Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodstock council reviews draft downtown master plan, consultants propose three market strategies
Summary
Consultants presented a draft downtown master plan that urges a market-based approach — building a creative economy, expanding downtown housing and reinforcing Woodstock’s Town Square identity — and recommends a new downtown management organization; council signaled support and asked staff to return with adoption options.
Mayor Turner opened the meeting and introduced a presentation of the draft Downtown Master Plan, prepared by the Lakota Group, saying council sought feedback rather than immediate adoption. Consultant Josh Bloom said the plan frames three market-based strategies — a creative economy, a “suburban oasis” residential approach and positioning Woodstock as “Chicagoland’s Town Square” — with recommendations that range from marketing and façade incentives to upper-story infill housing and improved wayfinding.
“Downtown Woodstock is already a great place,” said Josh Bloom of the Lakota Group. He outlined actions to support creative enterprises, extend streetscape treatments beyond the square and connect events more intentionally to local businesses.
Mayor Turner and staff highlighted the public-engagement results included in the packet: 482 resident survey responses, 38 business responses, 60 in-person participants and 185 online open-house participants. Turner said the plan provides a roadmap for how the city and private partners can coordinate future downtown investments.
Council members praised the depth of analysis but pushed on cost and timing. Councilman Tom and others cautioned that several recommended capital projects will require value engineering and grant or private funding to avoid overloading the city’s capital program, particularly given nearby Route 47 work. Councilwoman Ziemba and others asked for examples of funding models and downtown organizations that leverage non-general-fund resources.
Consultants urged a mix of low-cost actions and longer-term capital work, and recommended considering a downtown management entity to scale implementation without adding city staff. Kevin Clark and Peter Lemmon, who spoke about public-space and mobility recommendations, suggested targeted improvements such as extending sidewalks and streetscape materials beyond the square and testing limited overnight parking pilots tied to a parking-management strategy.
Members of the public and stakeholders largely endorsed the plan’s emphasis on connectivity and arts-based placemaking. Alan Stebbins reminded council that the downtown is a national-register historic district and recommended the city help owners pursue federal and state historic tax credits when appropriate. Several arts advocates asked the city to continue partnerships with private fundraisers for public art and to account for long-term maintenance.
The council agreed to ask staff to bring back an ordinance for adoption, either as presented or with council-directed modifications, and to use the plan as a reference document for future decisions. The consultants posted the plan at woodstockdowntownmasterplan.com and announced a public presentation on June 16 at the Old Courthouse Center.
Next steps: staff will use council feedback to refine an adoption recommendation and pursue funding strategies for prioritized items.
