By Paige Orr, FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — Neighbors in south Tulsa are keeping a close eye on a proposed residential assisted living home after a tense public hearing at Tulsa City Hall ended without approval on Tuesday.
The Board of Adjustment met to consider a special exception request for a home near East 61st Street South.
FOX23 initially covered this situation when neighbors first learned about the special exception request and expressed their concerns about the proposed facility.
Current city rules allow up to eight occupants in the single-family residential zone, but the property owner petitioned for an exception to accommodate up to 12 residents.
The owner told board members the proposed center would serve as a quiet, home-like environment for seniors needing assistance with daily living without altering the exterior appearance of home.
However, surrounding residents voiced heavy opposition during the hearing.
Out of the roughly 10 neighbors who stepped up to the microphone to address the board, only one spoke in favor of the special exception.
Nearby residents expressed major concerns over safety, narrow streets and how emergency vehicles would be able to navigate the neighborhood.
“3215 East 61st is a highly visible corner lot surrounded by two dead end streets with very small cul-de-sacs,” explained neighbor Russell Jacobson during his presentation. “Fire trucks are not going to be able to get back out. They’re going to have to back out onto 61st Street.”
During the hearing, Jacobson asked everyone in attendance who opposed the project to stand.
Nearly every single person among the crowd of well over 50 residents stood up in unison.
Community members opposing the project also presented a petition containing well over 150 signatures.
When it came time for the five-member board to make a decision, only four members were present.
A motion was made to deny the special exception request, which required three affirmative votes to pass.
The final vote ended with one in favor of denial, two opposed to the denial and one abstention.
Since neither side could secure the three votes necessary to pass or deny the measure, the motion failed, meaning the request lacks the required approval to move forward at this time.
Tulsa City Councilor Carol Bush, who represents District 9, said the property owner should have held a town hall with nearby residents before taking their application to the city.
She praised the neighborhood for showing up and warned that residents will remain vigilant if the issue returns to City Hall.
“You’re deeply embedded in the neighborhood here and I think by show of well over 50 residents here, plus well over 150 people signing a petition against this, weighed heavily on the board,” Bush said. “I can tell you, this group of people next time around if we have to come back down here, it will be standing room only. You will have well over 100 people here.”
With the case stalled for now, neighbors said they plan to closely monitor the property to see if the owner decides to reapply or bring a new proposal forward.
