During its Nov. 10 meeting, Pflugerville City Council unanimously rejected a proposed zoning amendment that would have allowed a wine bar next to Parkway Bible Church, which provides addiction recovery ministry services.
More details
Had the motion passed, The Three Legged Goat, which recently closed, would have been allowed to relocate to within the Hill Country Bible Church planned unit development.
The PUD is a 48-acre tract of land located at the southeast corner of East Pflugerville Parkway and Wilke Ridge Lane.
The discussion
Members of the community expressed concerns about the proposed rezoning.
“Recovery from addiction is a very long and difficult process,” Francisco Peralta, counseling director at Parkway Bible Church, said. “In early recovery, counselors emphasize staying away from people, places and things that trigger temptation. I’m concerned about having this type of establishment so close to a place where we treat people to stay away from. Please don’t make relapse easier for those we treat.”
Others echoed those concerns, as well as concerns about noise and parking.
Council member Rudy Metayer said he has been involved with the church for over 15 years.
“They have been excellent partners in our community,” Metayer said. “I flat out disagree with any changes that should be happening with that PUD right now.”
The other side
Chris Hernandez, who spoke at the meeting to represent Three Legged Goat owner Jim McDonald, said the Three Legged Goat was established as a place for people to connect and build friendships.
“The Three Legged Goat isn’t just a wine bar, it’s a community gathering place,” Hernandez said. “We worked hard to create a welcoming, family-friendly environment where people of all ages feel comfortable. … As Pflugerville continues to grow, I think it’s important to preserve the locally owned businesses that give our city its character.”
