Edmond begins removing racist restrictive‑covenant language from plats; Highland Park first
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Summary
The council approved an amended final plan to remove outdated, unconstitutional restrictive‑covenant language from the Highland Park Addition plat — the first of about 20 such documents the city plans to amend following a state law change.
The Edmond City Council on Jan. 13 approved an amended final plan to remove archaic restrictive‑covenant language from the plat for Highland Park Addition, a change city staff said is the first under a recent state law revision that allows municipalities to remove such language from public records.
Why it matters: The language in question dates from the early 20th century and included covenants that effectively barred certain groups from owning or occupying property. City staff and the council described the action as a necessary step to correct historical documents and remove unenforceable, discriminatory language from public plats.
Background and process
Case EPC24‑0006 covers the Highland Park Addition, originally containing restrictive language added in 1909. City staff said state law changed on Nov. 1 to permit cities to remove that language from plats; the city worked with state legislators and the Oklahoma Realtors Association to enable the change. Staff said Highland Park is the first Edmond plat to be amended; the city plans to bring about 19 more in groups for similar amendments.
Staff and community roles
City staff recognized research and background work by members of the Edmond History Museum staff in documenting the historical language. The mayor said he planned a small public signing ceremony at the chamber the next day to mark the first amended document.
Actions recorded
- Motion: approve case EPC24‑0006 (amended final plan for Highland Park Addition to remove restrictive‑covenant language). Mover/second: not specified. Outcome: approved.
What’s next
Staff said it will bring additional plats forward in coming months in grouped batches. The council indicated the approach is intended to be deliberate: present the first case, confirm the process, then present the remaining plats for similar amendment.