Court rejects petition against Norman TIF: Key dates, funding, and project timeline

A Cleveland County judge has ruled that a referendum petition challenging Norman’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district is insufficient blocking it from appearing on the ballot.

The decision follows a Feb. 19 court hearing where opponents of the TIF district argued that their review of petition signatures uncovered numerous discrepancies, including mismatched names, incorrect addresses, incomplete information, unregistered voters, and duplicate signatures.

The opposition had spent two months reviewing the petitions before presenting their findings in court. Despite the legal challenge, plans to activate the first TIF district on May 1, 2025, remain on schedule.

Here’s a look at the major events shaping the project.

What is a TIF? Understanding Tax Increment Districts

September 2023: The Rock Creek District, encompassing retail spaces, 500 housing units, office spaces, and a new arena for the University of Oklahoma basketball team, was officially proposed.

June 5, 2024: Renderings of the proposed entertainment district were released, showcasing plans to create 5,000 jobs and 3,000 housing options upon completion. The Norman Planning Commission was scheduled to vote on the plans on June 13, 2024.

September 18, 2024: After extensive public hearings, the Norman City Council approved the TIF district to finance the entertainment project with a 5-4 vote. The decision followed discussions on the project's impact and funding mechanisms.

January 29, 2025: A legal ruling required the City of Norman to pay $2.1 million to University Town Center developers for infrastructure costs in the University North Park TIF district, highlighting ongoing financial commitments related to TIF agreements.

February 19, 2025: A court will hear arguments from the opposition challenging the TIF funding process who say after two months of reviewing signatures, they discovered numerous legally invalid signatures on petitions submitted to the City of Norman. Issues included mismatched names, incorrect addresses, incomplete information, unregistered voters, and duplicate signatures. This development could impact efforts to overturn the TIF decision.

February 21, 2025: A Cleveland County judge has ruled that a referendum petition challenging Norman’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district is invalid blocking it from appearing on the ballot.

May 1, 2025: Activation of the first TIF district for sales or use tax is scheduled, directing collected taxes toward funding the entertainment district.

December 31, 2026: The second TIF district, focusing on property tax, is set to be activated, further supporting the project's financial structure.

2027: Projected opening of the new OU basketball arena and retail spaces within the district, marking significant milestones in the development.

2029: Anticipated completion and opening of office spaces, finalizing major components of the entertainment district.

In a statement following the court's ruling, The University of Oklahoma said:

"It is a momentous day for Norman, its citizens and the surrounding community. We are pleased with the court ruling that clears the way for the Entertainment District—representing the kind of development Norman needs to be a destination city that drives economic growth and provides new opportunities for housing, jobs and services for residents, all without raising taxes. The proposed new home for several OU athletics teams also will strengthen connectivity between Norman and the surrounding area with a vibrant live, work, play environment, offering a place where students, recent graduates and families can thrive.”

In a statement, developer Danny Lovell said:

"We are pleased with the ruling which now allows us to begin the Entertainment District development process and execute on our shared vision in collaboration with so many local stakeholders."

News 9 reached out to the law firms representing the plaintiffs, but they declined to comment.