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Oxford council advances trail project while property owners seek more talks
Summary
Council approved a resolution to apply for Ohio Department of Transportation grants for Oxford Area Trail System phase 6 and read multiple ordinances to acquire easements or appropriate right-of-way for phase 5. Two landowners asked the city to pause and negotiate to avoid litigation; staff said federal grant timelines limit design changes.
City Council on Monday authorized staff to apply for Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) grants to advance the Oxford Area Trail System phase 6 and completed a series of first readings and easement authorizations tied to phase 5, while two nearby property owners urged more time to negotiate before the city moves toward appropriation.
The council unanimously approved a resolution giving the city manager permission to submit grant applications for design, planning and construction funding for Phase 6. “Our request will be in excess of $50,000. So we need a resolution from council to apply for these grants,” said Mike, a city staff member leading the trail presentation. He told council ODOT makes federal funding available and that “for our side city, there's no local match required for these projects.”
Why it matters: the trail links schools, transit hubs and neighborhood networks and is already partially funded through grants. Council and staff said timing is constrained by federal grant rules: once the right-of-way is secured the city must complete administrative steps, advertise for bids and award a contract in time to meet federal grant deadlines.
On the same agenda, the council read two ordinances that would authorize the appropriation of title, rights and interests in parcels near Riley Road and Gardenia Drive to secure permanent and temporary rights-of-way for construction of Oxford Area Trail System Phase 5. Staff said the city has acquired easements for nine of 11 needed parcels and needs to complete two remaining acquisitions. City staff explained the appropriation process follows the Ohio Revised Code and that fair-market compensation is based on appraisals.
Property owners and residents spoke in public comment. Bill Schoefer, a property owner on Steuben Beckett Road, said landowners received no alternative route proposals and asked council to pause the appropriation process for two weeks to allow staff to respond to written questions and avoid litigation. “Once we open Pandora’s box litigation… it is expensive for everybody,” Schoefer said.
Laura Osborne, who identified herself as a neighbor and longtime local participant in planning discussions, said she and her husband want to cooperate but criticized the timing and communication. “It’s really incredibly jarring to have people talk about appropriating… when you are trying to have a conversation. We don't want to see it ending up like this. Please stop. Listen to us,” Osborne said.
Jessica, a project staff member, told council the city has been in contact with Osborne and Schoefer since March last year, including meetings in April and subsequent outreach. She said the design team has completed construction plans for portions of the route and is turning construction design in to bid; as a result, “route alignment is really no longer an option. We need to secure the right of way,” she said. Jessica added staff will continue outreach and committed to attempt to reach a solution before the next reading.
Council members urged continued talks while noting the city must protect more than $3 million in grants. One councilor asked whether the route is a bike path or a broader multimodal route; staff replied the project is a transportation project “connecting significant points of interest,” including school facilities, Butler County RTA multimodal hub and a planned Amtrak station.
Several subsequent ordinances on the agenda memorialize voluntary easement agreements with Cobblestone Community Church Inc., South Farm Development Inc., South Farm Owners Association Inc., HPCT Properties Inc. (grouping four parcels), the Abraham A. and Eulan M. Kurunga Family Trust, and CSX Transportation Inc. City staff framed those items as settlements reached through negotiation and thanked property owners for cooperation.
Councilors repeatedly encouraged staff and the property owners to continue negotiating during the pause between first and second readings. Staff noted that appropriation cases historically have been settled before trial for other roadway projects, and the city expressed a preference to settle rather than litigate.
What happens next: the appropriation ordinances must return for second reading and, for appropriation of land, require six affirmative votes at second reading to adopt. Staff said, if needed, the city will file appraisal and fair-market-value information with Butler County and pursue mediation opportunities under the appropriation process. The resolution to apply for ODOT funding is immediate; the grant application will proceed under the City Manager’s authorization.
Votes at a glance: council adopted the resolution to apply for ODOT grants by voice vote; the appropriation and many easement ordinances were introduced on first reading and are pending further council action.
Ending: Council and staff left the door open for negotiated settlements and said they will continue outreach with property owners before the second readings.
