2008 Woodie Awards
Council approves land annexation
Property could include bike path, single-family housing complex
Rebecca Kelley
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Community
Oxford City Council expanded the city limits at its meeting March 18 with the annexation of 55 acres.
"We did the final piece of legislation accepting that property," said Oxford Mayor Prue Dana.
The property, owned by Harry and Annabelle Paulin, sits between Fairfield and Contreras roads.
According to City Councilor Doug Ross, the approval of this annexation was unique because of the lack of opposition.
"It was free of animosity," Ross said.
According to Dana, the addition of this property benefits both the Paulins and the city of Oxford as a whole, since the annexation allows the city to bring water and sewer lines up to the property edge. According to Dana, this allows the Paulins to pay for the extension of the lines through their property.
The city also benefits from the annexation because, according to Dana, the Paulins agreed that there would be a road built through the property that will include a bike path and a pedestrian walkway.
According to Ross, this bike and pedestrian trail is a part of a pathway that will eventually extend around the entire city.
"Part of (the trail) will be an essential cog of the bike trail that will go around town," Ross said.
This path will also connect Fairfield and Contreras roads, as there is currently nothing connecting the two roads, according to Dana.
"Their agreement to put in this road helps the city connectivity," Dana said.
According to Tim Myers, agent from Coldwell Banker College Real Estate for Harry and Annabelle Paulin, the land will also be developed into a single-family housing development. Myers said that the zoning has not currently been decided, but that they have signed the agreement with the city of Oxford.
According to Myers, the land can be developed as a subdivision, or as a planned unit development allowing for condominiums and attached houses.
"There is a lot of flexibility that zoning will allow us to do," Myers said.
Myers, who is overseeing the development, said that after the zoning plan is approved, they will then move forward with a preliminary plan for the layout of the development, which has to be presented to and approved by the city.
According to Myers, if everything is approved on schedule, the developers hope to break ground this year and begin building homes in spring of 2009.
Dana hopes that the current momentum of the annexation and development process continues.
"They need to develop this in a timely manner," Dana said. "Not let it sit out there for five years."
"We did the final piece of legislation accepting that property," said Oxford Mayor Prue Dana.
The property, owned by Harry and Annabelle Paulin, sits between Fairfield and Contreras roads.
According to City Councilor Doug Ross, the approval of this annexation was unique because of the lack of opposition.
"It was free of animosity," Ross said.
According to Dana, the addition of this property benefits both the Paulins and the city of Oxford as a whole, since the annexation allows the city to bring water and sewer lines up to the property edge. According to Dana, this allows the Paulins to pay for the extension of the lines through their property.
The city also benefits from the annexation because, according to Dana, the Paulins agreed that there would be a road built through the property that will include a bike path and a pedestrian walkway.
According to Ross, this bike and pedestrian trail is a part of a pathway that will eventually extend around the entire city.
"Part of (the trail) will be an essential cog of the bike trail that will go around town," Ross said.
This path will also connect Fairfield and Contreras roads, as there is currently nothing connecting the two roads, according to Dana.
"Their agreement to put in this road helps the city connectivity," Dana said.
According to Tim Myers, agent from Coldwell Banker College Real Estate for Harry and Annabelle Paulin, the land will also be developed into a single-family housing development. Myers said that the zoning has not currently been decided, but that they have signed the agreement with the city of Oxford.
According to Myers, the land can be developed as a subdivision, or as a planned unit development allowing for condominiums and attached houses.
"There is a lot of flexibility that zoning will allow us to do," Myers said.
Myers, who is overseeing the development, said that after the zoning plan is approved, they will then move forward with a preliminary plan for the layout of the development, which has to be presented to and approved by the city.
According to Myers, if everything is approved on schedule, the developers hope to break ground this year and begin building homes in spring of 2009.
Dana hopes that the current momentum of the annexation and development process continues.
"They need to develop this in a timely manner," Dana said. "Not let it sit out there for five years."
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