. We moved to east MWC to be within the less developed area, which is currently an optimal location. With the proposed development, there will be more rental residents, more stress on the sewer/storm drainage systems, way too much traffic on a two lane road and increased crime. We have already overrun the natural habitat. In 1997, we had all kinds of animals come through our (unfenced) backyard. It was good to see deer, rabbits, even bobcats, foxes and guinea fowl visit our bird baths. There was an abundance of birds and squirrels. Now the bird population has diminished sharply. The environment has suffered. I know this view can be seen as unpopular, however, the more land that is developed, the worse our immediate environment suffers. Do not develop this land, especially into an overcrowded residential area.