Leander City Council gave its final approval to a zoning ordinance amendment that will broaden options for entertainment throughout the city during its July 18 meeting.

The gist

During a July 10 City Council meeting, city staff recommended an amendment that outlines regulations for an entertainment overlay in the city’s composite zoning ordinance.

According to city officials, this entertainment overlay acts as a blanket zoning designation over a property or development, allowing it to be home to more entertainment uses, which may include night clubs, theaters and banquet halls.

Executive Director of Development Services Robin Griffin said the entertainment overlay gives developers or property owners some relief from the city's typical zoning standards and expectations.

The amendment also provides lighter restrictions for food truck parks. Previously, food truck parks needed a special-use permit approved by council to operate. However, Griffin said the amendment allows them to be in entertainment overlays without that extra step.

Lastly, the amendment adds farmers markets to the city’s zoning code. Prior to the amendment, Griffin said the city's ordinance was “silent” on farmers markets. Individuals had to submit applications for special-event or special-use permits to establish them.

This amendment allows farmers markets to be part of entertainment overlays, Griffin said, adding that they can still be established through special-use permits.

Put in perspective

Assistant Director of Economic Development Nichole Vance said the new zoning regulation could impact economic development and help attract new businesses to the city as well as benefit the city’s existing businesses.

“The overlay really aims to diversify and energize our business landscape, while creating a quality of place for both residents and businesses,” she said. “The entertainment [overlay] creates an appealing environment where employees want to live and work, which is really a significant factor when companies are deciding where they want to place their business.”

According to Vance, the new regulation can affect existing businesses by:

• Offering opportunities for extending operating hours and cross-promotion with new venues, which can help drive more traffic and sales to their establishments
• Filling a void of designated spaces for cultural and social activities, such as farmers markets

“[This regulation] can really make Leander a more complete and self-sustaining community where people can find entertainment, dining [and] shopping, and they don’t need to travel outside of the city,” she said. “In my opinion, the overlay is a tool that provides an opportunity to help create really a thriving, prosperous community.”

One more thing

During the July 10 meeting, council mentioned a few changes they wanted city staff to make in the zoning ordinance amendment, which were adopted in the final approval at the July 18 meeting.

Griffin said the following changes were included:

• An update to clarify that the overlay could include multiple properties or one large property
• An addition of a minimum number of vendors or booths needed to qualify as a farmers market, which is five

With the passing of the ordinance, council member Michael Herrera recommended the city host a workshop for businesses to explain the new regulations and how they can take advantage of it. A date for the workshop was not yet specified.