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Planning commission recommends city council approve Goodwill/store and self‑storage redevelopment at 2050 Southeastwood Drive
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a redevelopment plan for 2050 Southeastwood Drive that would split a 44,000‑sq. ft. building for a Goodwill store and indoor self‑storage, allow a new outlot for future commercial use, and include conditions for engineering, sequencing retail before additional storage, and deviations for setbacks and lot coverage.
The Woodstock Planning Commission on Jan. 15 recommended that the City Council approve a preliminary and final plat and a special‑use permit to redevelop 2050 Southeastwood Drive for a Goodwill store and indoor self‑storage facility, subject to multiple conditions including engineering corrections, landscaping and sequencing of future storage uses.
Staff described the property as roughly 34 acres with a large wetland that limits developable area and presented findings that the Goodwill store and climate‑controlled indoor storage would not be detrimental to public health, safety or neighboring property. Staff also noted the applicant’s request for a modification to increase lot coverage from 50% to about 82% for the new lot; the commission discussed that lot coverage deviation as part of the planned‑unit‑development review and included deviations and engineering conditions in the recommendation.
Applicant Steven Schwartz and his team described a phased plan: Phase 1 would renovate the existing 44,000‑square‑foot building into two tenant spaces (Goodwill plus storage) with parking and canopy improvements; Phase 2 would develop Lot 2 and include cross‑site utility connections; Phase 3 would replace outbuildings with a new self‑storage building. Schwartz said the developable portion of the site is substantially smaller than the total acreage because of wetlands, and said the team would address stormwater and other engineering comments as required by the city engineer.
Craig Steede, representing Goodwill, emphasized community benefits including reuse of a vacant building, job‑training programs and donation operations. “We keep over 19,000,000 pounds out of the landfill every year,” Steede said, describing Goodwill’s regional recycling and employment work.
The commission voted to adopt staff findings (as amended) and recommend approval to the City Council subject to enumerated conditions: addressing outstanding engineering review comments, requiring retail buildout before additional on‑site storage is considered, deviations for front/side yard setbacks and lot coverage to bring the existing building into conformance, and other code compliance items. The recommendation passed by roll call.
Next steps: the commission’s action will be forwarded to city council for final approval; the applicant must satisfy engineering and permitting requirements before construction begins.
