Valley Independent Sentinel

Oxford Residents Question Proposed Zone Change

by Mike Russo | Nov 7, 2009 4:11 pm

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Posted to: Oxford

Residents on East Street, Hillside Terrace, North Street and Wedge Hill Drive are concerned about a potential commercial use encroaching into their neighborhood.

Belmar Farms, LLC and Salton Enterprises are looking to rezone a two lot, 14-acre property on Route 67.

The lots stretch from Route 67 up toward Wedge Hill Drive. The Route 67 side of the property abuts a commercial zone and is zoned for commercial use.

The portion of the property near Wedge Hill Drive abuts a residential and is zoned for residential use.

However, Belmar Farms and Salton Enterprises want a zoning change that would make the entire parcel commercial.

The Route 67 end of the property is expected to be the future home of a four-building medical complex and childcare center.

The rear of the property, closer to Wedge Hill Drive, could be the future home of the Oxford Public Library.

No site plans for either project have been submitted to the town’s land use boards — and won’t be unless the Planning and Zoning Commission approves the zone change.

About 50 residents attended a public hearing Thursday in front of the commission to make their views known.

Resident Joanne Harriet of East Street she had just moved to town two weeks ago hoping for some peace and quiet.

“If I knew this was going to happen I may have not bought that house,” Harriet said.

Wedge Hill Road resident Daniel Wall, whose house abuts the property, said he could “reasonably” expect development along Route 67, but did not expect the commercial use to show up next to his yard.

“This rule change is going to change our lives,” he said.

Dr. Anthony D’Souza, a cardiologist, is the principal investor in Salton Enterprises.

D’Souza has offered to donate 5 acres of the rear portion of the land for a library. The current Oxford Public Library is woefully undersized and old, having been in the same spot for decades.

The medical complex is positive economic development for Oxford, Herman Schuler, the town’s economic development director, has said.

Wall asked the commission to continue the public hearing on the zone change.

The commission continued the public hearing until Dec. 3.

In the meantime, Schuler said he would set up a meeting between the developer’s engineer and residents in order to assuage their concerns.

By that time, a newly formed Planning and Zoning Commission — those elected Nov. 3 — will tackle the zoning change.

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