Oxford Township officials May 25 settled the landscaping, lighting and fencing issues surrounding the proposed water treatment plant to be located on Queens Drive in the Oxford Woods subdivision.
The board voted to place ‘angled wrought iron fencing? topped with points, similar to that used cemeteries, around the facility property.
Along the back of the property, the fence will be 8 feet high and along the front, it will be 6 feet high.
The sides of the fence will be ‘transitional,? according to township engineer Shannon Parry, of Rowe, Inc., meaning the third toward the back of the property will be 8 feet high and the remaining two-thirds toward the front will be 6 feet high.
From the front view, the fence points will appear to be aimed straight-up, however, the side view reveals they are angled outward, away from the property, Parry said. The fence’s angling and points are for security purposes and are designed to deter or slow the climbing of it by potential intruders.
As for the security lighting, Parry described it as ‘standard commercial lighting? and the same type used to illuminate the Red Barn water tower site.
The lights are angled downward so the illumination will not extend off the property and shine in the windows of nearby houses. The lights will only illuminate the property, Parry said.
Regarding the site’s landscaping, officials approved an option, which Parry described as having ‘minimal? landscaping, ‘no shrubs,? and using all deciduous trees.
‘Discussion at the meeting included limiting the amount of additional landscaping in order to reduce the maintenance issue,? Parry said. ‘Any trees that do get added will be non-fruit bearing and the quantity will be based on the (decision of the) township (Zoning Board of Appeals).?
Oxford Woods resident Lee Prain called the township board’s decisions on these issues a ‘good compromise? between what the township wanted and what subdivision residents wanted, ‘if it all goes through the Zoning Board (of Appeals) the way it was presented at the meeting.?
Many Oxford Woods residents were very upset with some of the aesthetic and security features the township originally proposed for the facility, particularly the 8-foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire. Residents were concerned the originally proposed features would lower property values in the area and constitute an eyesore.
Prain said the approved wrought iron fencing is ‘decorative? and ‘not penitentiary-looking? like the original fence proposal. Although he initially opposed putting any fencing around the treatment facility, Prain said he’s since ‘learned? that one must be in place for security purposes.
When constructed, the water treatment plant will be the township’s first such facility. It’s purpose will be to reduce the arsenic and iron levels in the municipal water supply.