Oxford Village voters will trek to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 5 to either grant or deny permission to sell a portion of S. Mill St.
The single-issue special election centers on a 3,555-square-foot (or 0.08-acre) stretch of S. Mill St. located between 32 and 36 E. Burdick St., properties owned by the Oxford Community Development Authority (OCDA).
The street portion in question measures 79 feet long and 45 feet wide, fronts E. Burdick St. and extends to the north/south split line of 32 and 36 E. Burdick St.
If approved, that portion of S. Mill St. will be vacated by the village and the land added to the two adjacent OCDA-owned properties.
Enlarging the lot sizes of the two OCDA-owned properties will give them “better redevelopment potential” and possibly allow them to be developed as a single large piece of property, according to officials. The OCDA plants to sell its parcels for commercial development.
Village officials plan to move S. Mill St. to the east and reroute it through 38 E. Burdick St., another OCDA-owned property. The home and barn presently located on that property would have to removed.
OCDA Chairperson Sue Bossardet said the main reason for the proposed street move is to increase pedestrian safety by eliminating the hazard posed by the current design. S. Mill St. presently runs through the southeast downtown parking quadrant, dividing it into western and eastern portions, the latter of which is being used as a temporary lot.
The OCDA concept plan for the southeast quadrant’s expansion and improvement (approved by council June 24) calls for moving the street to the east so it no longer divides the parking lot.
“In good conscience, I couldn’t agree with placing a street through the middle of a parking lot. It doesn’t make sense,” Bossardet said. “You can’t have a street running through a parking lot and not create a dangerous situation.” She said the village planning commission and council agreed that leaving S. Mill St. where it is would pose a safety hazard to pedestrians walking through the parking lot.
This plan to move S. Mill St. doesn’t sit well with Sam and Sandy Troutwine, who have lived at 42 E. Burdick St. for the past 23 years.
The Troutwines oppose replacing the residential property next door to them with a busy street.
“It’s not just an issue of moving a street, it affects people, us especially,” Sandy said.
The couple says such a move will increase their home’s “external obsolescence” thereby decreasing its market value. Relocating S. Mill St. will also diminish the couple’s privacy, given their outdoor deck faces 38 E. Burdick St, according to Sam and Sandy.
The village has offered to plant a row of “arborvitae” shrubs between the Troutwines’ property and the relocated street to help alleviate potential privacy problems, but the couple says it won’t eliminate them.
“Regardless of who wins or loses,” Sam is asking voters to become informed before they cast their ballots. “I just want everyone to understand what issue they’re voting on and that what’s happening to me, could happen to them,” he said. “Don’t go out and vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ unless you know what you’re voting on.”
Registered village voters can cast their ballots at the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center (28 N. Washington St.) from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5.