Broken Arrow Planning Commission Meeting - May 14, 2026

The Broken Arrow Planning Commission met on May 14, 2026, at 5:30 PM. The meeting covered several public hearings, a building elevation request for a school aquatic center, and general commission business. Key actions included continuing two public hearing items due to notification errors and staff document needs, and approving a transparency waiver for the BAPS Aquatic Center.

Consent Calendar

• The commission unanimously approved the consent agenda items (staff recommendations) with a roll call vote: Jonathan Townsend (yes), J. Lee Klempa (yes), Jason Cohen (yes), Robert Gorenson (yes).
• Items from the consent agenda that go to the city council and planning commission minutes were noted.
• No items were removed from the consent agenda.

Public Hearings

• Item 6A (26-497): Public hearing for SP-002762-2026 (public safety communications tower, 10.58 acres, CN commercial neighborhood, southwest corner of West Jasper Street/131st Street and South Aspen Avenue/145th East Avenue). Staff requested a continuance to the June 25, 2026 meeting because the 300-foot radius notification mailers were incorrectly based on the lease space rather than the entire parcel. The commission unanimously voted to continue the item to June 25, 2026.
• Item 6B (26-653): Public hearing for BAZ-002789-2026 (rezoning of 0.24 acres from R3 residential single-family to DM downtown mixed use core, approximately one-third mile east of Elm Place/161st East Avenue and north of Houston Street/81st Street). Staff reported that the property was already rezoned in 2023, but a scrivener's error in the legal description omitted three historic lots (now one lot). A corrective ordinance will go to city council the following Tuesday. The planning commission determined no action was needed; the item was discussed and no motion was made.
• Item 6C (26-679): Public hearing for PUD-002802-2026 (planned unit development, Advanced Alarm, 0.52 acres industrial light, south of Houston and west of 9th Street, 809 East Jackson Place). Staff requested a continuance to the May 28, 2026 meeting because an updated development outline was needed from the applicant. The applicant submitted the document that afternoon, but staff needed time to review. The commission unanimously voted to continue the item to May 28, 2026.

Discussion Items

• Item 8A (26-673): Consideration, discussion, and possible approval of building elevations for SITE-002713-2026, BAPS Aquatic Center (6.6 acres, zoned single-family residential preservation and downtown residential overlay district area seven, located 637 East College Street). The applicant (Nicole Shea, GHG Architects) proposed reducing the required ground-floor transparency from 60% to 50% on the north facade and 36% on the west facade, citing security concerns for a student-focused facility and the building's function (not mixed-use/commercial). Staff recommended approval. Commissioners discussed safety, materials (CMU block, brick, V-groove panels), and the security rationale for reduced glazing. The applicant clarified that the main pool area has no exterior windows, but a warm-up area has glass; the lobby glazing allows visibility out while student areas are more enclosed. The commission approved the request unanimously (4-0).

Key Outcomes

• Votes: Unanimous approval for consent agenda (4-0), continuances for items 6A and 6C (4-0 each), and approval of the BAPS Aquatic Center transparency waiver (4-0). No action on item 6B.
• Directives/Next Steps: Staff to renotify for item 6A by June 25, 2026. Staff to review updated development outline for item 6C by May 28, 2026. The corrective ordinance for item 6B to go to city council. The commission discussed reviewing officer rotation and bylaws at a future meeting. Staff updates included the downtown master plan advisory committee, a focus group, and work on overlay districts for New Orleans Square and Arrow Forge.