Appeal on Heights at Oxford special exception dies after developer presentation and questioning

City staff summarized an appeal by Stowa Group LLC/Stillwood Group seeking a special exception to allow first‑floor residential units in a proposed mixed‑use development on the west side of Highway 7. Staff noted the Planning Commission denied the special exception 5–1, citing concerns about insufficient demonstrated commercial commitments and the ordinance's intent for active first‑floor commercial uses.

Ben (planning staff) reviewed the proposal's scale (about 20 acres for the immediate site, roughly 470,000 square feet of proposed development in the larger concept, and a vertical mixed‑use component with about 316 residential units and roughly 17,000 square feet of first‑floor commercial). Ben said staff had received a letter of intent for one medical office but emphasized uncertainty over anchor tenants and whether the bulk of the ground‑floor commercial would materialize.

Blake Brinson, presenting for the applicant (Stillwood Group), summarized 13 months of revisions that increased commercial square footage and adjusted building heights and phasing. Brinson said the team planned to build infrastructure and speculative retail pads and that an LOI had been submitted for the 24,000‑square‑foot medical office. He said the project is economically tight and that the special exception is necessary to achieve a financially feasible mixed‑use plan.

Board members pressed the applicant on traffic counts, commercial demand, phasing and whether the depicted storefronts and hotel would be secured; several aldermen said they have seen projects approved on similar illustrations that later failed to deliver promised commercial uses. The mayor asked for a motion to overturn the Planning Commission denial; no motion was offered and the appeal died for lack of motion, leaving the Planning Commission’s denial in place.