Orange barrels lined the parking lot and bumper blocks were stacked on the sidewalk last week as the saga between Oxford Village and the Knauf family continued.
On Thursday, Aug. 17, the Knaufs again blocked off a majority, but not all, of their property in downtown’s northeast quadrant.
The next day the village issued a letter stating all the barrels, bumper blocks, etc. are violating local ordinances and must be removed.
Since April, the Knaufs have owned two parcels in the heart of the northeast quadrant which connect the north and south sides of the parking lot. These parcels contain more than 50 parking spaces (including handicapped), a loading zone and portions of the sidewalk behind some of the businesses.
Orange construction barrels, yellow caution tape and bumper blocks fenced off the property for the second time in the last three weeks.
The Knaufs first closed the lot Aug. 4 on the eve of Celebrate Oxford. On Aug. 7, they reopened a portion of the loading zone along with some parking spaces including all the handicapped spots.
On Aug. 11, based on an opinion from village attorney Bob Davis, DPW workers were instructed to move the rusted metal barrels the Knaufs were using to cordon off their property.
The village’s actions apparently left the Knauf property wide open and people began to park there again.
The Knaufs? actions last week basically returned the lot to how it looked on Aug. 7.
‘We just put it back to where it was,? said local attorney Lee Knauf, who’s been acting as a spokesperson for Knauf Family Properties, LLC. ‘It wasn’t in response to anything. It was just how we had it.?
A number of signs warning people to ‘keep out? were posted by the Knaufs last week to let people know the area is definitely private property, not public parking.
One ‘no parking? sign posted on a light pole warned people that ‘unauthorized vehicles will be towed away at vehicle owner’s expense.?
Regarding the signs, Knauf said, ‘The police required that in order to agree to protect the property.?
‘They told us they couldn’t do that unless it was posted,? Knauf said. ‘So we posted it.?
But signs weren’t the only added feature.
Up on the Knauf-owned portion of the sidewalk near Lori’s Pet Paradise, concrete bumper blocks were stacked three and four high like giant Lincoln Logs.
Despite the recent closure, someone moved a few of the bumper blocks in the lot and people are once again parking freely on the property.
‘The bumper blocks got moved the very same day that we blocked it back off and it’s basically been open all week,? Knauf said.
As for who did it, Knauf said, ‘Nobody’s fessed up this time.?
This reporter also noticed that a few of the ‘no trespassing? signs had been removed from the light poles on the sidewalk and the ‘no parking? sign mentioned earlier was missing from the light pole in the parking lot.
In response to the Knauf’s recent actions, village Manager Joe Young sent Bob Knauf, Lee’s father, a letter dated Aug. 18 notifying him, that ‘fencing off? these parcels ‘by using barrels, barricades, tape, bumper stops and storage of equipment? is ‘in violation of the village ordinances.?
Language from various village ordinances which apply to the situation were cited in the letter.
‘We’ve sent it out to our lawyer,? Knauf said. ‘We don’t want to violate any laws.?
When asked if believes they’re in violation of village ordinances, Knauf replied, ‘I kinda doubt it, but I can’t say because I haven’t reviewed it.?
‘I haven’t seen the ordinance so I don’t know,? he said. ‘I don’t know what context it’s in.?
‘We’ve got lawyers that we’ve hired and we’ll just give it to them and we’ll decide what we ought to do,? Knauf noted. ‘I haven’t read the ordinance and I’m not going to act as my own counsel.?
In his letter, Young made it clear the Knaufs can’t fence off their property without any permits.
‘There are no permits issued for any construction or development on either of those parcels,? Young wrote. ‘Therefore ‘fencing off? the area for construction purposes in not permitted. You have no permits.?
Knauf has indicated the family intends to develop the larger parcel, which contains all the parking spaces, into a pay-to-park facility.
‘We got the second draft of the pay-to-park (plan) and we’ll be meeting with our attorneys and our engineer to get that ready to submit,? Knauf said. ‘Our goal is to have it submitted this month. . . . In the next week or so.?
The smaller parcel, which contains the loading zone and sidewalk, is zoned C-1 Central Business District and Knauf previously indicated a commercial building could be constructed there in the future.
As for the bumper blocks, their ‘current placement and stacking . . . is a major concern for safety,? the manager wrote.
Young explained that bumper blocks are supposed to be placed to prevent vehicles from extending beyond the lines of a parking space, bumping a wall or fence, encroaching upon landscaping and driving or parking on any part of a sidewalk.
‘The placement of bumper blocks on sidewalks is not allowed and further the stacking of bumper stops is not allowed,? Young wrote.
Young indicated the village is open to talking with the Knaufs. ‘We desire to pursue a dialogue to resolve the parking issues and be symbiotic on your development objectives,? the letter stated.