April 24, 2007 - Volume 16, No. 17

a Winkler Company publication

Also featuring photos from our monthly supplement...

Historic Homes of Kettering-Moraine Museum

Sugar Camp application passes 5-0

By Lance Winkler

The Oakwood City Council met on Monday, April 23, and unanimously granted approval of the Special Use Applications filed by Oakwood Investment Group and the Versant Group for planned development of the 36+ acres known as Sugar Camp. The development is designated as multi-use and will include office, medical, religious and residential units and will be in accordance with the 2004 NCR Sugar Camp Site Development alternatives and guidelines, the 2004 Comprehensive Plan and the 1997 Subarea Plan.

Prior to the vote, visitors were given the opportunity to address the council and public and give vent to their opinions on the topic. Oakwood resident Nancy Bain gave what she called her “swan song” on the matter, launching into a written speech that was more a diatribe on the ecological sins of the Planet Earth than a conservation-oriented talking points lecture for Sugar Camp’s 36 acres. Her plaintive tone combined with forays into idealistic scenarios that might have been adopted had the developers been carrying Sierra Club membership cards, won her the only applause from the audience that evening.

Next up was longtime resident Tony Huffman, who simply made the observation that Mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning to plant over 1-million trees around the five New York boroughs in the next 10 years “to protect their environment.”

Oakwood resident Anna Gough also got up and cited numerous reasons to “reconsider” voting on the resolution that evening.

Among the specifications cited in the housing plan was that six units per acre will be allowed for construction and 130 housing units total will be included in the plan.
Councilmember William Duncan countered Gough’s plea for reconsideration by pointing out that since 2003, Sugar Camp as a development concept and issue has been discussed in over 40 separate meetings. Duncan also chronicled the drop in price for the property over the years from $10.3-million in 2003 to its eventual selling price of $3.7 million in 2006.

Also mentioned was a $2,000,000 commitment from the city for the purpose of running an access roadway from Far Hills at Springhouse Drive west to the newly-purchased soccer fields. This financial commitment is not on the books as yet as no funds have been budgeted as yet for 2007. Oakwood City Manager Norbert Klopsch said that in order to allocate funds for any Sugar Camp Project, a Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance for infrastructure would have to be presented for passage by council.

After numerous queries on Section 1’s 21 separate items of detail regarding the development from Vice Mayor Carlo McGinnis had been answered to his satisfaction, the application was voted on and passed 5-0.

After the vote, Tony Huffman spoke again and thanked the city council, the Oakwood Investment LLC and the Versant Group for many months of input and sometimes querulous voices regarding the proposed development.

If this project doesn’t work for whatever reason, Huffman warned, “the city won’t bear the financial exposure. The citizens will bear the financial exposure. Let’s do it right, let’s do it with class.”

“The mandate from Oakwood citizens regarding Sugar Camp has always been “Whatever you do with Sugar Camp, it should improve our town,” said Mayor Judy Cook. “I would hope that it is something the citizens of Oakwood can be proud of.”

Ireland elected Phi Beta Kappa

Elizabeth Ireland, a Davidson College senior from Oakwood, was recently elected to Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society.

Ireland is a religion major with a concentration in gender studies. At Davidson, she served as vice chair of the Honor Council, coordinated an overnight program for homeless people, and worked as a head staff member for the Residence Life office. She pursued her interest in Latin American issues by studying abroad in Bolivia in South America. Last summer, she received a fellowship to work in a church in Tucson, AZ, where she studied immigration and social justice. Ireland recently received an award for her religion thesis about the religion of immigrants who cross the U.S. Mexican border. After graduation, Ireland will work in Charlotte, NC as a fellow at the Duke Endowment, a non-profit foundation which allocates grant money to service organizations in the Carolinas.

Ireland is the daughter of Jeff and Ellen Ireland of East Schantz Avenue, and is a graduate of Oakwood High School.

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal art college for 1,700 students. Since its founding by Presbyterians in 1837, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently recognized as one of the leading liberal arts colleges in the nation.

Salute to Seniors Luncheon May 2

Join the Oakwood Community Center Wednesday, May 2, 11:30 a.m. for the annual Salute to Seniors Luncheon. This event is open to any area senior and is free to Oakwood senior residents 60 years of age and older.

The activities planned include entertainment provided by Oakwood Accordion Band, door prizes, and of course a wonderful lunch! Space is limited, so call the OCC at 298-0775, to reserve your spot.

top of page