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Water Issues Dampen Plans East of I-35

Posted on: Thursday, 6 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Diana Baldwin, The Daily Oklahoman

Apr. 6--EDMOND -- Rezoning of 136 acres east of Interstate 35 for a housing addition was denied this week by the Edmond Planning Commission.

Lack of water and an updated comprehensive development plan sent up red flags on this project and all others being proposed in rural east Edmond at this time, commission members said.

Ernest Isch, representing Gary Spencer and Covell Development LLC, wants to rezone the property south of Covell and half a mile west of Midwest Boulevard from agricultural to single family.

Isch said he wants the property rezoned so the developers can study the water issue and determine whether it is feasible to proceed with building 50 homes.

City officials have no current plans to extend water service to the area.

Developers are required by the city to pay for extending water and sewer services to additions where the lots are smaller than 60,000 square feet. Codes allow water wells and septic systems on larger lots.

City Planner Bob Schiermeyer said just extending a water line is no longer an option in this area. Builders would have to install a looped water system because of the proposed number of houses.

Schiermeyer estimates the cost to be at least $1.2 million per mile to extend the water lines.

"This project is an example of the chicken before the egg," Isch said. "It is going to cost the developer a lot of money just to determine the best way to bring in the water.

"If we figure the water is not feasible, we will have to come in with 60,000-square-foot lots."

Six people living in the Red Rock Canyon addition asked the commission to deny or postpone the rezoning. Some wanted the commission to wait until the city's new master plan is completed.

Commissioner Elizabeth Waner said, "I'm hesitant to put that many lots out there right now. I think we need to look at the whole picture."

Waner and Commissioners Suzy Thrash and Barry Moore voted against the rezoning.

Commission Chairman Leroy Cartwright asked whether the commission wanted to "put a stop, a moratorium, on everything east of the interstate until we have a plan."

The proposed development will go to the city council April 24 for a final decision.

The commission last month turned down another rezoning request on property in the same area.

The city council will consider that project Monday.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Daily Oklahoman

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Source: The Daily Oklahoman

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