Woodstock Planning Commission April 2, 2026 Meeting: Key Case Withdrawn, Downtown Design Standards Detail Emerges

WOODSTOCK - This is an update to Woodstock Community News' earlier preview of the April 2, 2026, Planning Commission meeting, incorporating additional details drawn from the full agenda packet released by the City of Woodstock.

As Woodstock Community News previously reported, the Planning Commission will meet Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 7 p.m. in The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main St., to consider rezoning applications, conditional use permits, a zone text amendment and two cases remanded from City Council.

One significant change from what was known at the time of the earlier preview: the variance case V#220-25 at 704 Robin Court, which had been listed as a remanded item for the commission to reconsider, has since been withdrawn by the applicant. The agenda packet confirms no public hearing is required on that case. The companion case, CUP#093-25 at 706 Robin Court, remains on the agenda as a remanded item following City Council's unanimous vote to send it back to the Planning Commission after the applicant submitted an updated development plan.

The agenda packet also provides context on a related zone text amendment. According to the packet, City Council previously voted unanimously - 5-0 - to approve a zone text amendment, identified as ZTA#022-26, that addresses administrative variances for fences. That action appears to be referenced as background material for the commission.

The most detailed new material in the packet concerns ZTA#020-26, the proposed Zone Text Amendment to Chapter VII of the Land Development Ordinance covering Downtown District standards. The packet includes the full proposed ordinance language, which goes well beyond what was described in the earlier preview and gives residents a clearer picture of what the commission will be asked to recommend to City Council.

Among the proposed changes, the text amendment would update building facade and materials requirements across multiple Downtown District subareas, including DT-CBD (Central Business District), DT-CMU, DT-GC, DT-RO, DT-MR-A, DT-MR-B, DT-LR, DT-VLR, DT-OS and DT-HO (Historic Overlay). A detailed requirements table in the packet sets out maximum building heights and ceiling height minimums by subarea. For example, the DT-CMU subarea would allow up to eight stories or 100 feet, with a height bonus of up to 12 stories or 150 feet maximum when at least 65 percent of parking is structured. The DT-HO Historic Overlay subarea would be capped at three stories or 40 feet, with no height bonus available.

The proposed ordinance language also spells out detailed design standards for the Historic Overlay District specifically. Under the draft text, buildings within DT-HO must be of a scale and character compatible with historic residential buildings and must conform to one of five specified architectural styles: Craftsman, Folk, Simple Queen Anne, Colonial Revival or Gothic Revival. Each style carries its own set of requirements covering building footprint, roof pitch, porch design, window placement and facade symmetry.

Additional DT-HO requirements in the proposed text include: no parking between any structure and the street or to either side of any structure fronting an A or B street; a prohibition on multiple residential dwelling units within the same building; a prohibition on flat roofs and parking decks; a requirement that roofs extend a minimum of 18 inches beyond exterior building walls; and a requirement that all exterior facades except windows be brick, horizontal hardiplank, natural wood or stone.

More broadly, the proposed text amendment sets out general Downtown District building and site requirements that would apply across subareas. These include rules that building facade materials be combined only horizontally with heavier materials below lighter ones, that chimneys extend to the ground, that all roofs have a minimum 25-degree pitch with no visible roll roofing, and that mechanical and accessory features be located to the side or rear of the principal structure or on rooftops and screened from public view.

On fencing and walls, the draft language would limit fence and wall height between the street facade of principal structures and a street to 40 inches, with a six-foot maximum in other areas. It would prohibit barbed wire, razor wire, chain link or similar elements visible from any public park, required sidewalk area or sidewalk-level outdoor dining area. Loading docks and dumpsters would be required to be entirely screened from public open space or sidewalk area views, with enclosures constructed of materials matching the principal structure.

For storefront-level design, the proposed text would require that primary pedestrian entrances to sidewalk-level retail and eating and drinking establishments remain unlocked during business hours, that all windows be vertically shaped with height greater than width, that glass panels be clear and unpainted, and that blank windowless walls be prohibited - with windows and doors required to equal a minimum of 30 percent of total facade length on each story.

Residents who wish to comment on ZTA#020-26 or any other public hearing item on the April 2 agenda may do so at the meeting. The Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. in The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main St., Woodstock. Hearing assistance is available upon request. The full agenda packet is available through the City of Woodstock's online agenda viewer.