Moore council approves final plat and takes first step toward TIF for I‑35 Commerce Center

Moore — The city council on Feb. 17 approved a final plat for the I‑35 Commerce Center and moved to advance related infrastructure and financing steps for a proposed industrial distribution center north of Northeast 27th Street.

Planning staff said the application from Scannell Properties LLC divides the light‑industrial tract into two lots; the east lot is slated for a warehousing and distribution center while the west lot remains without a confirmed user. Staff told the council public water and sewer will be extended to serve the site and that a previously unstudied floodplain on the west side will be surveyed and a base flood elevation established. "All city and FEMA requirements for development within a floodplain are required," staff said during the presentation.

The council approved the final plat by unanimous vote. Immediately afterward, council approved a $98,200 agreement with Kimley Horn & Associates to design about 7,600 linear feet of water line and 3,700 feet of sewer to serve the two lots, with staff citing economy of scale and existing survey work by Kimley Horn.

Separately, council amended and adopted Resolution No. 1‑31‑26 to "declare the intent to consider approval of a project plan in the future and establish a statutory review committee" under the Local Development Act. City staff said the resolution begins the process of creating a tax‑increment financing (TIF) district intended to facilitate a roughly 330,000‑square‑foot distribution center on about 30 acres and to catalyze employment and investment in the area.

Votes at a glance
- Final plat for I‑35 Commerce Center: motion carried, unanimous (all councilmembers recorded "Yes").
- Kimley Horn engineering agreement ($98,200): motion carried, unanimous.
- Resolution 1‑31‑26 (declare intent / establish review committee for potential TIF): motion carried, unanimous.

Why it matters
Council and staff framed the actions as typical steps to prepare a large industrial site for development: plat approval enables lot creation, engineering design will allow extension of public utilities, and the TIF process provides a mechanism to capture incremental tax revenue to support infrastructure that a private developer might not fund alone. Staff said the TIF is intended to boost jobs and the tax base if the project proceeds.

What council asked for
Councilmembers asked for clarity on floodplain studies, traffic mitigation (Pole Road/27th Street intersection improvements were cited during the plat discussion), and confirmation that public utilities and easements meet city and FEMA requirements. Staff responded that the floodplain will be studied to establish boundaries and base flood elevation, and a 30‑foot drainage easement is required.

Next steps
Staff will complete the floodplain study, finalize utility design with Kimley Horn and proceed with the statutory review committee and additional TIF steps if a project plan is developed. Any future project plan or TIF adoption would return to council for final approval.