2,600-Acre Oxford Springs Development Awaits Planning Commission Approval

For two years, Corey Alger, owner of Alger Design Studio, and a team of engineers at W.H. Porter have been designing and crafting a proposal for Oxford Springs, a 2,600-acre development in Abbeville.
The design has made its way through federal and state levels, but Oxford Springs is currently awaiting approval from the planning commission of Lafayette County in April. 
With over 5,000 units planned, seven miles worth of road and an on-site waste disposal system, the development would be a long undertaking. The design features an equestrian center and 200 acres of lakes throughout the development; there are also preliminary plans for a golf course, town square and more, all of which would be done in phases. 
“It’s a 10 to 15 year-long range map. That’s what the overall land use map is; its a guide for us. We have a town center, high-density areas planned, and that’s basically an outline to say here’s how we intend to develop the property,” Alger said. “It’s so big and so long that it’s going to be an ongoing development. I expect it to work in perpetuity over the next 10-15 years.” 
If the design is passed by the planning commission, one of the first orders of business will be the construction of the equestrian center. The center will be home to a 20-stable barn and an arena that will accommodate both English and Western riding.
“With so much property, carving out 80 acres gives us an amenity that not many other developments can offer, just because of the sheer size of the property,” Alger said. “There’s an interest and a need here. We don’t have anything that’s on that level in the area.”
Also, a key focus of the design of Oxford Springs are the lakes. A 20-acre lake on the north side of the property will be the initial focus of the development, and others will follow. Oxford’s shortage of lakefront property struck Alger, and he looks forward to filling that void. The largest lake will be a mile-long body of water on the south side of Oxford Springs. And these lakes won’t just be for show according to Alger. 
“Our key to success will be starting with the lakes. Being this close to campus, the Square, grocery stores and having lake front property is hard to come by around here,” Alger said. “There will definitely be fishing. You’ll be able to motor around and fish for sure.”
Alger has designed numerous properties around town. However, the growth around Oxford hasn’t left any lots of this size available for development. Located just a few miles north on Highway 7, Oxford Springs will make use of what Alger believes to be a side of town that may have been overlooked until now. 
“There are no street lights, stop signs, and it’s only about three minutes from town. It’s one of the largest contiguous pieces of property in Lafayette County,” Alger said. “It’s an underutilized area right now because there’s not a sewer system up there. Providing our own will make the development possible.”
Initial construction would begin in May if the planning commission approves the design on April 24. They hope to have the first residents moved in by spring of 2018. 

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Steven Gagliano is a writer for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at steven.gagliano@hottytoddy.com. 
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