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Planning commission backs angled parking for Paragon office on Main Street
Summary
The Woodstock Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a variance allowing six angled on‑street parking spaces for a new Paragon office at 9026 Main Street after staff said the design and nearby precedent support the change; neighbors urged the city to address traffic and sight‑line issues at the Barnsdale intersection.
The Woodstock Planning Commission on May 7 recommended approval of Variance No. 2206, allowing six angled on‑street parking spaces fronting a proposed Paragon Accounting & Tax Solutions office at 9026 Main Street. The action moves the project forward to City Council as a recommendation from the commission.
Staff presented the request and said the parcels are zoned DTRO with a historic overlay and that nearby developments had already received council approval for angled spaces; staff recommended the variance for consistency. "The proposed building will be designed to meet the character and appearance required in the overlay," staff said during the presentation.
Applicant attorney Joel Larkin told commissioners angled spaces would yield more public spaces and be easier for drivers than parallel parking. "Parallel parking would probably yield about half as many spaces for the public as the six that we're showing," Larkin said, and he argued mixed diagonal/parallel layouts could create confusion and safety risks.
Residents who live near Aden Park and Barnsdale Terrace urged the commission to consider traffic and sight‑line problems at the nearby Barnsdale/Napa Drive intersection and asked the city to prioritize intersection improvements. Courtney Morgan, who said she lives at 214 Napa Drive, urged the commission to "put in that light before you let that happen," citing documented visibility problems at the intersection. Sharon Whitmore, of 120 Barnsdale Terrace, agreed, saying the road is narrow and sight lines are impeded by landscaping and fencing.
Commission discussion cited precedent on adjacent properties and agreed that mixing parallel and diagonal spaces at the same curb would likely be confusing. A motion to approve the variance carried unanimously; the commission’s approval is a recommendation that will go to City Council.
Next steps: The recommendation and record from the commission will be forwarded to City Council for a final decision.
