Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The city wants to re-evaluate its annual contribution of roughly $45,000 towards the system.
Woodstock city leaders on Monday will soon begin to re-evaluate how much it contributes to the Sequoyah Regional Library System. The decision to move forward with the review came out of a discussion during the city's first reading of its proposed fiscal year 2014 budget, which is at $33.7 million. Mayor Donnie Henriques said the city currently contributes $45,062 each year towards the library system, considerably much more than Canton, the city closest to its population. Canton provides an annual contribution around $20,000 each year, Henriques added. The cities that are served by the library system — all of which are in Cherokee, Pickens and Gilmer — act as funding agents to the system, annually contributing money towards its …
Monday, May 20, 2013
The $33.7 million budget will be reviewed by the City Council tonight and no millage rate increase is expected.
The Woodstock City Council will get a first look at the proposed fiscal year 2014 budget, which is set to be slightly higher than its current budget. The proposed $33.7 million budget will be presented to the council tonight at 7 p.m. during its special called meeting at the Chambers at City Center. The budget is slightly higher than the current fiscal year budget of $33.6 million. Chief Financial Officer Robert Porche will present the budget based on the city leaving its millage, water and sewer rates unchanged. "It is always up for discussion and possible change," he added. The proposed general fund is $16.9 million, water and sewer fund at $10.4 million and the remaining special revenue and service funds — which includes impact fees, …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The Woodstock City Council voted to approve the company's request to use two acres next to its property to store overflow inventory.
The Woodstock City Council has approved a request for Hennessy Honda to use the former Woodstock Car Wash property for inventory storage, putting another twist in a story three years in the making. The council unanimously approved the company's request to use the 2 acres of land for a storage lot limited to overflow inventory. Council member Randy Brewer was not present. Hennessy Honda has been involved in a three-year battle with resident who live in the Kingsridge Estates neighborhood located behind the facility. To expand its inventory storage capacity, Hennessy in 2010 pursued purchasing three residential lots that sat directly behind its facility. The company in 2010 asked the city to annex and rezone those three parcels to general …
Monday, May 13, 2013
The company has applied with the city to use two acres of the former Woodstock Car Wash for an inventory storage lot.
Hennessy Honda of Woodstock is looking to expand its footprint along Highway 92. The company has applied with the city of Woodstock for a conditional use permit to allow them to use 2 acres of land for a storage lot limited to overflow inventory. The Woodstock City Council will consider the request during its meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Chambers at City Center. The two acres the company is currently considering is the former home of Woodstock Car Wash. Hennessy Honda has been involved in a three-year battle with resident who live in the Kingsridge Estates neighborhood located behind the facility. To expand its inventory storage capacity, Hennessy in 2010 purchased three residential lots that sat directly behind its facility. The …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The company wanted the city to approve their plans for a drive-thru restaurant near the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta.
A request from a national restaurant chain to build a drive-thru restaurant in the Ridgewalk area was rejected by the Woodstock City Council on Monday. The council voted to unanimously reject one variance request from Panda Restaurant Group, LLC, which asked the council to allow a drive-through restaurant on 1.2 acres of land labeled Outparcel 5 of the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta development. However, the council did approve the company's remaining variance requests: Council members heard from several residents who live in adjacent neighborhoods, who asked council members to reject the company's request. Meridian at Ridgewalk resident John Rowland, asked the city to "do the right thing" and stick with the Envision Ridgewalk Village plan …
Monday, April 22, 2013
The changes establishes a permit process for nonprofit organizations to collect donations on public rights-of-way.
The Woodstock City Council is set to give the final nod to changes to its charitable solicitation ordinance during its meeting tonight. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the Chambers at City Center. The amendments to its solicitation ordinance allows for a process for non-profit organizations to solicit on public rights-of-way. The changes also establishes a permit process for those who wish to partake in the solicitations, prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from performing charitable solicitations, restricts solicitation to occur between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and for those to visibly display the organization they are soliciting for. Permits, which will be available at no cost, that are issued would be valid for seven days. The council will…
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The company sought several variances that were opposed by residents who live across from the site of the new Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta.
Several variance requests from McDonald's that drew the ire of adjacent homeowners was rejected by the Woodstock City Council on Monday. The council unanimously rejected requests from the company to: The council approved requests to increase the number of allowed drive-thru menu boards from one to two and to increase the allowed menu board area on each menu board from 30 square feet to 43.9 square feet; and from a height of 6' to 6'-9" as measured from the ground. McDonald's has plans to build a restaurant on Outparcel 3, which sits on the southwest corner of the main driveway to the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta and Ridgewalk Parkway. The parcel is owned by Horizon Group Properties, the developer of the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta. McDonald …
Monday, April 15, 2013
The City Council tonight will hear the first reading of changes to its solicitation ordinance, which would allow nonprofits to collect contributions in the rights-of-way.
The first reading of an amendment to the city of Woodstock's solicitation ordinance will be considered by the City Council tonight. The council will hold a called meeting at 7 p.m. at the Chambers at City Center. The changes Woodstock will consider mirrors that of Cherokee County, which allows non-profit organizations to solicit on public highway rights-of-ways. Woodstock's ordinance would also establish a permit process for those who wish to partake in the solicitations. The issue when was brought to light in January when a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 11768, based out of St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church in Woodstock, was told they could not solicit to collect donations in the right-of-way. The city in 2011 passed …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The City Council on Monday heard a summary of its fiscal year 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
While the city of Woodstock ended fiscal year 2012 with a general fund deficit, it has made improvements to its financial outlook. The Woodstock City Council heard a presentation on the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report compiled by Snellville-based Certified Public Accountant James Whitaker. Some of the city's financial highlights include (by June 30, 2012): Whitaker pointed out the city has taken steps to reduce the deficit as well as to rebuild the city's reserves. He also said the city has seen an upswing in its economic outlook. "I think the city has made progress in recent months," he said New residential and commercial construction will have a positive impact on the city's property tax digest, new residential permits doubled …
Monday, March 25, 2013
The city will consider an ordinance that mirrors Cherokee County's ordinance that regulates solicitation.
The Woodstock City Council will consider an ordinance that would regulate solicitation in the right of way during its meeting tonight. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the Chambers at City Center. The ordinance Woodstock will consider mirrors that of Cherokee County, which allows non-profit organizations to solicit on public highway rights-of-ways. It would also establish a permit process for those who wish to partake in the solicitations. The issue when was brought to light in January when a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 11768, based out of St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church in Woodstock, was told they could not solicit to collect donations in the right-of-way. The city in 2011 passed an ordinance that banned …
