Norman City Council will consider the Rock Creek Entertainment District phasing plan at its regular meeting on Tuesday, according to the meeting agenda.
Rock Creek Entertainment District phasing plan
The phasing plan, which is included with the agenda, outlines the development timeframe and investment amounts for the different parts of the project. Anticipated investments total over $622 million, though costs may vary by up to 15%, according to a staff report.
According to the plan, the $325 million multi-sport arena and performance venue is proposed to be built from Nov. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2029. Additional expected infrastructure costs total over $39 million.
According to the staff report, the Rock Creek Entertainment District economic development agreement requires that a phasing plan be submitted before March 15 and considered within 30 days after it is received.
On March 7, the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners approved the economic development agreement in a special meeting. Storme Jones, Cleveland County director of communications, told OU Daily after the meeting that the board had to approve the agreement before March 15 due to phasing plan deadlines but legal obstacles would stop the agreement from advancing.
The report also notes the ordinance to create increment districts four and five is suspended due to Allison et al. v. McCoy-Post et al., the protest challenging the referendum petition. On Feb. 21, Cleveland County Judge Jeff Virgin ruled the referendum petition was insufficient, ordering it to be struck from a public ballot.
On March 27, the Oklahoma Supreme Court maintained jurisdiction of the case and placed it on a fast-track docket, according to the staff report. The report states the Oklahoma Supreme Court is expected to make a decision before July 1, 2026.
“If the Court reverses the district court’s ruling and an election cannot be held before July 1, 2026, the Phasing Plan will have to be amended if the electorate approves the increment districts after July 1, 2026,” the report reads.
Lindsey Street water tower
Council will also consider a final payment to G&L Tank Sandblasting and Coatings LLC for Robinson Street water tower resurfacing and a contract amount reduction to remove items to demolish the Lindsey Street water tower.
The reduction would total $312,958, reducing the contract amount from $812,200 to $499,241.
According to the staff report, the city is investigating if the Lindsey Street water tower can be preserved. In November, the city made sufficient progress in exploring preservation options and determined that demolition should halt for the time being, the report notes.
The staff report recommends approving $43,051 for the final payment to G&L Tank Sandblasting and Coatings. According to a letter from Joe Seiter, vice president of WindForce Engineering and Inspection, the final inspection, disinfection and sod repair for the Robinson Street water tower project was completed on March 18.
Public hearing for fiscal year ending 2026 operating and capital budgets
Council will also conduct a public hearing for the fiscal year ending 2026 operating and capital budgets.
Last Tuesday, Budget Manager Kim Coffman presented the proposed fiscal year ending 2026 budget to council during its study session meeting.
The budget book, which is available online, projects a total revenue of $316.9 million in fiscal year ending 2026. The largest shares of the projected revenue are attributed to general sales tax and user fees and charges, which are anticipated to contribute 29.8% and 22.7%, respectively.
According to the budget, nearly $102.9 million in sales tax revenue is projected for fiscal year ending 2026.
Projected expenditures for fiscal year ending 2026 total $295.2 million, which is primarily attributed to public safety at 23.7%, strategic support and criminal justice at 15.2%, water at 13.3% and capital improvements at 12.1%.
According to the budget book, the total general fund revenue is projected at $107 million for fiscal year ending 2026, being primarily attributed to sales tax at 64.7%.
Total general fund expenditures are projected at $111 million for fiscal year ending 2026.
Norman Police Department’s expenditures total $31 million or 28% of total general fund expenditures, which is the largest share of expenditures by department. The Norman Fire Department is listed as the second largest share of general fund expenditures at 19.7% or $21.9 million, and public works is listed as the third largest share of general fund expenditures at 19.3% or $21.4 million.
A presentation included in Tuesday’s agenda also includes the projected total expenditures and revenues and the projected general fund expenditures and revenues.
Norman North Village
Council will also consider rezoning on final reading and a preliminary plat for North Norman Village, a mixed-use community planned for the southwest corner of West Indian Hills Road and Interstate 35.
According to a staff report, the property consists of over 130 acres, and the development would include 177 single-family residential lots, 1,250 multifamily apartment units, 268,100 square feet of office space, 268,100 square feet of commercial retail space and a convenience store.
Apex Properties LLC is the applicant and Rieger Sadler Joyce LLC is the representative.
According to the Oklahoma Secretary of State website, Apex Properties was formed in 1993. In the proposed site map for the development, Apex Properties’ address is listed as 2021 S. Santa Fe Ave. in Moore.
Council approved rezoning on first reading at a special meeting last Tuesday.
The agenda also includes a protest letter from Bob Stoops, former OU football head coach, and his wife Carol, who wrote that the development would alter the character of the community where their home lies. The protest letter, which is dated March 12, was also included in council’s special meeting agenda last Tuesday.
“My family and I purchased and built our home with the intention of enjoying a rural, residential lifestyle, with single-family dwellings situated on large lots and acreages, …” the letter reads. “Specifically, I am concerned about potential declines in property values and the associated risk of increased crime rates, along with other negative social implications that may arise from such a dense and mixed-use development.”
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
