A temporary gravel parking lot in downtown Oxford’s northwest quadrant was reopened for an additional six months by the village Zoning Board of Appeals Monday night.
But ZBA members made it clear they’re losing patience with the Downtown Development Authority, whose lack of action caused the lot to be closed since Jan. 9.
‘How many more times are we going to continue to give them a chance to follow the rules and not do it?? asked ZBA Chairman Jeff Ziegelbaur.
The ZBA unanimously approved the DDA’s continued use of the gravel area as a temporary parking lot through the beginning of August, but not without some stern criticism.
‘The (business) patrons shouldn’t have to go through this,? Ziegelbaur said. ‘They’re going through it because (the DDA) didn’t follow through with what they were supposed to have done.?
‘We wouldn’t do this for a developer,? said ZBA member Joe Bullen. ‘You have to have rules and you have to follow them.?
The village council closed the temporary gravel lot to public use following the Dec. 31 expiration of the ZBA approval granted in July 2007.
No one from the DDA applied for an extension prior to the expiration date due to a mistaken impression that as long as progress was being made on the planned reconstruction of the entire northwest parking lot, there was no need to go back to the ZBA for another approval.
By the time the village council directed the manager to close off the gravel lot, it was too late to get on the ZBA’s January meeting agenda, so the area remained closed until this week.
The DDA is planning to reconstruct and expand the entire northwest parking lot this year.
Along with repaving the existing 77 asphalt spaces, plans call for the addition of approximately 52 spaces by paving over the temporary gravel lot and the vacant land once occupied by a two-story group home demolished in July 2007.
Drainage and ingress/egress issues ? such as the big slope vehicles face entering and exiting the lot from W. Burdick St. ? will also be corrected.
On Jan. 31, the DDA received bids from six firms to do the design and engineering work on the parking lot.
‘We have conditionally accepted one of those bids,? said DDA Executive Director Carolyn Bennett.
The design/engineering work is supposed to be complete by April 1. Once the DDA and village planning commission approve the plans, the construction work can be bid out.
DDA representatives told the ZBA they expect construction to begin in July.
‘The whole lot can be done in a month,? said Dave Weckle, developer and former DDA member.
DDA Chairman Mark Young promised to give the ZBA monthly written updates of how the project’s progressing ‘to show you that we are going to be diligent on this.?