OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

[Pete]

I haven't seen much about the waterpark. Are we talking about something like a hotel pool, the Waterzoo near Clinton, or something much bigger? I wouldn't complain if its something like the waterzoo, we have zero indoor waterparks right now.

You can see from the siteplan and renderings I posted that the indoor area is quite large. Then there is a sizeable outdoor component, plus the huge lagoon and a smaller one for kids.

It seems all of these will combine to be pretty substantial.

[mugofbeer]

Great scoop Pete! I hope this is a wonderful success story for OKC.

[Pete]

I'm watching the presentation this morning to the Riverfront Design Committee.

Some interesting points:

1. Presenters said this project has been under design for over 2 years
2. A lot of the site is in the flood plain so they'll be bringing in tons of infill to raise the elevation where needed
3. OKANA will be served by a separate road; a new one will be built for the FAM
4. The development team and engineers have been meeting with city council, the city manager, parks department, EMBARK and a bunch of other city agencies for quite some time

[Pete]

They also said that they feel very confident that the various renderings depict what will actually be built because they are very far along in their planning and design.

In other words, at least for Phase I, this is not at all conceptual.

And the pedestrian bridge has already been funded by the city; they have also received federal grant funds for the OK River Cruiser dock.

[David]

The Chickasaw nation doesn't mess around.

I'm watching the presentation this morning to the Riverfront Design Committee.

Some interesting points:

1. Presenters said this project has been under design for over 2 years
2. A lot of the site is in the flood plain so they'll be bringing in tons of infill to raise the elevation where needed
3. OKANA will be served by a separate road; a new one will be built for the FAM
4. The development team and engineers have been meeting with city council, the city manager, parks department, EMBARK and a bunch of other city agencies for quite some time

Based on this image from your previous posts I had been wondering if fill would be required.

[Pete]

Said they hope to break ground on March 1st. The hotel would start first since it will take the longest to build, but the entire first phase (hotel, waterpark, meeting facility, lagoon and other commercial buildings) would be complete within 24 months.

This is just such a big deal. And you have to believe that when this is up and running, we'll start to see movement on the rest of the property, where conceptual plans are equally ambitious.

I truly believe this is exactly what OKC needs to differentiate ourselves and put us on the tourism map. I am very hopeful it will draw people from all over who will then be exposed to all the great things happening in the city as a whole.

[Plutonic Panda]

Kinda bummed this will be a separate road. Really should work on better access creating a four lane divided road serving this entire site east to west. It would make the development feel more cohesive. So I'm assuming this will mean two lights on Eastern now.

[Laramie]

Excited about the possible March 1 ground breaking phrase 1 hotel of the OKANA project. Recall the groundbreaking on the Rother Shrine with the church portion of the project almost complete.

[Pete]

Kinda bummed this will be a separate road. Really should work on better access creating a four lane divided road serving this entire site east to west. It would make the development feel more cohesive. So I'm assuming this will mean two lights on Eastern now.

You need to see help for your road fetish.

[Plutonic Panda]

You need to see help for your road fetish.

Haha. I was thrilled to see the road built through Wiley Post Park connecting Robinson and Walker. Was hoping to keep that trend going on this property.

[bucktalk]

The landscape is so barren. While a treeless landscape may be in keeping with the time period of 'first families', I hope massive tree planting would take place once the development begins to be completed.

[Pete]

The landscape is so barren. While a treeless landscape may be in keeping with the time period of 'first families', I hope massive tree planting would take place once the development begins to be completed.

They specifically said the project would feature 'significant' landscaping.

[BG918]

The landscape is so barren. While a treeless landscape may be in keeping with the time period of 'first families', I hope massive tree planting would take place once the development begins to be completed.

Have you seen pictures of Lady Bird Lake in Austin in the 60's? Completely barren landscape. They made a big effort to plant trees and it is now an urban forest. If you start now you can have decent trees in about 10-15 years.

[warreng88]

Have you seen pictures of Lady Bird Lake in Austin in the 60's? Completely barren landscape. They made a big effort to plant trees and it is now an urban forest. If you start now you can have decent trees in about 10-15 years.

For more recent, just look at Myriad Gardens. I remember when the new trees were planted and look at it now.

[HOT ROD]

we need more of this throughout OKC, particularly integrating trees along major arteries as we refurbish/install sidewalks and at major intersections/junctions.

