Development plans not what residents expected

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

Steve Clark had no problems with the original development plans proposed near his northwest--side home.  

"People thought the creek and the trees would be the same," Clark said.

Developer Grant Humphreys, however, has changed his original plans to develop a strip of land close to three northwest Oklahoma City neighborhoods, including Clark's. The original plans called for only single family homes to be built in the area, now those plans have changed to include businesses and upscale shopping.

"The proposal submitted by Mr. Humphreys is way too excessive," Clark said. "Seven story hotel, 150 apartment units."

A presentation compiled by the development group last month cites plans of hotels and retail stores sharing space with condos and multi-family houses, a far cry from what Clark said was initially proposed.

Land near Interstate 235 and NW 36 St. has already been broken in preparation for development, but the residents in the area say it is still a mystery as to what is being built there. 

The site is already zoned for residences and that's how Clark wants it to stay.

"He could put in upscale family houses. He could put a gated neighborhood," Clark said. "He could use the nature, the trees and the creeks that's there."

In the recent proposal, Humphreys promised to make the development environmentally-friendly by gearing the design of the structures to pedestrians rather than vehicles.

A committee of three local neighborhoods, Crown Heights and Edgemere Park among them, held a meeting Tuesday night to discuss the plans. Grant Humphreys said he wouldn't have a comment until the committees met a few times and decided on a plan of action.