By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer | jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
The Woodruff City Council approved the final reading for annexation and zoning of approximately 175 acres for future residential development.
Five parcels of land on Fortenberry Road near Highway 221 and Peanut Road, representing about 145 acres, were approved for future residential development as R-2 Residential. Staff indicated that preliminary plans show a density of approximately three units per acre.
Another 30 acres in the area with frontage on Highway 221 was approved for annexation and zoning as Planned Development, which would allow for commercial development on the highway and residential behind that. The owner has no immediate plans for development but requested the annexation and zoning for future use.
In other business, the council also approved the second reading for the annexation and zoning of 3.53 acres on S.J. Workman Highway. The property will be added to an existing residential development in the area. They also approved the second reading of a request to rezone 3.33 acres at 1025 Cross Anchor from R-1 Single Family to C-2 Limited Commercial.
City Manager Lee Bailey also provided the council with an update regarding recovery efforts from the impact of Hurricane Helene.
“The last month was an incredible strain on our community, and a lot of staff and residents stepped up to help this community,” he said. “I wanted to bring them in to recognize them, but the list was just too big.”
Bailey said that efforts by staff included clearing roads, regardless of whether they were city, county, or state-owned, almost immediately following the storm. Staff hauled over 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel to keep critical items running during the power outage.
He also mentioned the efforts of staff and volunteers from Church at the Mill and the school district to help provide free meals in town and a group of volunteers from an ATV club in Columbia who came up to help clear trees.
“The weather exposed some weaknesses, and now we can address those, like better communication preparation,” Bailey said.
In closing business, Bailey told the Council that the auditor’s report would be presented at the November meeting.
Woodruff City Council meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The meetings are open to the public, and the next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 26.
Author: Tracy Sanders
