Involved residents improve the area
Published 6:00 am Sunday, September 27, 2015
The city of Oxford’s comprehensive planning document was released a couple weeks ago and has been online and hard copies have been available to view around town.
If you haven’t had a chance to view the Vision 2037 Oxford Bicentennial Comprehensive City Plan and still want to, now is the time to do it.
The city’s leaders want input from residents before moving forward. Leaders have emphasized that the plan is a working document and there are still tweaks to be made, especially if residents catch something.
The plan is not altering land use or creating more zoning and telling people what to do with their land. Rather, it is a guide to best manage Oxford’s rampant growth. It’s a plan to build smarter and determine how use the land that’s still available in the most relevant ways.
Leaders want Oxford to keep its charm and remain the city everyone wants to be in. Doing things like preserving historic buildings, providing a framework for future developments and creating a design for buildings, landscapes and streets along major corridors like University and Jackson avenues is what’s at stake in the comprehensive plan.
To accommodate all residents, including students at the University of Mississippi, a goal with the plan also is to establish a densely connected network of streets and roads for both the motorist and walker.
Need to take a break and sit on a bench in a park on that walk? This plan will make sure there is ample green space and the city doesn’t turn into urban sprawl.
Now is the time to let your voice be heard. The city has three opportunities Tuesday for residents to view the plan and share their thoughts. The first is before the Oxford Planning Commission at 3 p.m. in the City Hall courtroom. The second is before the mayor and Board of Aldermen at 5:30 p.m. at the Oxford Conference Center. The third, for those who can’t make the meetings to give feedback in person, is to view the document online and email or call with thoughts. Visit http://www.oxfordms.net/news-feed/item/vision-2037-draft.
Officials will hand out comment cards at the meeting at the conference center also for those who don’t want to stand up in the crowd.
Weigh in and be involved in planning for your Oxford.