Since 2017, Oxford has seen a number of single-family dwellings being established in alley lots, but for the next six months, those projects have been put on pause.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Sam Perry, the community development director for Oxford, presented a moratorium that would suspend the building of new developments on alley lots for up to a year while the city evaluates solutions to challenges these lots pose. Perry said these lots provide difficulties because it is hard to get emergency vehicles through alleys, the developments are not clearly visible, and they are not accessible to some public infrastructure.
“Our plan would be to take this time period and look at the various issues by surveying these properties in an efficient way and see what can be done to mitigate those concerns that have been raised,” Perry said.
There are currently 49 lots in Oxford that would be affected by the moratorium.
Jim Clawson, an Oxford resident and a property manager of one of the affected lots, said property managers were not notified in advance of the resolution and that he feels that owners should have the right to do what they want on land they own.
“If you need to build a house, you got to go through all the zoning,” Clawson said. “You got to go through all the particulars to make it happen. Once that has been approved, you should be able to build this home.”
Scott Webb, an architect in Oxford, said he was concerned with the lack of notification to the property owners.
“We have 49 potential development lots that are being affected without representation,” Webb said. “From what I can see, I don’t see the urgency that requires this to happen.”
In addition to the lack of representation, Oxford’s mayor Bill Snavely was concerned that twelve months was “a long time when people have money invested, and they want to build on their property.”
As a result, the moratorium was amended to be six months with the condition that it could be extended if needed. The resolution passed in a vote of 6-1, with Snavely voting against it.
Perry also requested authorization to start planning a permanent public restroom in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Uptown Park. While the idea of a public restroom has floated around the council before, Perry said that action is needed now because the Uptown fountain and splash pad is in need of replacement. In order for it to comply with current codes, a restroom needs to be within close proximity.
While the design of the restroom has not yet been decided, Perry said initial concepts have focused on minimizing the impact on green space in the park, using low-maintenance exterior materials and including public art.
A cost for the restroom has yet to be determined, but the resolution states, “the Oxford Chamber of Commerce, Enjoy Oxford and the City of Oxford have committed funds toward building a public restroom located Uptown.” The resolution passed unanimously.
“I think this is a great idea,” Snavely said. “It’s something we’ve talked about for a long time, and I’m glad we’re moving forward with it.”
