Planning Commission approves rezoning and plan to convert vacant nursing home into 55+ apartments

The Oxford Planning Commission voted unanimously on June 10 to recommend changing zoning for the Dudley property on Fairfield Road from R2A (single- and two-family residential) to R3 and to approve a combined preliminary and final plan development that would adaptively reuse the vacant former nursing home as primarily one‑bedroom apartments targeted to residents aged 55 and older.

The proposal, presented by architect Scott Webb on behalf of owners Terry and Kathy Dudley and summarized by city staff, would reuse the existing roughly 2.7-acre site and building footprint and convert the structure into dwelling units. Staff said the project as presented would produce a maximum of 44 dwelling units (the applicant described the building as containing 72 “bedrooms” in conversion planning) and that the requested rezoning would allow up to 42 units by right in R3, with the applicant asking for site-specific waivers to allow a higher count to fit the existing internal layout.

City planner staff framed the project as an adaptive reuse that aligns with Oxford’s 2023 comprehensive plan goals to expand housing options for older residents and to reuse existing buildings. Staff recommended approval with conditions and a set of waivers (including increased lot coverage up to about 70%, perimeter setback and front-yard-coverage waivers, curb/parking revisions, lighting shielding and stormwater/civil plan requirements) and proposed tying the rezoning to the approved plan development so the R3 zoning would revert to R2A if the plan development expires without building permit activity. Staff also reported limited public opposition in the notice period but identified several public comments at the hearing.

Scott Webb, the applicant’s architect, described the building as roughly 37,000 square feet and largely accessible and sprinklered from its prior use as a nursing facility. Webb said the design keeps much of the existing building and parking while cutting through portions of the footprint to create exterior apartment entrances, add small porches, and open the central courtyard. “We’re happy to finally be here tonight with something I think that we have staff’s support on and look for your support here as well,” Webb said. He told the commission the layout and existing plumbing “told us” where single‑bedroom and some two‑bedroom units would fit and that the project team preferred minimizing re‑plumbing and surgical modifications to reuse existing conditions and reduce cost.

Several members of the public spoke during the hearing. Resident Kathy Chaffin said she supports senior housing generally but raised affordability concerns and asked whether the development would include subsidies or rental caps; she noted local median household income and questioned what utility costs would be included in any affordability calculation. Steve Chapman, also a Fairfield Road resident, cited a fire department comment in the project record and said the development could add strain to emergency services and worsen drainage near the park. Patricia Bridal, president of the Oxford View Condominiums board, said the condominium association supports more senior housing but urged protections to “maintain the character of the neighborhood” and strongly supported the applicant’s voluntary deed restriction to limit sale or occupancy to individuals age 55 and older.

Commissioners asked about unit mix, connectivity to nearby pedestrian destinations (including the Oxford Senior Center), stormwater management for a wet spot near the site, and whether shared amenity spaces would be provided. Webb said the project would include a small community/flex room for residents and retain an existing commercial kitchen area without operating a restaurant; he said no on‑site storage for residents is planned. On stormwater he said civil plans would be required and that solutions could include reconfigured catch basins and subsurface storage under new parking areas.

After discussion, Commissioner [last-name roll call] moved approval of the rezoning application (PC 20‑25‑04 as recorded in the meeting) and adopted staff findings and conditions; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote with commissioners recorded as voting yes. A separate but related motion to approve the combined preliminary and final plan development application (PC 20‑25‑05) also passed by the same roll‑call vote, with the record reflecting that the rezoning and plan approvals are linked and that the rezoning is conditioned on the approved plan development and its time limit.

The commission’s approval included the staff‑recommended conditions, required civil/stormwater plans and permits, landscaping and lighting requirements, and the listed waivers. The record shows the applicant volunteered to record a deed restriction limiting sale and occupancy to residents 55 and older; staff said the city attorney would review deed‑restriction language for recording. Commissioners and several speakers urged the applicant and staff to pursue pedestrian connectivity to nearby destinations and to ensure stormwater mitigation addresses the existing wet area at the site.

The commission’s recommendations will proceed to City Council as the next decision point for final rezoning action and for any final site approvals required under Oxford procedures. The applicant noted the unit mix and final unit count could be refined during subsequent permit review and marketing; commissioners said they expected some flexibility but emphasized that the recorded conditions and waivers define the immediate approvals.