Town officials and consultants from BFJ Planning, hired to create an incentive housing zone, boarded a bus and checked out nine properties in town Wednesday.
The properties included:
1. Central Park: Described in a letter from the Turner Miller Group (the town’s planning consultants) as a site previously approved for 55 plus housing. Recent application for 8 – 30g (affordable housing) was approved with conditions, under appeal (a.k.a lawsuit to fight Oxford’s decision).
2. Glendale: Approved for 55 plus housing, with little development occurring.
3. Garden Homes: 8 – 30g application for manufactured housing community; denied by PZC (Planning and Zoning Commission) and appealed, with appeal conditions upheld by court.
4. Kerski: Approved for development as 55 plus with assisted living in 2004. Later rezoned to residential golf course community as part of Oxford Greens, but deal to purchase to include within Oxford Greens not completed.
5. Oxford Greens: Age-restricted development with golf course originally approved in 1999, expansion approved in 2006.
6. Durkin: Rezoned to residential golf course community as part of Oxford Greens but status uncertain.
7. Route 67 north: One of two retail districts in Oxford, includes large quarry which may be suitable for development.
8. Route 67 south: Other retail district in Oxford, includes some vacant properties and those potentially suitable for redevelopment within area or in close proximity.
9. Perkins: Large vacant property with potential access to utilities due to utility extension to serve Oxford High School.
Why These Locations?
Oxford is considering creating an incentive housing zone, a type of zone that could, potentially, give the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission greater control over high density development and help guide where affordable housing is placed in town.
A chief question — where would such an overlay zone go?
It’s very early in the process. A public forum on incentive housing zones is scheduled for March 8, 7 p.m. at Oxford Town Hall.
Affordable housing and incentive housing zones are among the most politically-charged topics in Oxford. Click here for the Democratic position on the issue. Click here to read what Keep Oxford Green thinks.
It was difficult to get a concise answer Wednesday from town officials as to why these specific sites were toured.
The idea was to get a feel for Oxford, look at large developments that seem to work well, such as Oxford Greens, and potential problem properties — such as the Central Park property, according to Bill Johnson, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission..
“We’re looking, but we are not pre-determining anything. Just because we went somewhere, doesn’t mean it’s going to be chosen (as the overlay zone),” Johnson said. “That’s why we’re paying the consultants. We’re presenting the bare facts and getting advice from the professionals.”
Those on the tour included First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers, two members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, economic development director Herman Schuler, the town’s wetland enforcement officer, the town’s zoning enforcement officer, the First Selectwoman’s administrative assistant, along with representatives from the Turner Miller Group and BFJ Planning.
