The city of Oxford has taken another step forward in the development of an updated comprehensive plan for the city's future direction, addressing current needs and preparing for potential areas of concern.

The plan, called "Oxford Tomorrow: A Vision for the Future" was developed in March by the city of Oxford's department of community development.

City council is currently in the process of selecting a consulting firm to aid in the process of creating an updated city plan to address economic development, transportation and housing.

An initial interview of potential consulting firms was held April 2 at the Oxford Courthouse for members of the community.

Oxford City Planner Kathryn Dale and Community Development Director Jung-Han Chen presented two of the four remaining potential consulting firms, RW Armstrong and McBride Dale Clarion, to the planning commission. The two other firms, ACP Consulting and LSL Planning, will be interviewed April 10.

Dale explained that her team had three weeks, beginning in March, to read over 11 proposed comprehensive plans from various consulting firms. The 11 were then narrowed down to four March 23, after hours of reviewing the top choices.

The common thread of each plan is to reevaluate the goals and values of Oxford as a community, assess the needs of the community, and effectively create a plan to guide Oxford in the upcoming years.

Monday's forum was the first time the firms and the planning commission came together.

Kathryn Dale said her committee's goal in setting up the interviews was to allow the possible candidates to be known by the planning commission.

"(The forum was) the first chance for the planning commission to meet with the consulting firms," Dale said. "From a staff point of view, we are trying to facilitate the best possible candidates for the project. They need to know the type of candidates and the type of work they hope to project."

According to Planning Commission Chairman Paul Brady, this meeting is just the beginning of the plan.

"This is the very start of the process," Brady said. "We are interviewing for consulting firms to handle the review of an update of our present plan. Over the years we have implemented sections of our plan, yet in some circumstances things have moved beyond us."

Vice Mayor Prue Dana said portions of the current comprehensive plan, last updated in 1998, have become outdated.

"A lot remains the same," Dana said. "But there are new things to review."

Economic development, transportation and housing will be key items in the discussion of the updated comprehensive plan, Dale said.

Dana also pointed out that population density objectives, specifically the concentration of developments in the Mile Square, may have changed since 1998. While in 1998, the goal was to reduce density in uptown Oxford, Dana suggested this goal may have changed over the years.

"Density near the university is where it ought to be," she said.

Dana also said that areas like Stewart Square and the old Wal-Mart site will be part of future discussions in the creation of new developments that would be geared toward student interests.

"We need to look at these sites as good places for students," Dana said.

As the comprehensive plan continues to progress, Dale stressed the importance of community participation and suggestion.

"We really want to see public involvement," Dale said. "It's important that whoever we hire (to create the plan) actively involves the public."

Oxford resident Becky Hambach hopes community suggestions will be taken into account.

"I've heard talk about possibly putting in a bike path," Hambach said. "I think that's a wonderful idea."

Steven Elliott, Miami University associate professor of economics and an Oxford resident, also supports the comprehensive plan update.

"As a resident, I think it is important to have a broader vision of where we see the town going and what we want the future to look like," Elliott said. "As an economist, planning is always good. It ensures that we aren't making a decision today that won't be effective in the future."

Brady expressed his concern over student apathy and the lack of student involvement in community affairs, despite the effects of the comprehensive plan on Miami University.

"Most students are here to obtain an education an get on with their lives," Brady said.

Miami sophomore Jason Young, an economics and geography major, voiced a similar opinion on student apathy.

"University is not just about getting a degree and education," Young said. "It's about getting a sense of civic duty and community as well."

Dana said she hopes all residents of Oxford will actively provide input into the comprehensive plan update.

"This is a big issue for the public," Dana said.

The next series of interviews to take place are at 6:30 p.m. April 10 at the Oxford Courthouse. Like the first meeting, this venue is open to the public but will not include a public commentary session.

In the next meeting, Brady said he hopes to get closer to his current aim for Oxford's comprehensive plan.

"We hope to gain a consensus of where we are going and what we need to go to get there," Brady said.

Based on the interviews, the planning commission will make a recommendation to the city at the meeting scheduled for May 8, Dale said. As soon as this decision is made, the comprehensive plan will enter its developmental stages, as dictated by the chosen consulting firm.