Apublic hearing for a PUD rezoning request brought up another issue at the February Newcastle City Council meeting. Area residents in attendance were concerned about the Pennsylvania Avenue’s ability to handle additional traffic that could be caused by new housing.
Some locations on Pennsylvania Avenue just north of State Highway 9 are only 18 feet across. While the street is large enough to accommodate two 18-wheel trucks passing each other, according to a statement from Councilman Mike Fullerton about ODOT standards, it is still narrow and has no shoulders.
Council members, during discussion by Marci White, Gene Reid and Fullerton, focused on the widening and also the speed limit in the area, which is currently 45 mph.
City Manager Kevin Self said because of the tightness of some places along Pennsylvania, a look at the area could determine if there is additional easement space. City Engineer Joel Dixon said staff has looked at the area and they believe the City can fit 24-26 feet of pavement there with adequate room for a drainage ditch on the west side. He said the City could also add this to its Capital Improvement Plan.
In a related discussion, Reid said the City needs to talk with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation about the State Highway 9 and Pennsylvania intersection and possible safety improvements.
The request from Shaz Investment Group — a rezoning from Residential Estates District to a PUD — was approved by the Council. It had also been approved 4-0 by the Newcastle Planning Commission. The change to a PUD will allow the developer to have 10 additional lots.
Area property owners Megan Hill, Mitzi Moring and Alexandria McCrone spoke against the rezoning, showing concern for not only the additional traffic to be created on Pennsylvania, but also potential water pollution in their ponds since the new housing additions’ retention ponds are upstream from ponds on their properties.
In other City business, Self said the City is finishing work on a bore for a new sewer line under State Highway 62. The new line will serve the new fire station and the new housing addition being built by Rausch Coleman Homes.
In an unrelated item, Self said the City is submitting a letter of support to the Chickasaw Nation for the purpose of conducting a drainage study around State Highway 9 and the Harvey Street area. Self said the tribe is sending a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along with the City, the City of Goldsby, and the State of Oklahoma for recommendations on a study. Mayor Nail said the tribe has leveraged some of its funds for this purpose.
