Woodstock extends moratorium on certain housing
The Woodstock City Council has extended to Sept. 26 a moratorium that applies to new single-family detached homes on lots of less than 7,500 square feet, and new single-family attached units on any sized property.
A prior, 30-day moratorium expires April 25 on accepting public hearing, site plan review or building permit applications for these homes. Exceptions are granted to certain projects under way or seeking to annex to the city.
The emergency ordinance cites Woodstock’s “extraordinary residential growth,” with more than 2,500 housing units constructed since the beginning of 2011 and an estimated 925 single-family lots available for construction around the city.
A lack of “concise controls” is causing overcrowding and traffic congestion, the ordinance says. The moratorium gives the mayor, council and staff time “to thoroughly review the current land use, zoning districts and overlay districts to ensure that certain zoning districts and overlay districts are performing as set forth.”
