OXFORD, MARYLAND — Oxford's Planning Commission has voted to send the Town Commissioners a recommendation against allowing backyard chickens in town, according to draft minutes of its Sept. 29 meeting.
The minutes say the commission as a whole expressed opposition to permitting chickens, especially in densely developed areas. Members raised enforcement challenges, public health risks such as disease transmission, effects on quality of life and whether chickens suit closely built neighborhoods. They also noted that the Town Code's definition of agriculture is ambiguous about poultry, and the general consensus was that the current code does not clearly support allowing chickens. The motion to forward the recommendations to the Town Commissioners for further consideration passed with all in favor.
The draft minutes are posted with the commission's agenda for its next meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. at 101 Market Street. The meeting can also be watched on Town Hall Streams.
The same minutes record an update from Chair Lucy Garliauskas on the Robert Morris Inn. The town received a permit application for repairs to the inn on Sept. 23, a third-party inspection was done Sept. 24, and the report went to the contractor and property owner Sept. 28. At the time of the meeting, the town was waiting for the permit to be picked up so temporary stabilization work could begin while further repairs are assessed. Garliauskas said the town remains committed to the inn's historic preservation and that earlier commission talk about possible zoning changes was exploratory only, because no formal development proposal had been submitted.
The chair also reported that Will Cawley has resigned from the commission, and that interested residents are encouraged to apply for the open seat. Some permits no longer need commission review: interior renovations and projects that do not change a building's footprint, exterior, lot coverage or site conditions are now handled by staff. Projects in the Historic District still need historic review.
On Hinckley's Yacht at 26106 Bachelors Harbor Drive, the minutes say a stop-work order was issued Aug. 31 because the construction plans given to the town inspector did not match the design the commission and Board of Appeals had approved. The plans were amended and the order was lifted. The commission then approved shrinking the new storage and workshop building from 60 by 83 feet to 60 by 80 feet, and placing three propane tanks between the old and new buildings. It also extended the Oxford Inn's renovation permits at 504 S. Morris Street.
The Oct. 27 agenda lists approval of the Sept. 29 minutes; a height variance and Critical Area setback variance for Campbell's at Jack's Point; three permits for a new home, pool and shed at 806 S. Morris St.; a two-story porch addition at 218 S. Morris St.; and smaller shed, door, driveway and renovation permits.
The commission meets the last Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m.
Source: Town of Oxford
Also: Town of Oxford (2)
Drawn from public records; drafted with AI and edited by Peter Gorman before publication.
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