Letter to City of Woodstock

The following letter was read into record to the City Council last night. The Council is asking for some time to develop a plan for everyone to be able to look at and have their input on. More info to come

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Dear Honorable Mayor and Council,

On behalf of the six hundred, twenty five homeowners in the Brookshire neighborhood, we the board of directors are writing you in regards to the Ridgewalk area in the City of Woodstock. As we are located directly across the bridge from this area, any development in the immediate and surrounding area will have a great impact on our neighborhood. The undeveloped area at Ridgewalk is one of the, if not the, largest, most undeveloped portions of land within the City of Woodstock.

We, as a unified neighborhood, are sincerely concerned that a masterplan has not been implemented up to this point. We understand that the city has intentions on developing the area under the masterplan, once the proposed developer, Horizon Group Properties has been allowed time for their input in the matter to be considered in regards to the plan. Regardless the outcome of those discussions, we as city residents, are asking that our elected representatives, the mayor and council, exercise extreme caution in planning this region according to standards that will protect and improve the integrity of the surrounding area, the future development and land use plan, and the residents currently living in this area.

We are all disappointed with losing the potential Cousins development of the Avenue. That does not mean that we are willing to accept a lower substitute to be developed in this area just to fill the undeveloped space. We as residents would rather see good, quality, high end type development, although it may take longer to develop, be cost prohibitive given the current market conditions, or dissuade potential developers currently in the process of planning for future projects at Ridgewalk. We understand that the city is, and has used, caution in making sure that development in the City of Woodstock is built to a higher standard, and we are asking that you uphold those same standards in regards to the Ridgewalk area as well.

We would like to see the masterplan implemented, including the potential Horizon Group mall site. We do not see it as being acceptable for the city to implement a plan under a developer’s guideline, and ask that the plan be put into place, and developers develop to the standards set forth in the plan. Roughly two years ago, Wood Partners was allowed one more apartment building in Ridgewalk, in exchange for the developer allowing the remaining development to be masterplanned. We understand that those plans were delayed due to Cousin’s Properties’ interest in developing the entire parcel, however now that they are neither the landowner nor the developer; we are asking that this plan be put into place immediately.

We, as a neighborhood, sincerely appreciate the Mayor and Council’s service to us citizens, the ability to voice our opinion, and the opportunity to share this great concern with you. We hope you consider this concern seriously and implement the masterplan at Ridgewalk as soon as administratively possible.

Sincerely,

The Brookshire Board of Directors

The Brookshire Homeowners Association, Inc.