April 22, 2008 10:11 pm
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By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — The Miami City Council has agreed to annex 44 acres of land south of 12th Avenue for a proposed subdivision.
A final plat for the property also was approved at Monday’s meeting, allowing a California developer to build new houses on 155 lots.
A Tulsa engineering firm, DeShazo, Tang & Associates, has been hired by the developer to address questions about the type of housing, traffic and water retention. Nichole DeShazo, an engineer with the firm, said moderate-income, single-family houses with between 1,300 and 1,750 square feet will be built on the lots, with a minimum of 35 percent of the exterior to be covered with brick.
The subdivision will include two parks where there are existing ponds, and developers will leave property on the east side undeveloped for use as wetlands, as recommended by the Army Corps of Engineers, DeShazo said.
Plans will have to be reviewed — probably in the next six to eight months — by the corps and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, she said.
“We must show there are no structures in the flood plain,” DeShazo said.
City engineer Jerry Ruse said the city would require a financial guarantee that the developers will make the improvements, and the city also has final approval over the building plans.
“It’s a super exciting project for the city,” said Mayor Brent Brassfield.
Miami has had 20 floods in 21 years, and flooding last July damaged or destroyed more than 550 homes and businesses in the Miami area. Damage to city and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College property, homes and businesses has been estimated at $42 million.
In an unrelated housing measure, council members tabbed Brassfield to serve as the city’s representative on a review committee that will recommend plans for a development with 20 houses at 20th Avenue and N Street that the city is proposing to be built with grant funds. Joe Ruppert of the city planning commission also was nominated to serve on the committee. Other representatives will come from the taxing entities within the area proposed for development.
A majority of those homes will be built for low- to moderate-income families at a cost of $120,000 to $130,000 each.
‘Tough year’
The Miami City Council on Monday accepted the recommendation of the city parks board and declined to accept a donation of 4.85 acres just south of the Curtis Plaza apartments for a city park.
About 70 percent of the property is in a flood way, and 20 percent is in a flood plain. Only the perimeter of the property could be used for playground equipment, city officials have said.
“It’s a nice gesture, and we would love to increase park acreage, but it’s been a tough year,” said Mayor Brent Brassfield. “We’ve gone through two disasters, and the budget is going to be tight.”
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