Woodstock City Council Approves Warehouse, Advances Budget and Clears Zoning Cases at May 18 Meeting

The Woodstock City Council met Monday, May 18, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street, taking action on a full agenda that included six land use public hearings, a first reading of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, and a slate of consent agenda items tied to park infrastructure and right-of-way agreements. Following the agenda items Woodstock Community News previewed ahead of the meeting, the council moved through all scheduled business, approving the bulk of what staff had recommended.

Mayor Michael Caldwell presided. Council members present were Mayor Pro Tem Colin Ake, Warren Johnson, David Potts, Tracy Collins, Brian Wolfe and Rob Usher. City Manager Jeff Moon, Deputy City Manager Coty Thigpen, City Clerk Robyn Adams and City Attorney Jeff Rusbridger were also in attendance, along with department heads and staff from police, fire, finance, community development, parks and recreation, information technology, human resources, capital improvement and communications.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Council Member David Potts, and a prayer led by Pastor Matt Lawson of First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Mayor Pro Tem Colin Ake read the announcements, including notice that country artist Carly Pearce will perform at the Woodstock Summer Concert Series on Saturday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater, and that the city's June Family Fun Night, themed 'Kickin' It In Woodstock,' is set for Thursday, June 18, in downtown Woodstock, featuring soccer-themed activities and a screening of 'The Big Green' on the Woodstock Arts Event Green.

Mayor Caldwell and Police Chief Roland Castro recognized three Woodstock Police Department promotions: Officer Ledarrion Poole to Corporal, Corporal Joshua Buckner to Sergeant, and Sergeant Joseph LeCour to Lieutenant. All three were present at the meeting.

No members of the public signed up to speak during the general public comment period.

CONSENT AGENDA

Deputy Chief Financial Officer Crystal Welch delivered a presentation on the proposed FY2027 annual operating budget before the council turned to the consent agenda. Council Member Brian Wolfe moved to approve consent agenda items 6.1 through 6.6, and Council Member Rob Usher seconded. The motion carried.

Among the items approved on the consent agenda was ZTA#021-26, a zone text amendment updating multiple chapters of the Land Development Ordinance, including general information, zone district performance standards, use districts and regulations, and downtown district standards. The council also approved agreements with Precision Blasting, LLC and Blankenship Siteworks for drilling, blasting and removal of non-rippable rock at the entrance to Little River Park near Trickum Road, work required by the construction of an entrance road and utilities from the recently completed Nocatee Trail Roundabout.

The council approved a proposal from Pond and Company for design and engineering services for an Elm Street Pedestrian Plaza. It also approved an agreement and release of a special provision with CRL Real Estate, LLC and ROL Real Estate, LLC related to the Lyndee Lane Extension project, under which the city will provide funds directly to the developer of the Pines at Lyndee residential development to apply a top coat of asphalt on private alleyways internal to that development, rather than having the city perform the work itself. Staff described the change as more practical, cost-effective and efficient. The council also formally denied an ante litem notice filed by Richard Pearson, Jr. and Victoria Pearson.

BUDGET FIRST READING

As anticipated, the council conducted a first reading and public hearing of Ordinance No. 2026-013, which would adopt the city's Annual Operating Budget for fiscal year 2027, covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Because this was a first reading, no final vote was taken. A second reading and final vote will be required before the budget takes effect. The public hearing portion of the budget item was part of the evening's proceedings, consistent with the first-reading process.

ZONING CASES

V#221-26 - Paragon, 9026 Main Street and 105 Barnesdale Terrace: The council approved a variance to allow angled on-street parking rather than parallel parking at the Paragon project site. Senior Planner Niwana Ray presented the case. The applicant, Paragon Accounting and Tax Solutions, plans to construct and occupy an approximately 7,180-square-foot office on the roughly 0.9-acre site, which is zoned DT-RO with Historic Overlay and is currently vacant. The applicant's site plan called for six angled parking spaces to match on-street spaces that exist in front of adjacent developments. City staff identified during site plan review that parallel parking is required under the Land Development Ordinance and Downtown Street Standards, and asked Paragon to apply for a variance to maintain continuity along the Main Street corridor. Both the Development Process Committee and the Planning Commission had voted 6-0 to recommend approval. Parks Huff spoke on behalf of the applicant. No members of the public signed up to speak at the public hearing. Council Member Warren Johnson moved to approve; Council Member Brian Wolfe seconded. The motion carried.

Z#170-26 - 125 Lorraine Parkway: The council approved, with conditions, a rezoning, conditional use permit and concurrent variance requests to allow development of a 92,500-square-foot warehouse. Planner Cameron Dunn presented the case. The applicant, Parks Huff on behalf of Hickory Real Estate Partners, LLC, is proposing an industrial warehouse development on a site that includes tracts of land on both sides of Olde Rope Mill Park Road, totaling 23.43 acres. The project development site is approximately 8.12 acres. The Planning Commission had voted 6-0 to recommend approval with alterations to the conditions of approval. Chase Westfall with Hickory Real Estate Partners spoke to the council and answered questions.

Council discussion on the warehouse case was notable. Council members questioned whether the number of roll-up doors shown on the renderings matched what was actually being requested, and the council stated that the renderings needed to reflect the exact request. Mayor Caldwell addressed residents in the chamber, explaining that 20 bays do not necessarily mean 20 trucks operating simultaneously, as some bays are often used for staging depending on the business. He also said that while the area is light industrial, it is not the right location for an Amazon-style distribution center, and noted the applicant confirmed that was not their intention. Mayor Caldwell encouraged the council to ensure all concerns were thoroughly addressed in the conditions of approval. The applicant committed to enhanced sound barriers including an eastern setback, opaque fencing, evergreen landscaping, and restricted night deliveries, with no trucks allowed between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Z#168-26 - Barnesdale Terrace Redevelopment: The council considered rezoning, a conditional use permit and concurrent variance requests to allow a 113-unit single-family development. Staff had recommended partial approval subject to conditions. The minutes reflect the item was heard; the minutes as provided do not include a detailed vote tally narrative for this item beyond its appearance on the agenda and in proceedings.

Z#169-26 - 8261 Main Street: The council considered a zoning condition amendment and concurrent variance requests for a previously approved project that would include 9,000 square feet of commercial space, 34 townhomes and two condominium units. Staff had recommended approval with conditions.

CUP#095-26 - 9845 Main Street: The council considered a conditional use permit request for a gas and fuel station use, along with concurrent variances. Staff had recommended denial of this application, as Woodstock Community News reported in its preview coverage.

ZTA#020-26 - Lot of Record/Downtown LDO Amendment: The council took up the second reading and vote on ZTA#020-26, a proposed amendment to the Land Development Ordinance affecting the Downtown District's lot-of-record standards. This item had been previewed as a second-reading vote, and the consent agenda section of the minutes references its consideration alongside the other consent items.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

The council received departmental reports for April 2026 from the Fire, Information Technology, Parks and Recreation, and Communications departments, as well as a Capital Projects report for May 2026, all of which had been included in the agenda packet and detailed in Woodstock Community News's pre-meeting coverage.

The next steps for the FY2027 budget will require a second reading and final council vote before the spending plan takes effect for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. Residents seeking additional information on any of the land use cases or other agenda items may visit the City of Woodstock's agenda portal at woodstockga.gov.