SHARED RESOURCES
GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED
Community leaders have been trained to utilize an internal member portal on this website. This allows Mayes County communities to share policies and ordinances. It also gives them access to request information from other Mayes County communities.
Info
Consider the creation of a Comprehensive Plan as provided for under Oklahoma law to guide future development and assist in grant applications for funding. A comprehensive plan will provide for a visionary document that looks well into the future, typically on a twenty year horizon, to elaborate in full detail what your community can expect in terms of population growth, economic forecasts, transportation planning, infrastructure life cycles and maintenance, budgetary and finance considerations, historic preservation, community programming for parks, schools, libraries, police and emergency response operations, hospitals. Policy recommendations within the plan will set the stage for the next twenty years of decision-making and investments.
Consider adoption of a model Subdivision Code and hiring of a town engineer, perhaps in concert with other Mayes County towns, to improve the quality of new construction and provision of utilities and community infrastructure to new areas of town. Subdivision regulations are a land use tool that bring certainty to community design, infrastructure and service provisions. Subdivisions provide opportunities to bring new housing into the area and it will be important to consider how to ensure these areas and new neighborhoods are serviced at adequate levels relative to volume and that stormwater mitigation techniques are required to assist in mitigating flooding events.
Consider the adoption and enforcement of a Uniform Building Code (2015 IBC), perhaps in concert with other Mayes County towns, to improve the quality of new construction. Building Codes can bring certainty to development for both the community and for developers. By establishing processes and expectations everyone knows what to expect for reviews and the end product. Adopting a Building Code can also provide consistency of construction and instill proper safety measures throughout all construction projects.
Click here to view Mayes County Uniform Building Code Adoption and Enforcement Policy Template
Consistent enforcement will be key to successfully addressing vacant lands and derelict and abandoned buildings in the townsite and potentially extra jurisdictional areas. Vacant and derelict properties and buildings can negatively contribute to the look and feel of a place and they can also adversely impact investments and confidence in redevelopments. Through consistent enforcement your community can look to remedy issues related to vacant and derelict properties to create more vibrancy within the downtown. A unified approach across towns in the Four Corners region will help bolster vibrancy and may require coordination with other Mayes County towns in order to create clear expectations for local and regional developers.
Meet with ODOT to discuss common transportation issues for your community including access planning, traffic speed, truck route designation, pedestrian crosswalks and safety improvements. Your town/city will need to begin discussions with ODOT in the short term in order to lead the conversation around highway improvements through your town/city.
Mayes County is in ODOT District 8 jurisdiction.
Click here to view District 8 contacts.
Adopt the NACTO street guide to direct new street standards in the town and county. NACTO, the National Association of City Transportation Officials, is an organization of over 90 major cities in the United States that actively share ideas and solutions to transportation issues facing different regions of the Country. Their Urban Street Guide provides the public with information on best practices from engineers, planners, and designers working in transportation and includes tools for making streets safer, more livable, and more economically vibrant places within communities.
Continue to pursue grant funding for necessary town/city improvements such as transportation and streetscapes, utility improvements, trails, parks, etc. There are many opportunities for funding sources and grants in Oklahoma.
Work with water, sewer, and other utility providers to discourage utility extensions and development in floodplains and other environmentally important lands and encourage development on higher, less flood prone areas. As weather patterns continue to become more erratic - impacting rivers, floodplains, weather events, etc. - it will become increasingly important for the communities in Mayes County to work with utility providers to assist in mitigating flooding events and to protect environmentally sensitive areas. For more information, visit the Public Utility Division website.
Work with the Mayes County Conservation District to develop techniques for the preservation of prime agriculture lands and environmentally sensitive areas. The rich history of agricultural in Mayes County and its role in the origin stories of many of the towns places preservation of agricultural lands at the utmost importance when considering future growth in Mayes County. Your town/city should pursue discussions with organizations such as the Mayes County Conservation District and local universities to learn more about conservation easement program opportunities and local and regional research into sustainable agricultural practices and programs.
Click here for Mayes County Conservation District contact information.
Mayes County’s unique history highlights an opportunity to partner with the Cherokee Nation in your town/city’s efforts to meet growth demands and ensure that programmatic improvements respond to the needs of all residents. The town/city should continue its work with local Cherokee Nation leadership to identify projects and programs for ongoing collaboration.