Urban Form Analysis Like many Oklahoma towns, El Reno’s urban form has been defined by the rivers, railroads, and highways, specifically Route 66 in this case. The urban form of Sunset Drive consists largely of singlefamily homes on small lots and commercial properties with small parking lots in front of or to the side of buildings. This area is currently designed for cars and is not walkable. Sidewalk installation funding has been secured, but additional improvements will need to be made for the area to be walkable.
Information about El Reno’s urban form was collected from aerial maps, zoning and land use maps, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps, tribal jurisdiction maps, the El Reno comprehensive plan, the Canadian County Assessor public records, and field work conducted during August and September. The first field trip to El Reno consisted of a comprehensive walking tour guided by El Reno City Planner Dustin Downey, who provided information about the history, development, and movement patterns in El Reno. Holistically, El Reno’s urban form is very typical for a small Oklahoman town: The original townsite is the densest portion of town with abutting buildings one- to three- stories tall, placed on consistent and small blocks. As the city spreads outwards, blocks and lots become larger and more inconsistent in size and shape, and parking lots become much more prevalent. El Reno has several major arterials crossing city limits, including Route 66, Highway 81, Interstate 40, and a railroad track. Most of El Reno’s development is centered around the intersection of Route 66 and Central development area of El Reno Highway 81, but there is a south-reaching branch of the city that connects the main portion of El Reno with I-40. Meanwhile, El Reno’s natural landscape is defined by the North Canadian River, which runs across the city, north of the central development. The North Canadian River feeds a series of creeks, Lake El Reno, and other small bodies of water in the area that support a riparian ecosystem. Although this provides ecological, recreational, and economic benefits to the city, this also means that portions of El Reno have developed in floodplains and will experience worsening flood conditions as impervious surfaces and climate change effects continue to grow (FEMA’s).
Floodplains along the study area (FEMA’s) El Reno Sunset Drive Research Report | 15
