Tulsa Board of Adjustment Meeting #1381 – April 28, 2026

The Tulsa Board of Adjustment held its 1381st meeting on April 28, 2026, to hear seven agenda items, including an appeal of a historic preservation permit denial, several variance requests, and special exceptions for assembly and industrial uses. The board approved three items, denied one, continued one, and had one withdrawn. No public comments were made on the routine consent calendar.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes from Meeting 1380 (April 14, 2026).

Public Comments & Testimony

• BOA 24026 (Appeal – Fence at 1601 S. Trenton Avenue): Two neighbors spoke in opposition to the appeal. Deanne Paisley (1530 S. Trenton Ave.) stated the fence was not a dog run as claimed and that preservation rules must be followed. Chip Atkins (1531 S. Trenton Ave., member of the preservation subcommittee) testified that he personally informed the contractor of the need for a certificate of appropriateness before construction, but was ignored. He argued that granting the variance would reward noncompliance and undermine historic preservation code enforcement.

Discussion Items

• BOA 23980 – Withdrawn: Item number two was withdrawn by the applicant before discussion.
• BOA 24026 – Appeal of Historic Preservation Permit Denial (1601 S. Trenton Avenue): The applicant, Kevin Kalstrom, appealed the Preservation Commission’s denial of a permit for a six-foot privacy fence extension in the street yard of the Swan Lake Historic District. Staff reported that the fence blocked views of the house’s north facade, violating Design Guideline G.1.4. The Preservation Commission had offered alternatives (lower height or relocation) that were not pursued. Kalstrom cited safety concerns (a sex-offender neighbor) and claimed other properties had similar fences. The board found no error by the Preservation Commission and upheld the denial.
• BOA 24029 – Variance to Increase Accessory Building Floor Area (3536 E. 23rd Street South): The applicant sought to expand an existing detached garage by 94 square feet (to 594 sq ft total) in an RS-3 district, citing drainage issues and the need for modern vehicle storage. Board members questioned the hardship; some considered it a personal convenience rather than a unique lot condition. The case was continued to the May 12, 2026 meeting, with a request for revised plans showing compliance at 500 sq ft.
• BOA 24030 – Special Exception for Assembly Use (1212 E. 45th Place South): The Tulsa Ballet requested a special exception to permit a large indoor assembly use (over 250 persons) in a CS district, to allow construction of a 600 sq ft vestibule canopy for weather protection. The ballet has operated at the site for over 20 years. The board approved the special exception unanimously.
• BOA 24032 – Special Exception for High-Impact Manufacturing (SE corner of 36th St N and Mingo Road): Agile Space Industries sought a special exception to allow a rocket engine testing facility in an IM district. Representatives described testing small maneuvering thrusters (approximately 3x3x3 foot test chamber) inside a vacuum chamber with scrubbed exhaust. The facility is expected to employ 20–30 people eventually. The board approved the special exception.
• BOA 24033 – Variance to Reduce Street Setback (1601 E. 15th Street South): The applicant, Mike Thedford of Wallace Design Collective, sought to reduce the required 10-foot CS setback to 3 feet for a restaurant expansion on a property split-zoned CH/CS. The existing building was non-conforming; the new design would be larger but still set back similarly to adjacent buildings. The board approved the variance, citing the unique zoning configuration of the existing building.
• BOA 24034 – Variance for Dynamic Display Sign Size and Location (5425 E. 11th Street South): The applicant requested two variances: to increase the permitted sign area for a dynamic display sign and to allow it within 200 feet of a residential district. The sign (108 sq ft, LED) had already been installed on an existing structure on Route 66. The applicant argued safety and visibility due to topography. The board denied both variances, finding the hardship insufficient and the sign size potentially distracting.
• BOA 24035 – Variance to Reduce Street Setback (1048 East Young Place North): The applicant sought to reduce the required 20-foot RS-4 street setback to 18 feet 7 inches to build a three-bedroom, two-bath home on a uniquely small lot (70 ft deep). The lot was created by an uneven historical subdivision. The board approved the variance, noting the lot’s unique shape and that the requested setback was the minimum necessary.

Key Outcomes

• BOA 24026 – Appeal denied (unanimous decision to affirm Preservation Commission denial).
• BOA 24029 – Continued to May 12, 2026, for revised plans.
• BOA 24030 – Special exception approved (unanimous).
• BOA 24032 – Special exception approved (unanimous).
• BOA 24033 – Variance approved (unanimous).
• BOA 24034 – Variances denied (unanimous).
• BOA 24035 – Variance approved (unanimous).