OxfordPress.com

Voters in Oxford will go

to the polls on Nov. 6 to decide whether or not to pass an amendment to the city charter.

The proposed legislation will remove the current restriction of three apartments per building.

According to Oxford City Councilman Alan Kyger, the current legislation is forcing property owners to subdivide their lots to put three apartments in each as opposed to leaving the large lot with only three apartments, which is subsequently causing the commercial space to be minimized as well.

For example, a 12,000 square foot lot is being split into four 3,000-square-foot lots, the minimum size allowed by the city. Each 3,000 square foot lot can contain three apartments, while the entire 12,000-square-foot lot can also contain a total of only three apartments.

Kyger said if the charter amendment passes, it "will allow for the best of both worlds," with property owners able to put more apartments into the upper floors and still keep substantial square footage on the first floor, allowing for businesses requiring more space than many Uptown lots can currently sustain.

Right now, the minimum lot size is 3,000 square feet and the maximum is 10,000. Most property owners will subdivide their lots into halves and thirds simply because three apartments on a large lot is not economically sensible.

Kyger said a floor area ratio plan, which was approved by the Planning Commission, will control the density by requiring one square foot of commercial space for every two feet of residential. Another proposed safeguard is a minimum requirement size for apartments and apartment bedrooms, Kyger said.

He and Jean Coakley, former city councilwoman and opponent of the charter amendment, believe the new plan would bring more Miami students to live Uptown.

Both agree that the new apartments would cater mostly to these students, particularly because they are set up for communal living and many probably will not have elevators, Coakley said.

"I can't conceive people other than students would want to live in those circumstances," she said. "I don't think there is any indication because of revenue that they would build studio apartments."

They also agree that the increase in students would bring an increase in cars. Kyger admits there is no good answer yet, but believes the city will work it out. He said a parking advisory committee has already been formed and will look into different options, including off-site parking at Miami's Millett Hall or Ditmer lots or a partnership with McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital to create a parking garage.

Coakley doesn't believe this will work. She predicts students will park as close as they can get and ultimately clog the area with parked cars. Underground parking options for different buildings would be possible, but would increase prices for student housing, she said.

Coakley also said students and the community could be affected by higher taxes if the apartments require new underground pipes for water and sewage.

"When major projects come online, they have to find ways to pay for it," she said.

Coakley believes the plan will cause teardowns and destroy the character of Uptown, and some of the apartments may sit vacant, similar to those at Stewart Square and College Suites.

Kyger dismisses these claims, saying Uptown provides the perfect location for students as they can live near the restaurants and shopping establishments and also be within walking distance of classes.

He also doesn't believe the charter amendment, if passed will promote a lot of teardowns. According to Kyger, the Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission has control over all buildings, and has cited 90 as historic, 40 as defunct and 19 as significant but not historic. Property owners must consult with the HAPC and receive approval before beginning construction.

"It might promote non-significant teardowns, but there's a control there. It's not going to be a free-for-all," Kyger said.

Scott Webb, an architect who has worked on several buildings Uptown, believes the charter amendment is a good thing and will encourage renovations, not tear-downs. He said the plan will benefit both students and property owners, as it will be an ideal place to live and property owners can renovate to put more apartments into old buildings.

Kyger said the increased student population Uptown would help local businesses and may even decrease the commercial rent. He also said the city is nostalgic about old Uptown, but must look ahead to improve it.

"Uptown isn't going to be what it was, but we need to have it be good at what it is," he said. "Uptown is now a student population business district. Why not allow it to be a good one?"