Oxford Township is considering prohibiting the discharge of firearms and all forms of hunting in dense residential zoning districts.
But before they take any action, township officials want to discuss the idea with the public and garner its input.
That’s why the township’s scheduled a public hearing on the topic for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 30 at the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center (28 N. Washington St.).
The township is considering enacting this prohibition for all properties zoned R-1, R-2 and RM. R-1 and R-2 are both for single family dwellings, the only difference is the former requires minimum lot sizes of 12,000 square feet, while the latter has a 25,000-square-foot minimum.
RM stands for multiple family and covers properties that have or allow for apartment buildings, condominiums and townhouses.
The township’s zoning map can be viewed on-line by visiting www.oxfordtownship.org or in person at the township office located at 300 Dunlap Rd., just north of Seymour Lake Rd.
Officials are considering this prohibition because of a complaint made by Dave Yezbick back in February.
Yezbick is the owner of Parkhurst Estates, a manufactured housing community located south of Drahner Rd. and west of M-24.
It seems there’s a lot of hunting happening on a 64-acre parcel of undeveloped land bordering Parkhurst Estates to the west and Yezbick believes it’s a danger to his residents and other surrounding homeowners.
‘There’s no fencing to this property,? he said. ‘We have children within this area and we’d like to protect them. There’s nothing to protect the children from possibly wandering (onto) this land and endangering them(selves).?
The property in question is currently zoned R-2 and is surrounded by other R-2 properties along with R-1 and RM lands.
According to Yezbick, the land next to his manufactured housing community is being leased and used as a ‘hunting preserve.?
‘They are shooting off shotguns in this area,? he said. ‘They’re using crossbows, and bow and arrow.?
Certain areas of the township are already closed to hunting and the discharge of firearms. Those areas are contained in Section 30-241 of the township’s Code of Ordinances.
Everywhere else in the township not covered by ordinance is governed by state law.
State law places a ‘safety zone? around all occupied dwellings and buildings, meaning it is illegal to hunt or discharge a firearm, bow or crossbow within 150 yards (450 feet) of such structures without the written permission of the owner or occupant.
The last time the township considered extending the boundaries of its hunting/firearm discharge ban was in September 2007, when a resident requested that Section 31 be included.
Section 31 includes properties bordered by W. Drahner Rd. on the north, S. Coats Rd. to the east, Stanton Rd. to the south and Baldwin Rd. to the west.
Following an October 2007 public hearing at which most residents expressed opposition to the proposed ban, township officials voted 7-0 to decline the resident’s request.