TAHLEQUAH, Okla., – A United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indian housing project for elders passed its first hurdle, with the city leaders recommending a zoning change to develop a modular home community.
The 18-unit, nine duplex project is proposed for 10 acres unofficially known as “Old Whiskey Jim’s” property. The zone change was approved by the Planning Commission July 27.
“We call it the ‘Venue’ – until we come up with another name for it,” said Housing Director Roxana Wilden. “The tribe owns the building and its parking lot. Housing owns the field next to it, and where we want to put the duplexes.”
The “Venue” is close to the UKB offices off of Willis Road, Wilden said.
Zoned RM-2, which is multi-family medium-density/community commercial, the application requested a change to RMH, which is the designation for a mobile home park.
The modular homes were built by Oak Creek Homes in Texas and sold to UKB by Stepp Mobile Homes. Each building has two duplexes, and each unit is 1,009 square feet.
“I’ve had 38 years in the mobile home business, and when we saw these we knew it would be a good fit for them,” said Pat Ross, the developer and owner of Stepp.
Tribal Councilor Pete Kingfisher attended the meeting to support the Housing Department’s application.
“We need it for our elders,” Kingfisher said.
Mary Ann Whittmore lives across from the entrance to the proposed development and attended the meeting to express her hope that the trees on the wooded acreage wouldn’t be cut down for the project. She said the mobile homes/modular units are nice looking and hoped the buildings and site will be kept up.
Assistant Director Richard Vann assured Whittmore that the property will be maintained for the elder inhabitants.
“We are going to try and save as many trees as possible, and the ones we have to take out we are going to replant,” Wilden said.
Whittmore’s son, who did not attend, is concerned about the need for a bigger drainage system, and Wilden said bids are being solicited to make those improvements.
Planning and Development Director Paige Harjo presented the project to the Commission, and said after nearly two months of consideration the staff recommends approval of the zoning change.
“[The property] is designated as residential reserve, and keep that in mind in how it relates to the comprehensive plan,” Harjo said. “In our comprehensive plan it states: ‘Our current demand models may indicate that a particular density will be most likely to serve the market, but changes in economic and development patterns in the next 10-15 years may create a need we cannot anticipate today.’”
The residential reserve areas are intended to have housing developments at some point and time and this area was designated for this when the plan was put together, Harjo said.
“If the zoning change is approved the owner will be required to meet all regulations and zoning ordinances and the proposed would be allowed by right,” Harjo said. “It is the rules and regulations that a mobile home park will have to abide by.”
Wilden addressed the Commission and said that 100 UKB elders need housing. The units were purchased by American Rescue Plan Act funds, Wilden said.
“This project will house up to 36 elders,” Wilden said. “Manufactured homes are an efficient and reliable way to house elders quickly; easy to construct, easy to maintain, and the right size for most single or couple elders.”
Vann said the homes are built to Housing and Urban Development standards and are Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. A park and walking path are also planned for the community.
Chair Richard Cannonie asked if the tribe was aware that the zone change would cover the whole 10 acres, not just the five where the homes will sit, and all city codes for landscaping would apply for the entire plat.
The petitioning parties agreed to abide by all the rules and regulations for the entire property.
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the change in zoning. The Tahlequah City Council must approve the change before it is finalized.
This story comes to Giduwa Cherokee News from Lee Guthrie through her reporting work with the Tahlequah Daily Press. Photo by Lee Guthrie.
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