The proposal to allow wider driveway widths in the Right of Way citywide, is before the planning commission today at 1:30. It may well be one of the last chances to head off this bad idea.
In an extraordinary display of a lack of transparency, the Administration has distributed new exhibits in the last few hours that were previously unavailable to the public. The attempt to rush this through under the radar of most Tulsan’s is very disappointing.
A matter that will arguably have an adverse effect on the character of our beautiful existing neighborhoods deserves considerably more attention and discussion with the homeowners it will affect. Here is a link to an earlier blog post that has more details: Expanded Driveway Zoning Amendment Threatens Midtown
Copy of my letter to Planning Commissioners
Dear Planning Commission members;
I’m writing on behalf of the 1,100 members and 6,300 followers of Smart Growth Tulsa, a local non-profit corporation whose mission is To Advocate and Shape Smart Public Policy. We urge you to oppose Item #23, ZCA-10, TMAPC, Amendment of the City of Tulsa Zoning Code to Section 55.090-F3.
This amendment is effectively “blanket zoning.” It is uncalled for and represents a serious threat to the character of Tulsa’s beautiful established neighborhoods. There are several zoning tools available to the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa for developing new neighborhoods where the demand might exist for wider driveways, without the potential damaging consequences to the rest of the city’s residents.
If you were to approve this ill-advised idea, you would essentially be opting-in every neighborhood and homeowner without their knowledge or consent. There has been virtually no media attention or public discussion about this matter, and the exhibits attached to the Agenda do not in my view paint a true or balanced picture of what the potential outcomes of this amendment would look like in Sunset Terrace or the many hundreds of other established neighborhoods in Tulsa.
Please support the existing residential character and development patterns in the older parts of our community; and prevent the possibility of lots becoming fully paved parking areas in front of single family homes.
We support but will not repeat the concerns outlined in BPAC’s letter to you that illustrates why this is a bad idea. Without the influence of perceived political pressure, I suspect most professional planners would be outspoken about the lack of merits of this city-wide change to the zoning code. I’m quite confident that that a legitimate professional review and staff recommendation would conclude that this amendment would be inconsistent with our adopted comprehensive plan.
Please vote no on this item in favor of another more reasoned approach to solve the perceived problem.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Leighty
