Hat Creek Burger Co. pulls special-use permit discussion from council

Georgetown City Council was expected to discuss a special-use permit for a Hat Creek Burger Co. drive-thru restaurant at 405 S. Austin Ave., but the item was pulled by the developer before the meeting, Georgetown Mayor George Garver said.

The restaurant needed to acquire a special-use permit to put a drive-thru at that location, and the application was presented to the city's Planning & Zoning Commission on April 3. The commission voted 7–0 to recommend council not approve the permit.

Hat Creek owner Drew Gressett said he pulled the item because of legal questions concerning whether the council needed a simple majority or a super majority vote to overturn the commission's ruling. Gressett said he does not know when he will bring his request back to City Council.

Gressett's proposed plans include an approximately 3,000-square-foot restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating, a drive-thru and a children's play area.

The restaurant could bring 250 cars per day to the property, about a third of which would use the drive-thru, Gressett said.

City Council directs staff to draft chicken ordinance

Georgetown City Council directed staff April 24 to draft an ordinance regulating chicken coops within the city limits.

The ordinance could allow for up to eight hens and would require a 20-foot setback of the coop from side and rear property lines. Coops would not be allowed at the front of properties.

The ordinance could also limit the types of hens allowed, prohibit roosters, and require owners to provide written notice to the animal services director and a building permit or some type of review of coop construction and placement, according to a staff report presented to council.

The motion to direct staff was approved in a 4–3 vote, with council members Tommy Gonzalez, Pat Berryman and Danny Meigs voting against.

The ordinance will also state that homeowners associations and neighborhood deed restrictions and covenants would supersede the ordinance, meaning if a neighborhood association had a rule against keeping chickens, the ordinance would not permit them.

Bed and breakfast permit approved

The Georgetown City Council approved a special use permit to allow a bed and breakfast to operate at 1602 S. Austin Ave., which is zoned for residential use. The house has four required parking spaces and three bedrooms, two of which will be available for guests.

Community emergency notification system to undergo committee study

On April 24, City Council approved creating a citizens task force committee to study the city's emergency notification processes and network.

The task force will study the current system and research best practices from other communities throughout the region and state, review success stories and identify recommendations to enhance the system with possible funding mechanisms, Fire Chief Robert Fite said.

Other action

The council approved issuing $12.5 million in bonds for the Public Safety Training and Operations Facility.