Business & Community Affairs Committee, 2/6/25

The City of Norman's Business & Community Affairs Committee met on February 6, 2025, to discuss two primary agenda items related to local development and housing. The first item focused on the potential creation of a South Norman Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district aimed at capturing new development revenue to fund public infrastructure projects such as street improvements and a costly bridge to improve traffic flow. Committee members discussed the boundaries of the proposed TIF district, emphasizing the importance of targeting new commercial development while protecting existing residential tax revenue. They also considered the timing of the district's activation to coincide with major upcoming projects to maximize increment revenue without prematurely impacting the city's general fund. The second item addressed the development of a pre-approved design catalog for residential construction, funded by a recently awarded Pro Housing grant. This initiative aims to streamline the permitting process and encourage the construction of missing middle housing types, such as duplexes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), by providing pre-reviewed building plans tailored to different zones. The committee highlighted the importance of community and stakeholder engagement, including local architects and bankers, to ensure the program's success and alignment with local needs. The discussion also touched on the potential for these pre-approved plans to facilitate faster rebuilding after disasters and to support affordable housing efforts by reducing design and permitting costs. No formal votes were recorded during the meeting, but the committee expressed support for further development of both the TIF district and the pre-approved design catalog, with plans to return for additional discussions and to issue an RFP for consultant services related to the housing initiative.