Cherokee Won't Oppose Plan to Build 216 Homes in Woodstock

Cherokee County will not object to a request by Oak Hall Companies, LLC to annex and rezone property to build over 200 homes in Woodstock — for now.

The Cherokee Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved not filing a land use objection with the city of Woodstock regarding the company's request on the condition they would agree to meet demands in order to mitigate traffic in the area. 

District 2 Commissioner Ray Gunnin, who represents the area where the developer wants to build the subdivision, was not present at the meeting.  

The county agreed not to file a land-use objection on the condition the company would agree to donate sufficient right-of-way along Trickum Road to accommodate widening the road from two to four lanes and at the intersection of Barnes and Trickum Road to allow for the construction of another left hand turn lane from Barnes onto southbound Trickum Road. 

The body also stipulated the developer must agree to donate roughly two acres of land that would allow Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services to possibly improve or replace its Little River Fire Station adjacent to its current location on Barnes Road. 

Oak Hall Companies wants Woodstock to annex and rezone about 82.5 acres of land at the intersection from R-40/residential and agricultural in Cherokee to R-3A to allow for 216 single family detached homes on the land. 

The Woodstock Planning Commission will hear the case on Oct. 3, and the Woodstock City Council will consider their request during its Oct. 28 meeting. 

The subdivision would sit directly across the street from Little River Elementary School, and just down the road from the Cherokee County's Fire Station No. 7. 

Oak Hall's original proposal forced Cherokee County to call into question whether one parcel was contiguous to the existing Woodstock city boundary. Oak Hall went back and revised its application to address the concern. 

Parks Huff, the attorney for Oak Hall, said that matter had been resolved as the developer is in the process of closing on property just south of Little River Elementary School that backs up to the Kingsgate subdivision, which is located in the city limits. 

Part of that nine acres, he added, would be the site of a portion of Woodstock's Greenprints Trail network. 

Commissioners engaged in a lengthy debate on Tuesday during their work session and also discussed the issue during the meeting later in the evening.

District 1 Commissioner Harry Johnston said he felt the county initially should have filed a land use objection, but said he felt okay moving forward with the proposed agreement.

During the work session, he did note he was uncomfortable with saddling an already poorly performing intersection — Barnes and Trickum Road — with a development that's sure to not solve the problem. 

"(There's) no question that this development will compound that problem," he added.  

Don't miss any news from Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch! Subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here. Also, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!