Planning commission votes to forward revised bylaws to village trustees

The Woodstock Planning Commission voted to transmit its revised bylaws and zoning regulations to the village trustees for their review and public hearings. Chair (speaker S1) said the motion had been moved and seconded and called for the vote; the motion passed with four votes in favor and one abstention.

Commissioners framed the action as a transmission for trustee review rather than a final adoption by the commission. "Matt has moved. I have seconded — all in favor of moving this to the village trustees, say aye," the chair said during the roll call. Several commissioners asked that a cover letter accompany the transmission and indicated they would attend trustee hearings to speak to outstanding concerns, including design-review composition and historic-district protections.

The commission's vote advances the draft to the trustees, who will hold at least one public hearing before taking any adoption vote. Staff said trustees could make substantial changes after their hearing, but if they do so they must hold another hearing. The commission also noted that moving the draft forward does not end the conversation; the trustees can return the draft to the commission or adopt it with or without edits.

What comes next: the trustees will warn their hearing(s) and accept public comment; if the trustees propose substantial changes they will be required to hold an additional hearing before a final adoption vote. Commissioners said they will prepare a cover letter and attend trustee hearings to emphasize issues they want considered.