Oxford planning commission approves rezoning of 5234 Hester Road to allow higher-density housing

The Oxford Planning Commission voted to approve a recommendation to rezone 5234 Hester Road from R1B (single-family medium density) to R2A (single- and two-family) after a public hearing and discussion on traffic, long-term ownership and the proposed type of housing.

Planning staff said the 2.1-acre property, owned by the City of Oxford, was acquired with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and previously was considered for a 12-unit cottage community. "The city had acquired this property with ARPA funds," Mr. Moore, a city planning staff member presenting the request, told the commission. He said the rezoning would permit higher density and that a planned development could increase the site's potential from 13 units (under the existing zoning allowance used in the prior cottage-community concept) to roughly 26 units if pursued as a planned development.

The change is intended to better align the parcel with several housing goals in the comprehensive plan and the Housing Needs Assessment. Mr. Moore cited portions of the comprehensive plan that encourage "leveraging land and other tangible assets to address housing supply gaps" and noted the 2020 housing needs assessment identified an estimated need for about 323…