Because of deadline constraints for the last edition, the Kingfisher Times & Free Press was unable to receive responses from two Kingfisher city commissioners as to why they voted as they did in a zoning measure that ultimately failed to pass.

At issue during last Monday’s Kingfisher City Commission meeting was a request to rezone 1000 S. Main St. to C-4 commercial.

The action was being requested by Mike Matthews, who now owns the property and has proposed a strip mall for that location.

Matthews’ request was previously approved by the Kingfisher Planning & Zoning Board.

The measure before the city commission failed, however, due to not receiving a majority vote in favor.

The vote was 2-2 as commissioners Kyle Mecklenburg and Jeff Wittrock voted in favor of it while Mayor Geoff Covalt and Dawn Taylor voted against it.

Tammy Sammons, who was sworn in as a commissioner earlier in the meeting to fill an unexpired term, abstained from the vote.

When contacted by the KT&FP as to why she abstained, Sammons said she felt that she had “not nearly enough” background information on the subject to have formed an educated opinion.

“I was sworn in only 30 minutes earlier and I felt that there was no way I could make an informed vote,” Sammons told the KT&FP. “I asked (City Clerk) Brittney (Hladik) what choices I had and she told me ‘yes, no or abstain’ and abstain was clearly the only choice I felt comfortable making.” Taylor expressed her reasoning for her no vote at the meeting, stating she was concerned as to what possible businesses might eventually fill the leased spaces of the commercial site.

Taylor said she understood that Matthews would follow through with acceptable businesses, but she was concerned as to what kinds of businesses may be there 15 to 20 years in the future.

Covalt did not not offer comment with his vote.

When contacted later in the week, Covalt said his reasoning was he had concerns as to the alley and entry and exit configuration of the proposed strip mall.

“I’m an engineer by trade, so I need to see it all on paper and in writing and I just wasn’t comfortable enough with the plans as presented to give approval,” he told the KT&FP.

Covalt added that he was open to meeting with Matthews in the future to discuss requesting a different zoning application.

Matthews and his business partner, Blake Pyle, have already submitted multiple applications.

Their initial request before the P&Z board sought for the property to be rezoned from residential to C-3 (general commercial).

That request was unanimously rejected by the P&Z board on May 22 with some members indicating they felt the request was “too broad.”

At the July 24 meeting, the P&Z board voted 4-1 to approve the C-4 request.

Jean Crosswhite cast the dissenting vote.

Voting for the measure then were Austin Evans, Eddie Payne, Reggie Redwine and Judy Whipple, which sent it to the city commission for its approval.

Before last Monday’s vote, Linda Garcia, the city’s community development director and building inspector, told the commissioners she felt the city should “work the plan” already in place regarding commercial zoning and stated that “spot zoning” exceptions should not be made for specific commercial use.

Covalt told the KT&FP that the city’s zoning rules and regulations were in need of update and revision, but it was not a high priority at this time due to the critical needs of infrastructure capital improvements “to ensure the toilets flush and bathroom showers run in our town.”

“I’m not opposed to spot commercial zoning,” Covalt said. “I just wasn’t comfortable with the plans on this one as presented.”