A new zoning classification for properties along S. Washington St. will be one of the main subjects at a public hearing before the Oxford Village Planning Commission 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Dubbed ‘Commercial Office? (CO), the proposed zoning would allow for various retail and office service uses in the South Washington Corridor, but prohibit any and all drive-through businesses.
‘We didn’t want to have drive-through traffic in that corridor because of the traffic congestion already,? said village Manager Joe Young.
The new zoning would encompass properties along the east side of S. Washington St. between Ensley St. and the Oxford Marketplace. The shopping center would remain zoned General Business District (C-2).
On the west side, the district would begin just north of Ensley St. and extend just south of Lincoln St. to include the Oxford Veterinary Hospital.
The Sunoco gas station would not be included. It would remain zoned General Business District.
All of the properties within the proposed CO District are currently zoned either General Business District (which does permit drive-throughs) or Office Service (OS) District (which does not permit retail establishments).
Permitted principal uses in the new CO District include office buildings, medical and dental clinics or offices, government offices, business schools and colleges, vocational training centers, churches and other religious buildings/facilities, community buildings (such as libraries and museums), funeral homes and retail establishments.
Banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, similar financial institutions, restaurants, taverns and bars/lounges are all allowed as long as they have no drive-through facilities.
According to the proposed text, the purpose of the new Commercial Office District is to ‘encourage? businesses to adapt, re-use and renovate ‘the existing buildings and homes? along S. Washington St.
In this way, the new zoning classification aims to ‘provide a feasible alternative to strip commercial developments along Washington Street? and ‘maintain the desirable traditional character of the existing structures.?
The new zoning classification is also designed ‘to ensure Washington Street’s viability? by permitting ‘expanded commercial and retail uses,? particularly among the properties currently zoned Office Service.
In addition to the new Commercial Office District, the public hearing will also address, among other things, expansion of downtown’s Central Business District (C-1), the rezoning of 55 and 60 E. Burdick from R-1 Single Family Residential to RM-1 Multiple Family and the rezoning of three light industrial properties as RM-1 Multiple Family.
The industrial properties include Auto-Matic Press Products (402 N. Glaspie St.), Industrial Machine Products (18-45 Louck St.) and some parcels south of BarronCast (411 N. Oxford Rd.).