What’s happening?
Ketta’s Social was to be a sweepstakes-style social club and game room with slot machines and other games located at 107 N. Hwy. 183 in Leander’s Old Town district. The business had previously set an opening date of Sept. 19, but had to postpone indefinitely after council rejected the company’s permitting at its regular meeting Sept. 18. Council made a motion to allow the owners to make adjustments to their proposal and present their case again.
City councilmember Becki Ross proposed the council reconsider the company’s bid after discussing the situation with Ketta’s Social’s owners.
“I do think there was some significant miscommunication between Ketta’s Social and their hired consultant,” Ross said. “Things were done a little bit backwards in terms of permitting. I do hold some of the same concerns [as other council members], but I believe this team is trying to do well by the community.”
To address some of the council's concerns, the Ketta’s Social team, led by owners Teresa Vota, Karin Banks and Donna Bratton, agreed to reduce operating hours, eliminated a BYOB option, and agreed to expand the parking lot. The team also agreed to consider looking for a new location once their 18-month lease expired.
The takeaway
Even with the changes, the council found that the business didn’t fit in with the overall master plan for the Old Town section of Leander. The council voted 5-2 to reject the special use permit.
“This is a terrible position, but I have a lot of issues,” Mayor Christine DeLisle said.
DeLisle’s concerns were rooted in the planning for Old Town Leander and in maintaining some consistency in the council’s rulings. DeLisle said social clubs like Ketta’s are not prohibited by city ordinance, but didn’t fit in with the city’s development plans for Old Town Leander.
“At our last meeting, we had an applicant who had spent a lot of money to build outside of what he was allowed to build for his zoning classification, and we said a very resounding ‘no,’ that we would not change our policies for him,” DeLisle said. “And as much as I think what you built is beautiful, and I can see that you spent a lot of time, effort and money... We need to be consistent.”
Community Impact has reached out to the owners of Ketta’s Social for further comment.
