The Ardmore City Commission on Tuesday approved rezoning almost 75 acres of agricultural land for new housing on Plainview Road near Myall Road but rejected proposals for high-density residential and a commercial neighborhood. Residents near the proposed rezoning have been largely against any proposal that would heavily increase traffic or the population of the nearby Plainview school system.

The Smith Room of the Ardmore Public Library was again standing room only during the special meeting, similar to a city planning commission meeting last month that recommended approving only a portion of the 115-acres near Plainview Public Schools. The proposal to rezone the land for residential and commercial use came from Fox Engineering on behalf of LEED, LLC.

Public comments heard by the commission on Tuesday echoed concerns from the Ardmore Planning Commission meeting in December, with worries about the current traffic congestion worsening at the intersection of Myall Road and Plainview Road and the landlocked status of the Plainview Public Schools. Residents in the area spoke repeatedly about the influx of vehicles and students and worry that the proposed commercial neighborhood and high-density residential zoning would not improve the area.

Resident Kerry McGill, who said he lives near Plainview schools and the proposed rezoning, told the city commission that he supports the planning commission’s recommendation to rezone for single-family housing and to deny the high-density residential and commercial neighborhood proposals. “What is the problem we’re really facing here? It is a traffic issue, it is a congestion issue,” he said.

Not all were completely against high-density residential or commercial activity in the area, however. At least one resident spoke in favor of high-density residential, and Commissioner Nancy Sjulin voted to rezone for commercial neighborhood. Commissioner David Plesher was the lone vote against single-family housing.

The commission on Tuesday also approved rezoning about 40 acres of commercial property along Cooper Drive to light industrial. Ardmore Community Development Director Jessica Scott said rezoning done in 1998 set the east side of the Cooper Drive as a commercial corridor while the west side was zoned for light industrial. Scott said that area has developed into an industrial part of town over the years and that the rezone would better support surrounding businesses.

“And now with further development of possibly the hydrogen plant, it’s really made that area more of an industrial area,” Scott told the commission on Tuesday.

In other business, the Ardmore City Commission on Tuesday:

• Approved a conditional use permit for a duplex on Douglas Street SE;
• appointed Dustin Caldwell, Matt McAnally and Jeff Moen to three-year terms on the Ardmore Development Authority;
• declared various items and three vehicles from the Parks and Recreation Department as surplus;
• approved a minor subdivision plat of 2 lots on 1.97 acres on Springdale Road
• approved an ordinance banning large crypts or monuments at city-owned cemeteries;
• approved a low bid from Box Construction for a new Parks and Recreation shop for $1.28 million;
• agreed to a 65-day extension to complete the new restrooms at the Pickleball Complex at Regional Park by March 10;
• amended an agreement with H.W. Lochner, Inc., regarding construction services at the Ardmore Municipal Airport.

Watch the full meeting replay