2008 Woodie Awards
City holds forum for Comprehensive Plan
Rebecca Kelley
Issue date: 3/11/08 Section: Front Page
Oxford's Comprehensive Plan moved one step closer to realization Monday evening when residents were asked to provide input in a public forum.
The Comprehensive Plan is the foundation for the overall direction of the city and was last updated in 1998. The meeting was led by ACP Visioning and Planning, Ltd., which, according to Oxford Mayor Prue Dana, was the company that was used to form the last Comprehensive Plan.
Dana said she believes ACP has played an integral and objective part in the process of creating both the past and current comprehensive plans.
"They are directing the process, without asserting their opinion," Dana said. "They are bringing our opinions out."
At the meeting, the community was asked to review and comment on the draft of the new Comprehensive Plan, the principle for land use in Oxford and the overall goals of the project.
The community was then invited to review the conceptual land use map in approximately 10 small groups, each guided by a moderator with knowledge and authority in the Comprehensive Plan process.
Some of the main issues discussed during the meeting were the preservation of the green space around Oxford and the development of U.S. Route 27. The Tollgate Center and the stretch of U.S. Route 27 around the Wal-mart Supercenter are considered to be weak areas of the city according to the public opinion gathered at the last community input meeting in November, because of their poor appearance and vacant buildings.
A common concern regarding the plan was the location of the residential and industrial development of the city. Oxford City councilor Greig Rutherford said he thought the map did not show what areas would be developed first, and where the infill of development would occur. According to Rutherford, this is where vacant residential houses are filled and unused areas are developed.
"The map does not define infill well at all," Rutherford said.
Other issues brought up at the meeting were the preservation of the town's character and the overall density of the residential area.
The Comprehensive Plan is the foundation for the overall direction of the city and was last updated in 1998. The meeting was led by ACP Visioning and Planning, Ltd., which, according to Oxford Mayor Prue Dana, was the company that was used to form the last Comprehensive Plan.
Dana said she believes ACP has played an integral and objective part in the process of creating both the past and current comprehensive plans.
"They are directing the process, without asserting their opinion," Dana said. "They are bringing our opinions out."
At the meeting, the community was asked to review and comment on the draft of the new Comprehensive Plan, the principle for land use in Oxford and the overall goals of the project.
The community was then invited to review the conceptual land use map in approximately 10 small groups, each guided by a moderator with knowledge and authority in the Comprehensive Plan process.
Some of the main issues discussed during the meeting were the preservation of the green space around Oxford and the development of U.S. Route 27. The Tollgate Center and the stretch of U.S. Route 27 around the Wal-mart Supercenter are considered to be weak areas of the city according to the public opinion gathered at the last community input meeting in November, because of their poor appearance and vacant buildings.
A common concern regarding the plan was the location of the residential and industrial development of the city. Oxford City councilor Greig Rutherford said he thought the map did not show what areas would be developed first, and where the infill of development would occur. According to Rutherford, this is where vacant residential houses are filled and unused areas are developed.
"The map does not define infill well at all," Rutherford said.
Other issues brought up at the meeting were the preservation of the town's character and the overall density of the residential area.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
City Resident
posted 3/11/08 @ 10:06 AM EST
Lets hope that the City of Oxford will hear the citizens. We don't need any more apartment buildings in the City! Lets figure out what to do with the housing stock that is existing. (Continued…)
Another City Resident
posted 3/18/08 @ 10:26 AM EST
Housing stock like anything else ages, and consumer demands change as well. Market forces now are behind apartment complexes with better amenities. Oxford should let the market determine housing options for both students and year round residents. (Continued…)
OxfordGuy56
posted 3/24/08 @ 7:57 PM EST
This debate is just plain tired. Oxford needs to create new jobs before they think about greenlighting more more more more obnoxious apartments. We should focus on making High Street beautiful and use the outlying land to attract businesses to our city. (Continued…)
GardenLady
posted 3/24/08 @ 8:04 PM EST
Can you say, "waste of time." The Oxford counsel listens to nobody but themselves. All they want is to transform our wonderful town into a city ringed by apartments and pollute our schools. (Continued…)
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