Commission recommends annexation of 36 acres for Little River Park; city says parcels will remain natural

The Woodstock Planning Commission on Aug. 7 unanimously recommended City Council approve annexation and rezoning of two Cherokee County parcels totaling about 36.32 acres into the City of Woodstock for inclusion in Little River Park.

Staff said the parcels (one about 0.5 acre zoned County R15 and a larger parcel of roughly 35.82 acres zoned County R40) were acquired by the city in May from Green Prince Alliance and are planned to be incorporated into Little River Park. The city applied to annex and rezone the parcels to the city's OS (Open Space) district and assign them a natural preserve character area.

Staff and the Development Process Committee recommended approval; Cherokee County indicated no objection in its response. Several nearby residents spoke at the hearing with concerns about flooding, the natural character of the riverbank and public access: Lucy Boatman asked the city to keep the parcel "natural and undeveloped" and to prevent off‑road vehicle use; Peter Blake, a homeowner at the end of River Run, asked that the parcel not become a public parking or trailhead that would create parking pressure on his dead‑end street.

Staff read an email from the city manager reassuring residents that the parcels would be left natural and undeveloped, would not serve as a public entrance to Little River Park, and that the park's trails would not be routed across these lots. Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend annexation and rezoning to OS; the measure now moves to City Council for final action.