Jenks Holds Rezoning Ordinance Meeting, Residents Express Concerns

The City of Jenks held its final meeting about a rezoning ordinance. Jenks residents brought up concerns about a lack of communication, to parking and traffic congestion, and how new requirements might devalue property.

“Don’t tell me Jenks couldn’t send me a letter. I have not been notified of any of this,” said Dawn Keenan.

“They should voluntarily let the property owners decide if they want to move to the rezoning or let the developers come in, buy their property and then request the zoning change," said Sam Roop.

“I own some vacant lots by my office, and it basically makes those lots not usable. The city has come in and is going to tell us what we can put on those lots, how we can build it, the type of rent we can get out of it," said David Puckett.

The city said the Unified Development Ordinance is an extension of the Jenks Comprehensive Plan first approved by City Council in 2019.

The Director of Planning said there are three proposed districts focusing on the improvement, changes, and preservation of Jenks.

The first proposed district is the Downtown Core along Main Street. Leaders said the rezoning is more of a form-based code with a goal of adding retail to the ground floor of buildings and office and residential spaces above that.

The city said the changes along Main Street are intended to make five blocks feel like classic Downtown Jenks.

Expansions along Main Street would require a second story addition. Existing businesses can continue as-is and would follow the nonconforming code.

City officials said the new code doesn’t limit property uses, but rather lists one all-encompassing general heading.

They said the Overlay District, from the south side at Aquarium, to Beaver and the north side from A to B Street is not a proposed rezoning, but would give residents more options for what to do with their space.

Meanwhile, the city said the Riverfront District is designed for entertainment and​ tourism. It would place parking further away from the river to provide more walking accessibility.

Director of Planning, Marcae Hilton, said they’ve sent out many notifications to residents–both online and by mail. Hilton said they told residents the finalized draft will be available on the city’s website early next week.

“This is the starting place. The ordinances are the law, but we have other tools within our ordinances that allow us flexibility. And if you have a project, bring it to the city. We’ll have a predevelopment meeting; we’ll sit down and discuss your idea and I guarantee you, I have a method to get you to the finish line," said Marcae Hilton, Director of Planning for the City of Jenks.

https://www.jenks.com/DocumentCenter/View/1324/Jenks-UDO-Draft_12152021