The Georgetown Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended March 5 that City Council approve a special-use permit for an event center known as The Union on Eighth.
City Council could consider the permit, which includes several conditions for the facility, at its March 26 meeting.
Justin and Katie Bohls, owners of Sweet Sunday Events, plan to open the event facility in the former Conway Transmission building at 224. E. Eighth St. Justin Bohls said the couple plans to turn the historic building into a hip event venue.
"We feel this would be a great addition to downtown and to the city as a whole," he said.
During the March 5 public hearing, neighboring residents and business owners cited concerns over noise and parking issues.
"I love my neighborhood, and I don't have to worry too much about [my son's] safety when he is out," resident Lisa Shumate said during the meeting. "I object to the proposed event center because it will threaten the safety and well-being of my family and the neighborhood. it will disrupt our right to quiet enjoyment and will decrease property values and be a threat to the moral character of our neighborhood."
The Williamson Museum Director Mickie Ross said the need for more event centers in downtown is apparent to her, as she manages rentals of the Williamson County Courthouse for events.
"We've done a fabulous job in Georgetown of promoting the most beautiful town square, and we've done such a good job that everybody wants to come downtown to do more things, and there is less and less things available," Ross said. "In the last six months, the requests for use of the courthouse has doubled, and I think that is primarily because we have done such a good job of promoting what we have downtown."
The proposal includes using the 4,200-square-foot building for both leasable office space and an event facility.
During business hours—Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.—the space would be open for cooperative workspace for vendors tied to weddings and events, which could include florists, photographers, wedding planners or caterers. Sweet Sunday Events would also have an office in the space.
The facility, including the building and an additional 3,000 square feet of courtyard, would also be available for events such as wedding receptions and ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, corporate functions, birthday parties and reunions. Bohls said he anticipates the facility being used mostly on Fridays and Saturdays.
According to the recommendation from the commission, the special-use permit would require events:
- be limited to a maximum of 225 guests;
- start no earlier than 9 a.m. and end by 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday;
- music and entertainment must end by 9:45 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and 10:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday;
- alcoholic beverages must not be served after 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday;
- any amplification, speaker or music source must be located within the building;
- a facility representative must be on-site during all events;
- a minimum of one security officer must be at any event exceeding 50 guests, and two officers are required at events exceeding 100 guests;
- events serving alcohol require a state-licensed and certified bartender;
- the primary entry for guests, vendors and office usage will be on the north side of the property;
- no parking related to event or office usage will be allowed on Myrtle Street and adjacent residential areas;
- and the applicant shall acquire a shared parking agreement, as outlined in the city's Unified Development Code, to address parking demands of larger events prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
