Chancery Judge Approves Oxford’s Annexation of 10-plus Square Miles of County Land

The areas in pink will now be part of the city limits of Oxford.

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

A Lafayette County Chancery Court judge has ruled that the city of Oxford’s request to annex more than 10-square-miles of county land is “reasonable.”

On Monday Judge Glenn Alderson handed down the ruling approving the annexation.

There are six areas in various parts of the county that are part of the annexation, with all areas being connected to existing city limits.

Area 1 includes West Oxford Loop extended, portions of Old Sardis Road leading to FNC Park and Lakeway Gardens; Area 2, in the northeast area of Oxford takes in a portion of Highway 30, part of Old Highway 7 North; Area 3 takes in portions of Highway 6 where the new Lafayette County Business Center is being built, Lafayette County School District campus and Brittany Woods; Area 4, in the southern part of Oxford down South Lamar will take in Southpointe and Twin Gates subdivision; Area 5 off Highway 6 takes in Thacker Heights and Royal Oaks; and Area 6 which takes in property east of Highway 6 north of the Wellsgate subdivision.

Currently, Oxford is 16-square miles. The population will be increased by about 3,600 people with the newly annexed area.

The annexation does not change the school district boundaries. Children will continue to attend the same schools they attended prior to the annexation.

A hearing was held on Aug. 27 before Alderson where city attorneys presented evidence that the annexation was needed and that the city could provide the necessary services needed.

Police and fire services will start in the new areas by the end of the month, if no appeal is filed. Solid waste disposal services will shift around November. Other services, like water and sewer, will be added in a “reasonable time,” according to court records.

Mayor Robyn Tannehill said the annexation is a “wonderful opportunity” for Oxford by providing more undeveloped land on more affordable property.

“We will be moving fast,” she said. “A lot of times when people are trying to annex, they’re trying to annex in a tax base. We really looked at it as the opposite. We looked at it as an opportunity to encourage some affordable development. You can’t build affordable housing on unaffordable land and right now that’s all Oxford has.”