Woodstock Removes Age Restriction on Walton Townhomes

The Woodstock City Council on Monday approved a request from Walton Communities to remove the age restriction imposed on 85 townhomes they'd like to build.

The council's approval also removes the structured parking requirement and allows the company to move forward with including 30 for-rent townhomes in their plans.

The restrictions were from a previous condition of zoning imposed on the now defunct Hedgewood Properties when they'd plan to build townhomes on the property, which sits on 6.56 acres at Market and Reeves streets.

Walton's request was originally tabled at the City Council's Feb. 24 meeting. 
 
Council members approved the request after some discussion was had about whether or not Paden Street would be extended to Mill Street. Paden Street is one of the streets the city partnered with Walton Communities to build as part of the planned grid network on the west side of Main Street.

Current plans have the road extended from Maple Street to where it would intersect with a portion of the Greenprints trail network, which would satisfy access for fire trucks in case of an emergency. 

City Manager Jeff Moon said funding to extend Paden to Mill Street would not be in the fiscal year 2015 budget. He noted the city could work out an agreement where it would share the cost half the cost of developing the road to run from the trail to Mill Street. 

The agreement would be similar to the one worked out between the city and Walton to build the current grid network streets in place. 

City staff will bring back a development agreement in which Walton and Woodstock would split the cost of Paden's construction from the trail to Mill Street.