By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
A large employment development is being proposed on 320 unplatted and undeveloped acres of land southwest of C.E. Page Municipal Airport.
The Oklahoma City Planning Commission, at its meeting this Thursday, will conduct a public hearing on the annexation of unincorporated property west of Gregory Road and south of N.W. 10th Street in Canadian County.
The Oklahoma City Industrial and Cultural Facilities Trust has filed a petition with the City of Oklahoma to annex their property into Oklahoma City’s corporate boundaries.
The Oklahoma City Planning Commission will consider the annexation request at this week’s public hearing. The meeting is set 1:30 p.m. May 9 in the council chambers (third floor) of the Municipal Building, 200 N Walker.
The City of Oklahoma Planning Department sent a notice of hearing to property owners near the Gregory Road/N.W. 10th site.
This notice indicates that the petition to annex the approximately 320 acres was filed “with the intent to accommodate future employment development.”
An Oklahoma City Planning Department staff report cites feedback from the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber that “companies are not locating in Oklahoma City due to a lack of large building/site locations.”
“Another crucial aspect of this large building/site location pertains to the creation of well-paying jobs. According to the Chamber’s models, a sizable site like this one could potentially generate between 1,700 and 5,000 jobs with an estimated average wage of $63,000 per year.”
The five-member Industrial and Cultural Facilities Trust oversees the operation and promotion of industrial and cultural facilities in Oklahoma City.
PART OF A ‘MEGA SITE’
The Oklahoma City Council, Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber “recognize that to effectively compete in today’s global marketplace requires very large development-ready sites,” the planning staff report reads.
The Gregory Road/N.W. 10th property in this proposed annexation is part of what is called an Oklahoma City economic development “Mega Site.”
“It is anticipated the property would ultimately be used by new-to-market large-scale manufacturing or industrial businesses,” the planning staff report reads. “Infrastructure would be constructed and updated as part of the development of the property upon selection of a Mega Site user.”
The property is in the Canadian County Water Authority service area.
An Oklahoma City water main serving C.E. Page Airport is at capacity and cannot provide water to the proposed annexation area.
The site has no sewer service. If the property is annexed, the Oklahoma City Fire Department would be responsible to provide fire service.
Oklahoma City Planning Commission members are Camal Penningham, (chair), Nate Clair, Janis Powers, Jerimy Meek, Mike Privett, Bobby Newman, Dan Govin, Dan Noble, and Rusty LaForge.
The property subject to Thursday’s annexation petition is in Oklahoma City Ward 3. Meek represents Ward 3 on the Planning Commission.
