Woodstock residents fight downtown Waffle House plan

A Google map shows the distance between an existing Waffle House and the site of a proposed restaurant.

A Google map shows the distance between an existing Waffle House and the site of a proposed restaurant.

Woodstock residents could walk to the proposed site of a downtown Waffle House from an existing location on Towne Lake Parkway.

But the fact that the chain restaurant is already in Woodstock is only part of the reason Tracy Collins started a Change.org petition to stop its development.

“Downtown Woodstock is a unique treasure of a place,” the petition says. “It combines our long history with quirky boutiques, mid- and high-end restaurants and Foodie destinations. We don’t want a Waffle House right on Main Street.”

The petition had more than 600 supporters Tuesday, most of whom commented about keeping corporate business out of the historic area that dates to the 1800s.

The half-acre property at 8558 Main Street, where Waffle House hopes to build, is home to locally owned Hot Dog Heaven. The restaurant sits on the corner of Main Street and Towne Lake Parkway, near an independent bookstore and close to a non-chain coffee house.

Sharon Bunyard of Woodstock posted a comment on the petition saying she loves Waffle House but wants unique — not ubiquitous — businesses on Main Street.

Woodstock’s planning commission meets Thursday and the Woodstock City Council is scheduled to meet July 25, when residents can share their concerns.