Oxford Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan Oxford, Ohio
Services Provided
Community Planning & Engagement
People Involved
Chris Hermann
Sarah Lilly
Kyle May
Tori Luckenbach
Plan Document
A bold, community-driven vision for a vibrant college town
Oxford, Ohio, home of Miami University, is consistently ranked as one of America’s best college towns. It has the charm of a small, walkable college community with the vibrancy and amenities of a large city. An updated long-term vision and plan, called Oxford Tomorrow, focuses on maintaining Oxford’s unique qualities while setting the stage for an even brighter, more sustainable, and more equitable future for all who call it “home”.
The 17-month Oxford Tomorrow process to update the comprehensive plan was a collaborative effort between MKSK and the City of Oxford. This effort was overseen by a 30-member steering committee of representatives from a number of organizations, institutions, and City boards and commissions.
Oxford Tomorrow represents the shared voices and ideas of the community. The planning process emphasized broad and meaningful input through a variety of formats—both in-person and digital—that engaged more than 800 community members representing a diverse cross-section of Oxford, from college students, Miami University faculty and staff, retirees, and families.This effort was overseen by a 30-member steering committee of representatives from a number of organizations, institutions, and City boards and commissions.
“I think [this plan is] a really good example of working with the public and it was so transparent, and everybody got an opportunity to participate”
– William B. Snavely, Mayor, City of Oxford
Through the Oxford Tomorrow planning process, the community came together to collectively plan for Oxford’s future. The resulting plan is one that is representative of the community’s values, ideas, and priorities. The plan is organized into eight key topics:
Land Use & Development
Mobility
Housing
Economy
Sustainability
Culture & Recreation
Community Well-being
Utilities
The plan recommendations are summarized into 1 aspirational vision, 8 desired goals, 31 objectives, and 162 concrete actions to shape Oxford over the next ten years and beyond. These actions were then prioritized by the community to provide further guidance to City officials.
Some key recommendations from the plan include:
Establish passenger rail service to/from Oxford.
Promote transit-oriented development (TOD) around key transit nodes and corridors.
Expand the Oxford Area Trails system by completing the perimeter loop and linking to neighborhoods and commercial areas.
Update zoning regulations to increase density and promote a diversity of residential housing types and living arrangements.
Reestablish a homeownership program to incentivize and assist University faculty and staff to secure housing in Oxford.
Reduce emissions towards neutrality by 2045.
Promote incentives for on-site solar, geothermal, and wind energy for residential and commercial properties.
Expand the city’s urban tree canopy by supporting tree planting and urban forestry programs.
Develop a Community Center that offers programming, recreation, access to social services, and rentable community space.
Establish a green alley system in the Mile Square to create a network of shared, low-impact streets.
“This is a really bold plan that sets broad goals.”
– Dr. David Prytherch, Oxford City Council Member
Another important outcome of the Oxford Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan is the future land use map. This map highlights the desired land use patterns and characteristics for the City of Oxford and its surroundings. The map includes twelve Character Types ranging from preserves and green spaces to the urban core, that illustrate the mix of uses necessary to support Oxford’s diverse population and community needs.
Oxford Tomorrow not only sets a bold vision for the future, but it also provides a roadmap for how to get there and how the whole community can be stewards of the plan. Plan stewardship includes using, monitoring, and updating the plan so that it is a living document, not just a static one. The plan includes detailed guidance for how to integrate the plan into other planning and governance operations.
The plan ends with a summary matrix that elaborates on the implementation methods for each of the plan’s recommendations, including the City’s role in implementation, the time frame, and potential partners to help in the charge of making this vision a reality.
The Oxford Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan was unanimously approved by Oxford City Council on January 17, 2023. View the final plan below or click here to open it in a new window.