NOVEMBER 2022 | 11 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL Providing an opportunity to promote intergovernmental cooperation with school districts, utilities and neighboring jurisdictions. There are some very basic legal standards to consider when advising a planning commission, governing body or private client. One of the most important is that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has consistently held that unless a zoning decision of a municipality is found not to have a substantial relation to the public health, safety, morals or general welfare or to constitute an unreasonable, arbitrary exercise of the police power, its judgments will not be overturned by the district court.13 Also, courts may not substitute their judgment for that of the municipal legislative body.14 The court’s duty will be to determine whether the restriction on the use of the property is a reasonable exercise of power under the zoning statute.15 When the validity of a legislative classification for zoning purposes is fairly debatable, legislative judgments must be allowed to stand.16 In representing public bodies, the best way to explain to elected and appointed officials how to evaluate planning and zoning
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