Norman City Council discussed the AIM Norman land use and housing plans, and approved an appropriation for the replacement of traffic signal equipment Tuesday.
Mayor Larry Heikkila also approved proclamations for Earth Day, Green Norman Ecobration and Women’s History Month.
Ward 2 Councilmember Matt Peacock sat in his designated seat beside Ward 1 Councilmember Austin Ball. On Feb. 11, Peacock swapped seats with Ward 6 Councilmember Joshua Hinkle during a regular meeting.
Ball responded to Peacock swapping seats on Facebook on Feb. 18.
“Is it my breath, you just showing everyone what a quality statesman and diplomat you are, or did you start feeling guilty you get to sit by a real man while your wife is stuck with you?” Ball wrote. “It's ok, she has my number.”
Peacock responded in the comment section.
“Everyone thought it was best that I didn’t sit next to the guy with the violent criminal history. I told them that I wasn’t worried about Austin hitting me, because I’m not a woman,” Peacock wrote. “Go away already, you’ve embarrassed yourself enough.”
Replacement for traffic equipment
The news: Council unanimously approved appropriating $26,830 from the risk management fund to the General Fund for the replacement of traffic equipment.
According to a staff report, the city’s traffic control division requires access to the funding to purchase replacement traffic control units, which have depleted due to repeated traffic incidents.
“The continuing number of traffic collisions involving damage to traffic control equipment depletes the city’s inventory of spare units. Replacement units are necessary in order to address future emergency situations,” the staff report reads.
The report notes the city collected $26,830 following two traffic collisions on Nov. 18 and Jan. 7, respectively. The city received $25,000 from the former and $1,830 from the latter, according to the staff report.
The vote: Council unanimously approved the appropriation in the consent docket.
Proclamations
The news: Mayor Larry Heikkila issued a series of proclamations for Earth Day, Women’s History Month and Public Transit Professional Appreciation Day.
Heikkila proclaimed April 22, 2025 as Earth Day and March 22 through May 18 as “Green Norman Ecobration” in Norman.
“(I) encourage our citizens to make a difference in our community: to think, reduce, reuse, recycle, replenish, restore, refresh, replant, rebuild, repurpose and respect,” Heikkila said.
According to Heikkila, the city will host its 22nd Earth Day festival in Andrews Park at noon on April 27 and provide multiple free activities throughout “Green Norman Ecobration.”
Heikkila proclaimed March 18 as Public Transit Professional Appreciation Day.
Heikkila also proclaimed March as Women’s History Month.
“We proudly recognize that women of all races, nationalities, and cultures have always played a critical role in history, and have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways,” Heikkila said. “We honor and recognize all women who contribute day to day to enrich our community.”
What they’re saying: Michele Loudenback, environmental and sustainability manager, said she was honored for the proclamation. She added the city’s Earth Day celebration will include live music, including a performance from Finance Director Anthony Francisco and city employees.
“It's a season of community engagement, hands-on learning and a time to make action that's impactful, that encourages us to protect the resources that make our city such a great place to live,” Loudenback said.
The vote: Council unanimously approved the proclamations.
AIM Norman housing and land use plans
The news: Council heard updates regarding the AIM Norman housing and land use plans presented by Amy Haase, community and regional planning principal for RDG Planning and Design, and Charlie Cowell, urban planner for RDG Planning and Design.
AIM Norman, or the Norman Area and Infrastructure Master Plan, is a comprehensive, 25-year area and infrastructure master plan composed of seven areas: land use, water, wastewater, stormwater, housing, transportation and parks. The city is also updating its comprehensive transportation plan, stormwater master plan, water master plan and wastewater master plan in coordination with AIM Norman.
Haase said the plan hasn’t experienced any significant changes since December but includes some refinements.
Haase said principles of AIM Norman supported more flexible land use plans and mixed uses.
According to Haase, the plans propose adding 23,000 units to the market to accommodate 185,000 residents by 2045, which she said would benefit from flexibility overtime.
The presentation listed the following goals for housing:
• Modernize development regulations to achieve consistency, efficiency and outcomes.
This includes rewriting zoning and subdivision ordinances, and coordinating a departmental review with criteria for administrative approval.
“Codes need to be written for consistent design-making so that property owners and developers know what to expect,” the presentation reads.
• Add variety in housing types across more densities and design approaches.
According to the presentation, this would involve increasing home construction outside of detached single-unit homes and large apartment complexes; creating acceptable building plans of housing typologies and sharing type-specific resources; and offering incentives for mixed-use redevelopment.
• Increase attainable, accessible and quality housing options for all people.
Priority households for the housing goals listed include low-income, mobility-limited and individuals experiencing homelessness.
This would involve enacting target metrics for large developments, maintaining an affordable housing development trust fund, and expanding affordable housing education and advocacy to property owners, according to the presentation.
“Price is a major barrier. Households can also face barriers in finding a home that accommodates mobility challenges, has efficient utilities, and is near services like transportation, healthcare and groceries,” the presentation reads. “People need more home choices that fit their price points and daily needs.”
• Enhance and promote infill opportunities in existing neighborhoods.
Strategies listed include increasing rehabilitation and redevelopment incentives and programs for “appropriate” sites, and building new public and private partnerships for neighborhood investment.
“Continual reinvestment in neighborhoods cannot be put on hold and must increase to meet existing housing needs,” the presentation reads.
• Have clear, understandable and reasonable housing incentives and program procedures.
This would include developing a curated resource center for property owners, renters, builders and landlords; expanding housing education and engagement; and simplifying any incentive, funding, administrative approval or other process required for housing strategies, according to the presentation.
On Jan. 21, council heard updates on the AIM Norman water and wastewater plans. On Feb. 25, council heard updates on the AIM Norman transportation plans.
What they’re saying: Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash objected to a “Urban Reserve Land Use” part of the land use plan, which involves an area near Lake Thunderbird.
“This is an area where new development will be discouraged until the city’s existing water, sewer, stormwater and transportation infrastructure can serve the area without skipping areas to the west,” the presentation reads. “For this reason, it is unlikely that this area will develop during the life of this plan.”
Haase said the section of the plan anticipates a future plan, adding its intention is to protect the land.
“We don’t see development happening in this area in the life of the plan, but as infrastructure moves closer to that area, that area could potentially develop beyond the life of this plan,” Haase said. “We want to make sure as long as possible, the character and what’s out there is preserved and maintained.”
Nash said he wanted the language regarding future growth removed, believing it was less restrictive regarding protections.
“If our intent is to protect it we should protect it, not encourage its development … it provides a trojan horse to develop an area that we’re not ready to have developed yet nor do we want to have it developed yet because of the impact to the lake,” Nash said. “Focus on the preservation, remove all the language that says anything about incremental growth, future growth and just do what this is intended to do: preserve the area.”
Richard McKown, chair of the AIM Norman Housing Subcommittee, said the section of the plan was not a “trojan horse.”
“We’re tired, we’ve been at this for well over a year-and-a-half, we want to wrap it up in a way that we think you guys will approve it,” McKown said.
Heikkila asked council if it wanted to have another meeting to analyze the language Nash objected to.
Peacock said he did not want to delay the entire process.
Haase said if recommended by the AIM Norman Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee on Wednesday, council could receive a draft by Thursday or Friday.
“So, we can have all of our grievances in your email box by Saturday,” Nash said.
City Manager Darrel Pyle said the draft would go through the planning commission and then would be considered by council, but added there is a lot of time for conservation in that timeframe.
This story was edited by Ismael Lele.
