Lawyers for the town and the homeowner who appealed a recent zone change on Route 67 don’t appear ready to back down.
Lawyers representing each side this week filed paperwork at Superior Court in Milford — starting the long court process that could determine the fate of a proposed medical complex and the town’s new library.
Background
In January, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to change the zoning on a 20-acre lot along Route 67 from residential to commercial.
The change allows Salton Enterprises Inc. and Belmar Farms LLC to develop a four-building medical complex on the property. As part of the proposal, about five acres of the land will eventually be donated to the town to build a new library.
But in February, Wall appealed the decision, saying it conflicted with the town’s comprehensive plan — a document that provides guidelines for town land use.
Wall lives on the property next to the proposed medical complex, on Wedge Hill Drive.
Arguments
Wall’s attorney, Gregory Cava of Roxbury, called the zone change “spot zoning.”
“The commission was in the wrong approving this,” Cava said. “You can’t create a new zone within another one.”
But town officials argued that the zone change made sense and complied with the comprehensive plan.
First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers supported the zone change, saying the town had extended the sewer hookup to the area, and the medical complex would address resident needs.
Oxford’s attorney, Fran Teodosio, said Thursday, the town was preparing its defense.
“The decision falls within the rights of the commission allowed by the zoning regulations,” Teodosio said.
The case is still in its early stages and is not expected to reach the courtroom for sometime.
Library Project
Meanwhile, the Library Building and Planning Committee is moving ahead with its options for a new library — despite uncertainty about the land on Route 67.
George Mitchell, chairman of the Library Planning and Building Committee, said the site on Route 67 would be ideal because of its familiar location to residents and “picturesque” pond on the property.
But, Mitchell said, the Route 67 site is only one of three locations the committee is considering for the new library.
“Right now it is all up in the air so we cannot really say where the library is going to be yet,” he said.
The committee is evaluating architects to create plans for a new building and expects to present its findings in six months.
It’s not clear if the conflict over the Route 67 property will be handled by then.
“This is going to be a long process,” Cava said. “A very long process.”
The next filing deadline in the case is June 6.
Who said we will ever have a library there? we need new schools first. The library can be locate in the old center school when that is replaced.
If MR wall’s lawsuit fails the town would be foolish to accept any commercial property in that area because the taxes generated from the site after it is developed far outweigh town ownership.
Do you have any idea what you are even talking about? One minute you are complaining about the cost of a Metal Roof and Solar Panels to help fix a school and extend its useful life, now you are talking about building new schools at a huge cost…make up your mind, are you a Conservative or Liberal!
Now on to your education…Commercial tax revenue lowers the tax revenue needed from homeowners, like you and I, this is why it is important. Additionally, residents young and old need valuable medical services, so if Medical buildings are going to be built, that is a win for the Community!
Have you seen the mock-up drawings? Probably not, so you don’t realize how much this development is going to help beautify the area.
Finally, if you are going to submit a post and try to make a point that is understandable, check your spelling, your grammar, and look for inconsistencies in your posting if you want people to take you seriously.
Oxford is a great place to live, that is why people like me have moved here from other communities and that is why it is the fastest growing town in the State of CT. If you no longer like Oxford and what it’s becoming, I suggest you think about moving elsewhere because if progress is stopped, the taxes residents complain about so often will no longer be affordable and that is exactly the reason why Commercial tax revenue is so important!
In response to OxfordResident and this article in general, the commercial tax revenues are not going to lower or avoid higher taxes for the residents in this case. Add in the fact that additional resources that range from increased traffic congestion, law enforcement, and all the forgotten town services required to make all this happen will most likely cost the town money for some time to come. Realistically, are you that far away from medical services in Oxford? In my case I do know what I am talking about. Gather your facts and do some simple math and then you can post here and poke at someones grammar, spelling and concerns. Perhaps if your home was adjacent to this you may have a different point of view. Also, do you honestly believe that a four building medical complex is going to beautify any area other than abandoned buildings or slums?
Johnny,
Will this commercial development pay taxes? … YES
Will the town be required to hire additional Police because of some Medical Buildings? … NO (and if you think so, please explain why)
Will the town’s Public Works Dept have to plow during the winter? … NO, it’s a private business.
Will a turn signal have to be installed on Rte 67? … MAYBE, but it’s a state road, so if one needs to be installed, the state will have to pay for it.
I do believe it will beautify the area and your argument of “we can go somewhere else for these same services” is an old argument. If you and others keep thinking this way, then the much needed Commercial tax base WILL go elsewhere and the PERSONAL property taxes of each one of us will get higher and higher because of the lack of COMMERCIAL tax revenue. Commercial tax revenue is extremely important in helping the residents of Oxford pay lower taxes.
Who knows what their tax bill is going to be, but IF they paid $100,000/year in taxes, then that is $100,000/year LESS that the residents of Oxford will have to pay or that $100,000 can pay for that extra Police Officer you somehow think will be needed for a Medical Complex.
If the developer had not asked for a zone change they would be building by now because their project fit in the commercial zone.
Now that the entire property is considered commercial it will generate more revenue for the town. The town should not accept any land donations from that site other than what is required by the zoning regulations.
One thing about this I have never understood, the commercial development portion of the project didn’t need the zone change, it fit within the existing zone. The change was for the library but that’s municipal use and doesn’t need a commercial zone to be built, so why are we going through with this? Who is paying the attorney fees for the appeal?
we are If the developer gets their zone change it makes the property worth more money, then when and if they donate that portion to the town I’m not sure but it may be a bigger tax write off. At any rate if the town accepts it that will be commercial land at that point taxed at commercial value. That is why I would like the town to decline the donation and not remove that parcel from the grand list.
#2 Seymour library is one mile away and is free to use for all Oxford residents.
The best place for the library is by the schools central to all parts of town.
But we will need schools first they will be the next buildings built not a library.
Remember they are only donating land not a library building. we have lots of undeveloped land already that we get no tax revenue from.
Eyes open, Golfer, johnnylmayo: you folks are right on. For oxfordresident:
1) You want people to move out of town if they disagree with your liberal’s thinking. You think you know what is best for everyone.
2) For you people can only be conservative or liberal. Both sides can have good ideas that we can draw from. You have a narrow mind.
3) You condemn people who make mistakes with grammar. You are the one who needs to check your grammar before you criticize somebody else. You are incorrect to use all capital letters in a word. Take your own medicine, and check your grammar but still you will not be taken seriously.