Rogers County residents living along Ranch Road in the rural area between Claremore and Collinsville protested a Planned Unit Development proposed for 1,666 acres of agricultural property. The PUD will allow for mixed zoning including residential, commercial and recreational uses.

The County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the PUD in a 4-1 vote Thursday after hearing more than an hour of discussion by residents and the applicant’s attorney Mack Greever.

Greever, who represents OK Ranch Properties, LLC, told the Planning Commission his client wants to purchase and develop the property, but the contract to acquire the land is contingent upon obtaining the PUD and zoning.

The zoning request must now go before Rogers County Commissioners Sept. 15 for final approval.

Greever said the land which formerly comprised a family-owned ranch is for sale and someone will develop it, either “easily” in 3/4-acre parcels or in a controlled manner such as the proposed PUD.

The PUD includes various residential editions, some of which would be large lots with equestrian trails along the Caney River bordering the PUD, a golf course, a school site, and a commercial area.

OK Ranch Properties wants to “create a community” which will be developed over the course of 10 to 15 years. The PUD is drawn up as the “same type as Stone Canyon,” said Greever.

Unlike Stone Canyon which lies within Owasso city fenceline and is expected to be annexed, this proposed development does not lie within any municipal fenceline. Oologah lies to the north and Collinsville to the west. Claremore has unannexed fenceline to the direct east and Owasso has unannexed fenceline including Stone Canyon to the south.

No municipality claims this area affected by the PUD.

One resident said the area had flooded three times this year during the record breaking rains. The PUD shows recreational fields, likely soccer-type fields which would also serve as detention during times of high rains and flooding, and a golf course along sections of the Caney River on the east.

With the Caney River as part of the western border, all of the northern border and most of the eastern border of the PUD, the southern border of the development runs along 136th Street North.

Most of the residents who protested the PUD live south of the proposed subdivision. They expressed concern that Ranch Road, which is currently the only access to that land, cannot accommodate the construction traffic which would result from development there.

Greever said Ranch Road was “not the most efficient way” to reach the area and developers will add two more entrances. Discussions with the county commissioner indicate that 177th East Avenue will become a super county road with three lanes, one a center or designated turn lane that will help accommodate traffic in the area, said Greever. He also said 136th East Avenue from 161st Street would be an access route.

“The access can be opened so you can put roads on there,” said Greever. Both of the proposed access routes are section lines.

Greever said the developers have been in discussion with INCOG on the possibility of sewer service to the area. He said a sewer district similar to Rural Sewer District 1 which is governed by a board and serves the Verdigris area, might be formed.