OXFORD – More than 30 Oxford residents filed into the Oxford American Legion on South Washington Ave. on Tuesday as the Oxford town and village planning boards convened for their second joint meeting of the year.
Tuesday’s meeting stems from the idea that both planning boards should work collaboratively to update the Oxford comprehensive plan for the town and the village. According to Oxford officials, the added insight each municipality brings to the table is an invaluable benefit for all Oxford residents.
While the prospect of high volume hydraulic fracturing remains at the forefront for many living in the Oxford area, a well developed comprehensive plan would also focus on other aspects of community and economic development, including agriculture in the town and growth of small business in the village.
The two planning boards propose hiring a private consultant to work with them to develop and implement a viable comprehensive plan. Cost of the project - estimated to range between $10,000 and $20,000 - would be shared between the two municipalities.
Tuesday’s meeting served as a follow-up to a similar meeting held in May, after which Oxford town and village officials communicated with local residents about what should be addressed in an updated joint comprehensive plan. In that time, the village planning board has also contacted five private consulting firms to discuss how each might be able to help in the process.
Although no action was taken Tuesday, the boards did agree to return by mid-November with a list of items they wish to see addressed by an outside consulting firm as the comprehensive planning process moves forward. The challenge, said Oxford Mayor Terry Stark, is agreeing on what each municipality wants.
“Any of (the consultants) will do what we want but we haven’t given them a real good direction,” he said. “We are at a point in the process where we have to ask, what do we want?”
Stark requested that the Town of Oxford Board adopt an official resolution supporting the joint effort and pledging to pay its share of the cost, saying the village “needs commitment” before contracting with any consulting agency.
But according to Wilcox, there is discrepancy between what the town wants and what it can afford. “We haven’t heard any statements negative to the (joint) comprehensive plan,” he said. “But the relative return is still questionable to what we spend ... I want to be able to say to my constituents that this wasn’t money thrown away.”
As it stands, the village has expressed interest in leaning toward a comprehensive planning approach that further develops business and marketing while town residents hope for more focus on farming and gas extraction.
Stark also put forward a proposal that the joint planning boards meet more regularly and designate specific topics to be discussed at each meeting; a community survey be administered over the winter; and that the boards refer to the Chenango County Planning Department whenever possible as a cost saving measure.
The boards agreed to return to the issue again in November.