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Residents urge council to oppose Lily Pond Road gravel-pit annexation; mayor outlines process
Summary
Residents, led by Mike Phillips, told the council they strongly oppose annexation and development of a gravel pit on Lily Pond Road and said they felt the process disadvantaged neighbors; Mayor Turner replied that the matter is under staff/planning commission review and "is not a done deal."
Multiple residents told the Woodstock City Council on Jan. 20 they oppose the proposed annexation and gravel-pit development near Lily Pond Road, describing large turnouts at the planning commission and confusion about property ownership and the review process.
"I'm against the pit on Lily Pond, north of the UP tracks," said Mike Phillips, who identified himself and his Woodstock address at the start of public comment. He described a packed planning commission hearing and said residents feel "backed into a corner" and that the process can seem stacked against neighbors.
Mayor Turner responded directly to that characterization: "That is simply not true," he said, outlining the sequence for land-use petitions — staff vetting, planning-commission public hearings and subsequent council consideration — and offering to hold informal Q&A sessions and forums to help neighbors understand the process.
Phillips and others requested clearer public information on property ownership and the petition; Phillips said he had spent time reviewing county property maps and found parcel ownership and trust structures confusing. He asked for more outreach and transparency so neighbors can be better informed ahead of future hearings.
The council did not take action on the matter at this meeting; planning commission review is ongoing and the mayor said the process could take multiple meetings and additional public engagement.
Staff, planning commission and council members will continue the formal review processes before any annexation or zoning decision is made.