We really should do a serious tree planting campaign and code cleanup/enforcement, OKC would look very different in 5 years of doing so!

[Plutonic Panda]

We need to add medians and more turning lanes with landscaping. I wouldn’t mind xeriscaping.

[Laramie]

Did anyone read Steve Lackmeyer's article in today's Oklahoman about the Design Review Committee and Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark.

Steve mentioned that a second phase could include an aquarium on the southeast corner of the resort. An opening for the resort is expected in 2024.

Thursday’s presentation began with a recommendation by planning staff against exempting the development from design review guidelines. City planner Katie Friddle said concerns include use of building materials, signage, large projection screens, and lack of details about connections to the Oklahoma River trails...

...The application, including the request to exempt the development from design review, next goes to the planning commission on December 9 followed by an introduction to the city council on January 4 and final city council vote on February 1.

Good read, for the full article pick up a copy of the Oklahoman's Friday December 3 edition.

[Pete]

I watched that entire meeting and the presenters said that Phase 2 was completely conceptual at this point and it was not part of the plan that was presented.

Most of that article discusses procedural issues.

[catcherinthewry]

Did anyone read Steve Lackmeyer's article in today's Oklahoman about the Design Review Committee and Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark.

Steve mentioned that a second phase could include an aquarium on the southeast corner of the resort. An opening for the resort is expected in 2024.



Good read, for the full article pick up a copy of the Oklahoman's Friday December 3 edition.

Another article by Steve in today's Oklahoman. He said the city's planning commission has voted to exempt the development from design oversight, but the design review committee voted to oppose the exemption. The request for exemption will be heard by the City Council on Jan. 4 and voted on Feb. 4.

Personally, I think an exemption would set a bad precedent. And it's not like I don't trust the Chickasaws, they have been a good partner with FAM, but I believe in the saying "trust, but verify".

[shawnw]

The way it was explained to me was that staying in the design district creates higher than usual administrative overhead on such a large project, but I could have misunderstood what I was told.

[catcherinthewry]

The way it was explained to me was that staying in the design district creates higher than usual administrative overhead on such a large project, but I could have misunderstood what I was told.

I totally understand that. Are you saying large projects shouldn't be held to the same rules?

[Pete]

^

Yes, basically once a design is approved within a design district, any small exterior change (like a light fixture) has to be approved by the design committee.

Although many of these are classified as administrative and thus do not require a full vote at a committee meeting, it can still take weeks to receive approval.

The engineers for the Chickasaws are arguing that due to the project size and the rate at which they want to proceed, having to run every tiny change through design review would slow things down.


Keep in mind, most large developments (this one included) get approval for a SPUD which provides development and design guidelines. The reason they do this is to avoid having to go back to the city for every small change. The Planning Commission and developer agree on the terms of the SPUD, then the developer can play freely as long as they stay within the approved parameters.

That doesn't work in a design district because they have to approve all exterior designs and changes. And although the Riverfront Design Committee does not want to waive their approvals, the Planning Commission -- who has approved the SPUD -- unanimously recommended that the Chickasaws should be granted the exception.


It's really all just procedural crap that has very little to do with this development, and why I didn't even bother to mention it when this came up at the Riverfront meeting (which I watched in its entirety). Certainly doesn't merit a big splashy newspaper story, let alone two. IMO the only reason this is being covered in this way is because the Oklahoman got scooped once again by OKCTalk with the new details on the development and are now trying to create a story where there isn't one, just to make it look like they are actually doing their job.

[G.Walker]

Mayor Holt really praised this development. So I am sure the City Council will approve for this to move forward. Too much riding on this development for it to be hung up in design.

[Laramie]

My only concern with this project is the 100 acres we gave to the Chickasaws in return for completion of the FAM museum was that a casino not be built on the property.

The Chickasaws are ready to break ground and begin construction; exempt them from the Design & Review Committee, this is their project. The Design & Review on this will cost The Tribe more money in delays. They invested millions to finished the museum--let's get started.

[BoulderSooner]

My only concern with this project is the 100 acres we gave to the Chickasaws in return for completion of the FAM museum was that a casino not be built on the property.

The Chickasaws are ready to break ground and begin construction; exempt them from the Design & Review Committee, this is their project. The Design & Review on this will cost The Tribe more money in delays. They invested millions to finished the museum--let's get started.

this property is not eligible to be a casino