The Norman Transcript

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February 13, 2013

High-density request postponed again

By Joy Hampton The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — The Norman City Council approved a revised plat for Little River Trails Addition, postponed a high-density request and declared an alleged drug house a public nuisance at Tuesday night’s regular council meeting.

The Little River Trails Addition is a Planned Unit Development just north of West Tecumseh Road on the west side of Porter Avenue. Engineer Tom McCaleb explained the revisions to the plan, which was approved unanimously by city council members.

A request by applicant Mark Risser for a change in the 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan was postponed at the applicant’s request. The city is still working on its high-density ordinance.

The applicant wants to develop the site into a mixed use building with a parking garage, commercial/retail space and apartments at Asp Avenue and Buchanan Avenue in the Campus Corner area. The matter was postponed until April 9.

A public nuisance ordinance was used for the first time to shut off the water to a house that has been declared unfit for habitation. Despite that the owner, who lives in Oklahoma City, has tried to secure the location, her son and others who reside there continue to break in.

Norman Police Chief Keith Humphrey told the city council that a very high volume of police calls and arrests have occurred at the residence.

The water will be shut off for six months, with the hope that the owner can reclaim and sell the property once the trespassers are kept out.

On the consent docket, council members discussed a request for appropriation from the Norman Police Department to fund a canine, communications, surveillance, transportation and canine-related equipment for personnel.

The communication and surveillance equipment will “improve investigative capability and communications between departmental units and divisions by providing necessary radio communications and increasing surveillance capabilities,” according to city staff reports.

Funding will come from the state seizure fund, which is money the Norman Police Department have in a special fund based on money seized by the department in drug raids and other crime raids.

Joy Hampton

366-3539

jhampton@

normantranscript.com

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