Community Q&A: How will you balance Woodstock’s growth with long-term affordability and access to housing?
At our Turn Up the Volume Woodstock Town Hall on September 17, housing was one of the hottest topics of the night. A neighbor asked:
Q: How will you balance Woodstock’s growth with long-term affordability and access to housing?
A:
Woodstock has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Georgia for two decades. Growth has brought energy and opportunity, but it’s also brought higher housing costs, traffic, and pressure on schools and infrastructure. The big challenge now is making sure Woodstock doesn’t become a place where only the wealthy can afford to live.
Here’s how I’d approach it:
Tie growth to affordability. The Woodstock Housing Market Study recommends inclusionary zoning — requiring that a portion of new development be affordable to middle-income families. I support making this a requirement in rezonings, not just a “nice-to-have” if a developer feels generous. Incentives like density bonuses, expedited permits, or reduced fees can help make it feasible, but affordability should be non-negotiable.
Use the right tools — and make them accessible. In June 2024, Woodstock approved a new ordinance regulating Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — small “granny flats” or “carriage houses” that can provide more attainable housing options. The ordinance allows ADUs in low-density (DT-LR) and very low-density (DT-VLR) residential districts, with requirements on design, location, parking, and height. For example, ADUs must be located behind the main home, have a separate entrance not visible from the street, provide one extra parking space, and are capped at two bedrooms.
That’s progress — but rules alone won’t make ADUs a real option unless we also provide pre-approved building plans, plain-language guides, and a fair permitting process that regular families (not just developers with architects) can navigate. Done right, ADUs could help teachers, seniors, and young families find housing options in Woodstock’s existing neighborhoods.
Beyond ADUs, Woodstock should also move forward on other tools like community land trusts and partnerships with nonprofits and state housing agencies. These approaches can keep some housing permanently affordable and bring in resources the city doesn’t have on its own.
Protect existing neighborhoods. Growth shouldn’t mean tearing down starter homes just to replace them with luxury townhouses. That means making sure new construction fits the character of our neighborhoods, keeping outside investors from buying up too many homes, and only approving rezonings that bring a real mix of housing options — not just more luxury development.
Track the data. We need to measure how many homes in Woodstock are owned by families versus corporate landlords, how fast prices are rising compared to wages, and where affordability gaps are widening. That transparency will keep the public in the loop and guide smarter policy.
Balance infrastructure with housing. Growth has to match road capacity, schools, and water systems. That means tying approvals to objective benchmarks — for example, requiring that a funded traffic project is under construction, or that school capacity is in place, before high-density housing gets the green light. Yes, projects sometimes get delayed by the state or the school board. When that happens, the city should be transparent about why timelines shift, and approvals should adjust accordingly instead of just charging ahead.
I know some developers will push back — they always do when asked to build for more than just profit. But growth only works when it serves the community as a whole. My job is to negotiate from that principle, not to give away the store. That means building coalitions with residents, civic groups, and businesses who understand that long-term affordability benefits everyone — including employers who need a stable workforce.
At the end of the day, affordability isn’t just about numbers — it’s about who gets to call Woodstock home. If our teachers, firefighters, nurses, and young families are priced out, we lose the very people who make this community strong.
Growth is coming whether we like it or not. The real question is: will it serve the people who already call Woodstock home, or will it leave them behind?
