By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer
jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
In a packed agenda, the Woodruff City Council moved ahead with several annexation requests, approved the establishment of a detective unit for the police department, and revised the zoning ordinance for the city’s revitalization district.
In the most significant of the zoning requests, the Council approved the first reading of a request for annexation and zoning of just over 280 acres of land located on Allendale Road. The seven parcels near the site of the new high school are projected to become a new housing development with a potential three homes per acre. The council approved the first reading to zone the parcels as R-2 single family.
The Council approved several annexation items pertaining to small, 10-foot strips of land along Highway 101. The small annexations are used to make a further parcel contiguous with the city map for annexation. The small parcels carry no zoning and have no tax implications on the owner of the larger parcel the 10-foot strips cross.
In another land-related item, the Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to rezone just less than an acre of land at 801 Buncombe Street Extension from C-1 commercial to R-3 multi-family. The owner purchased the land to build a multi-family project but was unaware the parcel was zoned commercial.
The land items will return to the Council for a second reading at the February meeting.
Woodruff Police Chief Greg Ryan presented an item to the Council requesting a change to the department’s policies and procedures for the creation, staffing, and operation of a detective unit.
“This expands the resources of our department and provides the structure to add resources as the city grows,” Chief Ryan said. “It will help us increase our closure rate on cases.”
The detective unit would initially be established by reallocating current staff to the newly created department and involved no new hires at this time. The officer re-assigned to the detective unit would complete detective training through the state.
The Council also approved the first reading of an ordinance to repeal and replace Section XI of the current city zoning ordinance. The revision request was the result of a regular review of the current ordinance and would make changes to the sign ordinance by allowing a business with multiple entrances to have a sign at each entrance. It also clarifies conflicts between the regular zoning ordinance and the revitalization overlay, making the stricter of the two ordinances apply to any requests in that area.
In reports, City Manager Lee Bailey told the Council about landscape updates being made along Main Street in downtown. The city is replacing old trees that were dead, damaged, or non-native species with new trees. The city will also be replacing some pavers and freshening up the look of Main Street for the 150th-anniversary celebration this year.
Bailey also told the Council the city will be adding a new event this year with a St. Patrick’s Day event on Main Street. The event will feature live music and is also part of the 150th celebration.
The Woodruff City Council meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The meetings are open to the public, and the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 27.
