Bixby City Council Denies Developers' Plans For New Subdivision

Some Bixby homeowners are in an intense stare down with developers over plans to build a new subdivision on greenspace behind the Seven Lakes subdivision.

It ended up before the city council Monday night, and in a 3-2 decision, the council voted to deny the developers’ plan to build.

For about two hours, community members, attorneys and the city council debated the plans.

Homeowners like Terry and Mark Adams said having access to the land was a major selling point. They were promised they'd always have access to the wetlands and green space, so they planned on retiring there.

"It was the freedom of no fences and being able to roam freely, and treasure hunt and just many activities that were planned are now gone," Terry Adams said.

At Monday night's meeting, developers said they own the land and shouldn't be held accountable for promises made beforehand.

Stonehorse Company planned to build a 60-plot subdivision called Addison Creek. That development would have eliminated Seven Lakes’ access to the green space, and build a deep creek between the subdivisions.

Before Monday's meeting, developers already made homeowners remove flower gardens and swing sets, and the developers uprooted most of the trees.

Terry Adams said, "It runs animals up into our yards now. We thought we had a sink hole but it's actually where gofers had just decided to hub."

When the plan was first brought to the city planners, they wouldn't approve it without modifications which included giving Seven Lakes residents continued access to the green space - developers didn't want that.

For many, the council's decision is only a small victory.

"It's hard for us. It’s hard for both of us. It's hard for everyone along the greenbelt,” Mark Adams said.

Homeowners said they are happy, but expect to see new plans from the developers.

The developers’ attorney had no comment.