Residents air concerns over parking garage plan

OXFORD » Residents packed the town hall earlier this week to voice concerns on a proposed parking garage in downtown Oxford. About a dozen people chose to speak, giving their thoughts that ranged from positive to negative.

Later in the council meeting, there was an opportunity to speak again before council voted to condemn a strip of parking lot belonging to Oxford Family Eye Care for a public easement for an entry lane for a SCCOOT bus layover spot to be included in the parking garage project.

The property in question totals 1.432 square feet. It does not impact the building and it would not change the ownership of the land, but the easement created by the taking would eliminate one parking space for the business to assure an access path for the short buses.

Oxford Family Eye Care is likely to be the business most impacted by parking garage construction because of their location. The plan includes making Second Street one-way to allow for the creation of 14 on-street parking spaces during the construction phase.

“We are not taking the land itself. The public will have a right to drive over it. On the ground it will look no different other than losing this one parking space,” Borough Solicitor Stacey Fuller said. She added that the next step in the process is determining the financial compensation that will be

paid to the property owners for the easement. “We just need to move this forward at this point because we haven’t made progress in discussions with their attorney.”

When it came to a vote on the condemnation, a divided council approved the measure by a four to three vote, with Robert Ketcham, Peggy Ann Russell, and Amanda Birdwell opposed. Council President Susan Lombardi, and Phillip Hurtt voted for the action as well as Ron Hershey

and John Thompson, who attended the meeting and voted via conference call.

This is not the first condemnation in connection with the project, but Russell views this one differently. “It’s a justice issue,” she said. “I think the other condemnations were about driveways and where to put a building. This is about where to put a SCCOOT bus.”

Birdwell had supported other condemnations, but now expressed concerns about personal rights. “This speaks to why my vote has changed. I wish I had voted differently in the past,” she said. “I don’t think it’s government’s role

to take it (property) away.”

For council members who supported the condemnation, it is seen as a step toward a bigger goal. “It’s an important pieced of the whole puzzle,” Hershey said. “I regret that progress will also cause some hardships.”

Ketcham has been vocal in his opposition to the project, citing businesses that may be hurt by the reduced parking during the garage construction. He has suggested changing the site to the corner of Broad and Third streets. “We can build it in a different location that will not hurt as many businesses,” he said.

All board members voted

in favor of a 30-day extension of the bid contracts for the construction of the garage, pushing back the latest date for a decision to Oct. 24. The delay will give council time to learn if they have been approved for an additional grant that would reduce their share of the cost of the project.

The division on council concerning the garage, and in particular Ketcham’s letters to the editor in local newspapers concern Lombardi. “There are seven of us and we do not all feel the same way,” she said. “As a council we passed it. Like it or not, we passed it.

This council needs to start to work together toward the end of making something happen for this community. I am pleading with my council members that we act together.”

Council was unanimous in another vote that confirmed the hiring of Sam Iacona as the next Oxford Borough Police Chief, beginning Sept. 10 at a starting salary of $105,000. Iacona, an East Nottingham Township resident, is currently a lieutenant with the West Chester Police Department.

Swearing in and a reception for Iacona will be held Monday, Sept. 10.