OKC Plan, 2000-2020 - City of Oklahoma City

Support programs which enable resident and business groups to maintain and enhance the
appearance and desirability of their neighborhoods.
Actions
Protect the character of existing neighborhoods through the following actions:
• Maintain the traditional grid street pattern within these neighborhoods and keep alleys open
and functioning. When improving older streets in neighborhoods, maintain original street
widths and turning radii.
• Retain the traditional orientation of structures to the street.
• Preserve mature trees within the neighborhoods, remove dead trees, and promote the
planting of new street trees where needed.
• Maintain historical lot and block sizes.
• Ensure consistency and compatibility of construction materials and architectural styles.
Protect the area’s historic neighborhoods and buildings by continuing programs designed to
preserve historic assets. Allow appropriate change as historic areas are revitalized.
Work with neighborhood, community, and business groups in traditional neighborhoods to
develop community partnerships and resources that support neighborhood based cultural,
recreational, and educational programs.
Promote responsible infill development on vacant parcels through the following actions:
• Approve zoning requests for infill housing of higher but suitable densities on vacant lots
within established neighborhoods.
• Establish a revitalization zoning district or special overlay zoning that would put in place a
design review process. The design review process would ensure architectural compatibility
for infill development.
• Review the City’s development regulations, permit process, and fees to determine
appropriate changes which would encourage infill development.
Promote quality commercial, office, institutional, and multi-family residential development in
the Area which supports and is compatible with the Area’s residential neighborhoods. The
following actions can promote this goal:
• Continue promoting the re-use, redevelopment, and revitalization of low-performing or
declining commercial centers.
• Create additional Main Street districts to revitalize older commercial areas.
• Allow homes facing arterial streets to convert to office use only if the proposed office use is
located in an area designated for conversion and only under the condition of combining
several lots into a single planned development.
• Amend home occupation rules to allow homes facing arterial streets to employ up to two
outside employees and to affix name plates to the front of the home.
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