New city facility has some Sand Springs residents speaking out

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. - A new construction project in Sand Springs has some residents speaking out.  

The city plans to build a new public works facility near W. 46th Street and S. 129th West Avenue.

But some residents think it's too close to home.

The city of Sand Springs plans to build a new public works facility set back from the street on more than 40 acres of city-owned property.

Just across the road, some neighbors aren't so crazy about the plans.

"It causes too much traffic, it's dirty, noisy," said Patrice Bellis.

Bellis thinks this area is too residential.

"Well, I'm actually not in agreement with it. Being a local realtor, I am against anything that is going to devalue our property values," she said.

But her neighbor Denise Jones disagrees.

"It's going to be far enough back behind the church, that we shouldn't see that big of an effect in the neighborhood," Jones said.

She doesn't think it will create much traffic or noise.

"They're trying to make it environmentally friendly, neighborhood friendly, and just wanting the neighbors and people to appreciate it," Jones said.

City officials say they're keeping residents' concerns in mind. They say they'll put up a fence around the property, build a park and improve the roads around the property.  

"You can't even see residential areas from here. So we feel there's plenty of buffer of land between here and the residential areas," Said city manager Rocky Rogers.

Rogers says the new facility will consolidate all of its public works departments.
He says several of their buildings need a lot of work, and the lease is up on one of its sites.

"Putting all of the facilities in one site, provides us with economies of scale, it provides us with efficiencies of operations. And we feel that's a good use of the public's money," Rogers said.

The project is still in the planning phase. City officials estimate it will cost about $6.5 million.