Several proposed rezonings in and around downtown Oxford will be the subject of a 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 18 public hearing before the village planning commission.
Most of the proposed changes are in part based on the village Master Plan, adopted in 2005, and the DDA Master Plan, which is still awaiting approval. Some of the zoning changes were requested by the property owners themselves.
Village Manager Joe Young said these changes ‘wouldn’t affect the current uses? of the affected properties, which are ‘grandfathered in.?
If an owner wishes to sell his property to someone else who wanted to use it for the exact same purpose that too would be permitted. For example, a residential property rezoned as commercial could still be used as residential by the owner and sold to someone else for continued residential use.
However, if approved, the rezonings would govern future uses of the properties should the structure undergo any major new construction or modifications, such as adding another story, or if a large portion or all of it is destroyed by fire.
Under the proposal, downtown’s C-1 Central Business District would be expanded eastward along the abandoned railroad right-of-way and extend from East St. on the north end to Broadway St.on the south end.
C-1 zoning would also be added along the east and west sides of M-24 between Broadway and Ensley streets, on the west side of Hudson St. to W. Burdick, and a couple of small parcels on the W. Burdick, East and N. Washington streets. All the Oxford Bank property between Stanton and Broadway would also be rezoned C-1. A rezoning from R-1 Single Family Residential to RM-1 Multiple Family is proposed for 55 E. Burdick St., the site of the proposed bed-and-breakfast, and 60 E. Burdick St., the site of Hampton Block.
However, Gene Hampton, owner of Hampton Block, is opposed to Multiple Family and has instead requested his property be rezoned as C-1.
Oxford needs more businesses, not more residential, because that what’s draws people to the community in Hampton’s opinion.
‘People aren’t going to come to town because you threw up a couple condos,? he said.
Eliminate business and you eliminate the reason people come to town, according to Hampton.
He also wants his property rezoned because of some possible future plans for his business involving an outside party, which could lead to an expanded product line to ‘draw more individual shoppers.?
‘Right now, it’s too early to say anything,? Hampton said. ‘We had one meeting.?
Dave Weckle, DDA board member and owner of the Oxford-based Valley Building and Repair, is also requesting his property at 20 Hudson St. be rezoned from residential to C-1, instead of parking as the village has proposed.
Weckle is also seeking C-1 zoning to accommodate his own business plans for the house and property there.
His company is currently renovating the house back to it’s ‘original style? for use as office space, however, Weckle said he would ‘prefer? it become retail. He noted there is room on the parcel for six on-site parking spaces.
To the south, the village is proposing six properties along S. Washington St. be rezoned from C-2 General Business to O-S Office-Service. They include Scribbles & More Preschool, Aperion Information Technologies, Ambrose Law Firm, Complete Accounting & Tax Service, Inc., Choo Choo’s Chocolate and the Sunoco station.
Young said the plan is to keep the C-2 General Business zoning at both ends of the downtown, then have Office-Service zoning as a transition to the downtown’s C-1 core.
John Simkus, owner of Choo Choo’s Chocolate, a 20-year-old retail business, is opposed to the proposed rezoning.
He doesn’t like the fact that going from General Business to Office-Service would place restrictions on what can be done with his property now and in the future.
‘There’s a myriad of things you can do with General Business ? it can be retail, it can be office,? Simkus said. ‘They have those options open to them now.?
‘We can be office right now, if we want to anyway,? he explained, noting the building was an office when he purchased it 25 years ago.
‘Why would someone decide that for the betterment of this community, it’s better to restrict some of the businesses? options when so many are struggling anyway?,? Simkus said. ‘Why someone would be looking at a place that’s been retail for 20 years and say, ‘You should be office? ? that throws me.?
Three light industrial properties located in the northeast village could be rezoned as Multiple Family. They include some parcels south of BarronCast (411 N. Oxford Road), Auto-Matic Press (402 N. Glaspie St.) and Industrial Machine Products (18-45 Louck St.).
‘We’ve got an industrial park. We don’t need this industrial here,? Young said.
Because these industrial properties abut residential areas and they’re ‘right against the (Polly Ann) trail,? the manager said Multiple Family is a ‘better fit.?
The owners of 14, 16 and 20 Dennison St. have all requested their properties be rezoned from residential to C-1. ‘Originally, when this whole process started they were talking about making them parking,? Young said.
The homeowners ‘objected? and told officials if they want to rezone them, make their properties C-1 to give them ‘better market advantage? should they ever decide to sell, Young explained. ‘Otherwise, don’t change it at all.?
Young said plans to rezone the Dennison properties as parking were dropped.
‘The planning commission said any residential properties that aren’t part of the downtown area, we’re not going to change to parking,? the manager said.
So, the Dennison properties will either remain residential or be changed to C-1, according to Young.