Oxford schedules July public hearing on mobile food-vendor rules after planning board recommends denial

The Oxford City Board of Commissioners voted on Tuesday to schedule a public hearing for July 15 to consider a proposed text amendment to the city’s unified development ordinance that would explicitly include push carts among mobile food vendors.

The amendment was brought forward by an applicant referenced in the meeting as Anna Hosman (alternative spellings appear in the transcript). Planning staff reported that the planning board recommended denying the change, and the city told the commission that a public hearing must be held before the board can consider amending the UDO.

Mayor Pro Tem opened the public hearing scheduling discussion and commissioners moved and seconded a resolution to call the hearing. "Planning board recommends the amendment as presented be denied; a public hearing is needed before a vote to change the UDO," a staff member told the board. The board voted to schedule the hearing and directed staff to provide notice and take public comment at the July meeting.

The board also referenced a related citizen request for a tax amendment and for consideration of push carts raised during the public-comment period earlier in the meeting. Commissioners did not make any change to the ordinance text at Tuesday’s meeting; the matter was set for a public hearing so the commission can take citizen input before any decision.