A number of significant and broad revisions to Oxford Village’s zoning map and ordinance were recommended by the planning commission last week following a second public hearing on the topic.

Now, it’s up to the village council to approve or deny them.

“We want to promote investment in the village (and) streamline our processes,” said village Planner Chris Khorey, of the Northville-based McKenna Associates, who explained to the audience why these changes are being proposed.

“We’re trying to make it easier to do business in the village, while still protecting our village character. It’s a balancing act.”

Planning commissioners voted 6-0 to recommend the consolidation of the existing three single family residential zoning districts into one.

If approved by council, the R-2 and R-3 districts would be eliminated and those properties would all be rezoned as R-1.

Most of the village’s single-family properties are currently zoned R-1. Under R-1, the minimum lot size is 7,200 square feet and the minimum lot width is 60 feet.

The other two single-family districts require larger lot sizes. In R-2, the minimum lot size is 9,600 square feet and the minimum width is 80 feet. R-3 requires lots to be at least 12,500 square feet with a width of at least 90 feet.

In a 6-0 vote, the planning commission also recommended consolidating the two multiple family residential zoning districts (RM-1 and RM-2) into a single RM district.

Under the proposed RM zoning, the minimum unit size for apartments and condominiums would be changed from the current 1,300 square feet to 350 square feet for an efficiency unit; 500 square feet for a one-bedroom unit; and 700 square feet for a two-bedroom unit. Each additional bedroom would require the unit size to increase by 200 square feet, according to the proposed language.

Khorey noted these unit sizes are consistent with Lake Orion and Rochester.

Some opposition to the 350-square-foot efficiency option was expressed at the April 4 public hearing.

Commissioner Maureen Helmuth, who also serves on council, didn’t have an issue with this smallest unit size.

“My first apartment was smaller than 350 square feet. It was perfect,” she said. “I have no problem with 350 square feet.”

Gary Douglas, chairman of the planning commission, expressed his preference to see 500 square feet as the minimum unit size.

“I don’t think that’s unreasonable,” he said. “I think it’s a reasonable place to start. And if we get some pushback from that, we could always consider revisiting that sometime in the future.”

The new RM zoning would also have a maximum density of 15 units per acre except within the Form Based Code area of the village where there is no maximum if all other standards, such as building height, setbacks and unit sizes, are met.

The Form Based Code area encompasses properties along Washington St. (M-24) from just south of Lincoln St. to just north of First St. The boundary also extends as far west as Pleasant St. and as far east as S. Glaspie St.

If the village council chooses to accept the planning commission’s 6-0 recommendation, Commercial Office (C-O) zoning will be eliminated and all properties with that designation will be rezoned to C-1 Transition.

Permitted uses in C-1 Transition zoning include retail establishments, restaurants/bars, hotels, office space, medical facilities, personal service businesses, mixed use and residential uses, both multiple family and single family.

Under C-O zoning, only four of the above uses are permitted – retail, restaurants/bars, office space and medical facilities.

Planning commissioners voted 6-0 to recommend the creation of a new Flex (F) zoning district. If okayed by council, it would consist entirely of the vacant land located north of the Polly Ann Trail in the northeast corner of the village, on the east and west sides of N. Glaspie St. This land is currently zoned for multiple family residential use.

In this proposed district, almost any use permitted by the zoning ordinance would be allowed, but only after special use approval is granted by the planning commission.

Special use approval requires a public hearing and the notification of all nearby property owners.

Khorey noted a comment was received requesting the “most intense industrial uses” be removed as a possibility in Flex zoning.

“It would be to protect the nearby residents from even the potential of a stamping plant (for example),” he explained.

Given the planning commission would ultimately have the final say about what’s actually built in the Flex district, Commissioner Jack Curtis believes there are already adequate safeguards in the proposed language to prevent an “old tire remanufacturing plant” or an “antiquated stamping plant” from moving into the neighborhood against residents’ wishes.

“(Flex zoning) opens it up for us to discuss what’s coming in your backyard,” he explained, and gives the planning commission the “ability to judge” what is and is not in the best interest of the village and its residents.

Curtis believes specific uses, such as stamping, should not be excluded outright because some of the new technology utilized in that process makes a lot “less noise” than current plants.

In addition to the proposed broad zoning changes, planning commissioners also made recommendations regarding specific properties.

Commissioners voted 4-2 to recommend to council the village hall, located at 22 W. Burdick St., not be rezoned at this time. Voting for the motion were Douglas, Helmuth, Rose Bejma and Adam Johnson. Opposing the motion were Curtis and Gary Deeg.

It was originally proposed to change the zoning from multiple family residential to C-1 Transition, which would allow both residential and commercial uses.

The idea was to increase the likelihood of the property being sold as well as boost the sale price. Voters gave the village permission to sell it in the November 2012 election.

In a 5-1 vote, commissioners recommended to council the Oxford United Methodist Church (21 E. Burdick St.) be rezoned from R-1 single family residential to C-1 Transition.

The church is “supportive” of the change, Khorey noted. The proposed rezoning would not impact the church’s continued operation or hinder its ability to expand the building in the future if so desired.