The Oxford City Council passed a resolution to begin development of electric vehicle charging stations at two locations in Oxford at its April 1 meeting.
Six new charging stations will be constructed. Four will be located at the Uptown parking lot, adjacent to the Oxford Memorial Park. The charging stations will be in the northeast corner of the lot to protect vehicle owners. The other two charging stations will be placed at the Oxford Municipal Building on College Avenue.
The over $900,000 project is part of sustainability efforts by the council and is funded through grants from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
“For the sustainability benefits of supporting the transition to electric vehicles, this is just essential to that,” Councillor David Prytherch said.
Councillor Prytherch, who drives an electric vehicle, said he believes there is a great economic benefit to having additional chargers for public use.
“The fast charging is how people who are driving long distances – that’s what they need,” Councillor Prytherch said. “Currently, we have none of it in the City of Oxford”
Though the area has public charging stations, most current electric vehicle chargers in the city are located on Miami University’s campus, such as at the Marcum Hotel and Conference Center and the Chestnut parking lot. The Uptown parking garage and McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital both also have charging stations.
In passing the resolution, the council believes electric vehicle drivers now have a reason to stop in Oxford. Those who stop to charge their car will benefit the economy of the city by eating, shopping or visiting other local establishments.
“We will get people who will stop in Oxford on their way,” Mayor William Snavely said. “It’s a really good win for the city.”
Some concern was raised about whether the Uptown parking lot is a good location. If a new building would be erected on the site such as a new courthouse or jail, the charging stations would have to be entirely rebuilt somewhere else.
Mayor Snavely said he believes it’s a non-issue. The lot is a hub for activity is Oxford and hosts the Oxford Farmers Markets every Saturday morning. Other events, such as the upcoming Bee Festival, are also set up in the lot.
“It’s surface parking that’s used for every event that comes along,” Mayor Snavely said. “I don’t foresee it being developed anytime soon.”
The city funds don’t support a new building at this time, and according to service director Michael Dreisbach, the lot is too small to be developed into a building of that size.
“The economics just don’t work,” Dreisbach said. “The site is too small to accommodate that.”
The matter of location was not passed as part of the resolution. Further conversation will continue on if the Uptown parking lot is the best location for four of the chargers.
