Oxford planning commission approves two major housing developments

The Oxford Planning Commission on Jan. 12 unanimously approved site plans for two significant residential developments that together will add nearly 500 homes and substantial commercial space within Lafayette County. The decisions mark a clear step in the city’s push to expand multi-family and for-sale housing inventory amid ongoing growth pressures.

The larger of the two projects, called the Weldon and proposed by RKFAM Holdings, is a 17-acre mixed-use development at the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and Molly Barr Road. Plans call for 328 residential units containing a total of 777 bedrooms, roughly 49,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, and about 16,334 square feet of common and amenity areas. The site design includes three four-story buildings with ground-floor commercial space and restaurants, structured parking, and a multifunctional plaza intended for markets and community events.

The Weldon also received multiple variances and special exceptions to allow first-floor residential uses, modify required step-backs and build-to lines, and exceed typical retaining wall height. Those approvals clear regulatory hurdles the developer said were necessary to deliver the mixed-use layout proposed for that North Lamar corridor.

The second approved project, Walnut Grove from Walker and Walker Enterprises, is a 27.9-acre Residential Common Interest Development along Highway 7 South. The plan calls for 153 detached, owner-selected homes, including 38 four-bedroom units. Planning staff noted that some spaces on submitted floorplans were not intended as bedrooms; converting those spaces into bedrooms would require a separate special exception under city rules. No public opposition was recorded at the planning commission meeting.

For Lafayette County residents, the approvals carry both opportunities and questions. Increased housing supply, especially the combination of multi-family units and for-sale detached homes, can ease inventory constraints and offer more options for employees, families, and newcomers. The commercial components of the Weldon will create neighborhood retail and dining that could boost local sales and walkability along a busy stretch of North Lamar.

At the same time, both projects will add vehicle trips, demand for utilities and public services, and several years of construction activity. The retaining wall variance on the Weldon signals terrain and engineering issues that will need careful attention during construction and inspection. City and county planners will need to monitor traffic, stormwater management, and school enrollment impacts as units come online.

Our two cents? Track construction permits and upcoming council reviews, expect short-term road work and more development-era noise, and consider how added retail might change neighborhood routines. These approvals shift the local housing landscape; residents who want a say should follow site plans and attend future meetings to ensure growth lands where the community benefits most.