OKC City Council Approves Annexation For Future 'Mega-Site'

Oklahoma City leaders voted Tuesday to extend the city limits by half a mile to attract a “mega-site” developer.

Several people who live near the property being annexed at Gregory Road and Northwest 10th Street told the city council they don’t want a large-scale development near their homes.

A “mega-site” is any piece of land more than one thousand acres ready for commercial development. The 320 acres the city annexed is near other city-owned properties including the C.E. Page Airport, which together would be more than one thousand acres.

The big question citizens brought before the council this week is: What company is planning to build?

“No one from the alliance will tell me exactly what this mega-site is going to be,” Deborah Brown told the council.

“I’ve never been notified by anybody about anything that’s going on here,” Dr. Warren Lowe said.

“We’ve raised families out there for certain reasons,” Oklahoma City resident Angie Knight said. “We want it outside of town.”

Oklahoma City Councilwoman Nikki Nice told those in attendance, that they aren’t alone in “trying to figure out what in the heck is going on.”

The Alliance For Economic Development of Oklahoma City President and CEO Kenton Tsoodle told the city council that there is not currently a prospective developer for the property. However, he said the city needs the site available and shovel-ready for future opportunities.

“Today we’re talking about one property, but it’s part of a bigger plan to put land together trying to get 1000+ acre site,” Tsoodle said. “We’ve lost various opportunities over the last four or five years.”

The Oklahoma City Council ultimately voted in favor of annexing the land in a six-to-three vote. Ward 3 councilwoman Barbara Peck whose ward the land will fall into joined members voting in favor of the annexation. 

“While we don’t yet know what business will come to this mega site, no one is withholding that information from you,” Councilwoman Peck said. “This is the first step in pursuing those alternatives, pursuing the folks who have come that we’ve had to turn away in the past.”

A report by the city planning commission cites Chamber of Commerce models that project the site could bring between 1,700 and 5,000 jobs to the area with an average wage of $63,000 per year.

“We have an opportunity to make a real difference here and it’s not an opportunity I’m willing to pass on,” Peck said.

Many residents who spoke against the site said the area just doesn’t have good roads, water lines, or 911 services to support a large development. Those who support the development said a large-scale project is just the way to bring those services to that area

City councilors said any future projects will have to come back before the city council in order to rezone the land.