Neighbors Right to Know Act Signed Into Law
OKLAHOMA CITY – Neighborhoods and homeowners will finally be treated with dignity and respect thanks a bill authored by state Rep. Eric Proctor. House Bill 1424, the “Neighbors Right to Know Act,” was signed into law today by Governor Brad Henry and will require those requesting a zoning change allowing multi-family housing facilities to be built near neighborhoods to notify by mail local property homeowners that would be affected. “This is a tremendous victory for homeowner and neighborhood rights,” said Proctor, D-Tulsa. “Neighbors have the right to know what is going to be placed in their backyard that could potentially affect their property values and family’s safety.”
The bill was requested by hundreds of Proctor’s constituents as a result of a 72-unit complex housing the mentally ill being built near their homes without their knowledge. Local homeowners first learned of the complex by watching a local news station the day before the zoning was to be approved.
Last year the City of Tulsa approved the complex over the concerns of 100 homeowners at a Tulsa City Council meeting and 500 homeowner signatures from the affected neighborhoods. City councilors let it be known at a public meeting that they would not act locally to do more to notify families and stated that the state Legislature would have to take action first. “It is disappointing that it has taken an act of the Legislature to require that folks do the right thing by properly notifying families,” Proctor said. “However, I am relieved that homeowners will finally be treated with common decency and the respect that they deserve.”
Watch Video of Neighbors Right to Know Act
