City Council approved the first reading for a special-use permit, or SUP, March 26 with additional restrictions for The Union on Eighth event center planned for 224 E. Eighth St.

Justin and Katie Bohls, owners of Sweet Sunday Events, plan to open the event facility in the former Conway Transmission building.

"My family has owned A to Z Rentals and Sweet Sunday Events here in Georgetown for the past 15 years. We are excited to own another business here," Justin Bohls said during the meeting. "What my family is proposing to do is restore a former transmission shop into an upscale event center."

Plans for the site include 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.

During the meeting, several neighboring residents cited concerns over noise and parking issues.

"Downtown is a deliberate mix of commercial and residential," Old Town resident Ross Hunter said. "It's not a free-for-all zone. This use has some merit, but not in this location."

Other business owners and Georgetown residents spoke in support of the proposed center.

"Georgetown is growing, and we have an opportunity to support that growth," resident and business owner Todd White said, adding that he expects the event center to increase business at other local vendors, including restaurants, florists, photographers and bakeries.

On March 5 the Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval by City Council of the SUP with restrictions that would require:

• events be limited to a maximum of 225 guests;
• events start no earlier than 9 a.m. and end by 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and end by 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.

City Council approved several other restrictions that said:

• an owner, not a facility staff member, must be on-site for all events;
• events with 75 guests or more require valet parking;
• noise-dampening materials must be used inside the structure and available technology to limit excessive noise should also be used;
• the proposed 30-foot-wide door must be closed while amplified music or sound is being used inside the facility;
• light pollution, including dance-style lighting indoors, should not be seen from the exterior of the facility;
• and residential decibel standards, not commercial standards, will be the rule.