LABELLE – A proposal for an apartment complex on State Road 80 and Fort Thompson Avenue was debated during the City of LaBelle Local Planning Agency Meeting on June 8.

The applicant wants to build 128 housing units on 16-acres north of State Road 80 and west of Fort Thompson Avenue, with five, two-story buildings and two, three-story buildings.

The project also includes 40,000 square feet of commercial usage.

The LaBelle Fire Chief Brent Stevens said three-story buildings are a problem for the LaBelle Fire Department.

Commissioner Daniel Akin said he is concerned about the lack of buffer between the commercial area and existing homes.

Commissioner Hugo Vargas said there is a lot of traffic on Fort Thompson already, as people who don’t live on that street use it as a shortcut to other areas.

Commissioner Jackie Ratica said residents who spoke to her were concerned about traffic from the development using streets to the north, increasing traffic in what are now quiet, residential neighborhoods.

Vargas said some residents expressed a desire of more transition within the development. “I’m seeing two-story buildings 70 feet away from the residents on the south side of Oklahoma.”

Commissioner Bobbie Spratt said the residents there really don’t want apartments. “That being said, LaBelle is growing, and we have to have places for the people to live. We need to do it with as much careful consideration as possible,” she added. “We need to listen and be open to a conversation.”

“My main concern is traffic,” said Doug Smith, who lives on Clay Street. “If you live in LaBelle, you know what the traffic is like right now on 80. And they want to add 128 homes. We need to do something with the traffic we have now before they add more to it.”

Mark Lapp, who lives on North Cypress Street, said the applicant exceeds what is allowed for the density and really isn’t a fit for that area.

“The applicant is trying to get density they are not allowed under your comprehensive plan,” he said. He also asked the commission to prohibit the development from accessing the site from North Cypress Street.

“I looked at the surrounding homes of that area,” said Kimber Smith, who lives on North Cypress Street. The average lot size is 0.6 acre, she said. The proposed density would be one resident per 0.17 acre.

“There’s a very large contract between 0.6 acre to 0.17 acre,” she said. “We need to catch up on some growing pains before we advance anymore.”

Daniel Rodriguez, who lives on Fort Thompson Street, said traffic is a major concern. With 128 units, the development would likely add more than 300 cars going to the highway.

Mayor Julie Wilkins said it is their task as the local planning agency to determine if the plan is compatible or incompatible with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Vargas made a motion finding the plan for 128 units, as presented by the applicant, as incompatible with the comprehensive plan, but allowing the applicant to bring back a new plan based on the staff-recommended maximum of 64 units, with emergency-only access on Fort Thompson.

The motion was approved 3-2. Commissioner Spratt and Mayor Julie Wilkins voted against the motion.