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Council allows deed split for upper floors at two Linton Street mixed‑use buildings with owner-occupancy restriction
Summary
Council approved variances permitting the second and third floors of 64 and 68 Linton Street to be issued as separate deeds, conditioned on architectural standards, preserving commercial ground-floor units, and a temporary restriction on rental listings to encourage owner‑occupancy.
The Woodstock Mayor and Council voted 5-0 on July 28 to approve variances that allow the upper floors of 64 and 68 Linton Street — mixed-use buildings in the Adair Park development — to be deeded as separate residential units.
Community development staff explained the properties are zoned DTCBD and located in the historic overlay, an overlay intended primarily for detached single-family homes. Staff noted the buildings were designed with fire separation between the second and third floors and that a similar variance for 60 Linton Street had been approved late last year. The planning commission and staff recommended approval with conditions including a maximum of two residential units per building and preservation of the ground-floor commercial space.
Applicant Alec Davidson said the two floors are functionally separate residential units, each with kitchens and bedrooms, and that dividing the floors into separate deeds would lower the purchase price per deed and make owner‑occupation more accessible. He said that without the variance the upper floors would likely be sold to an investor and rented; splitting the deeds would allow prospective owner-occupants to obtain residential mortgages.
Council added a third condition, proposed during deliberations, that the newly deeded residential units “shall be offered fee simple and shall not be offered as short term or long term rentals” past Feb. 28, 2026 — a temporary restriction intended to allow existing occupants and buyers time to transition. The motion to approve, including the three conditions (maximum two residential units, preservation of commercial ground-floor space, and the rental restriction until 02/28/2026), passed 5-0. The motion was made and seconded from the dais; applicant representatives were present and confirmed one of the units was intended to be owner-occupied.
Council members said they supported the variance as a measured way to increase owner-occupied housing choices in downtown while preserving the historic overlay appearance and commercial frontage.
