By Tim Schmidt Record Managing Editor A request to rezone nearly 2 acres on South Highway 47 has been withdrawn after the property was sold. Warrenton Mayor Jerry Dyer confirmed that the property, located at the northwest corner of Highway 47 and Villa Duschene Drive, was purchased by Fellowship Baptist Church. The property is located between the church and the entrance to the Lake Chateau subdivision. Property owners Tadd and Carin Hicks had requested the property be rezoned to C-2 (general commercial) from R-2 (medium density, single-family residential). The applicants said they did not have any particular plan for the property, but it was noted that the zoning change would match the city’s comprehensive plan. However, the proposed rezoning was met with opposition from nearby property owners, including many residents who lived in the adjacent subdivision. The rezoning request was defeated by a 6-2 vote by the planning and zoning commission at its June 5 meeting. A public hearing on the proposed rezoning was scheduled to be held at the June 17 board of aldermen meeting, but was canceled. “We probably need to thank Fellowship Baptist Church for stepping up and purchasing that property,” Dyer said at the July 1 board of aldermen meeting. “That took the situation away from the board. It was a touchy situation for us because we weren’t sure which way the board was going to go on it. We might have saved the city and taxpayers a great deal of money. The church is excited to have that piece of property.” In other news • The board finalized the annexation of 17.83 acres located on Willow Road. The city recently purchased the property, adjacent to its wastewater treatment plant facility. An ordinance to annex the property was approved by a 4-0 vote. Aldermen Eric Schleuter and John Clark were absent from the July 1 meeting. • The city will allow placement of signs within the right of way of any street for a 24-hour period beginning at midnight on July 25. The move was made since the citywide yard sale will be held on Saturday, July 26. Aldermen approved the temporary moratorium by a 4-0 vote. • Emergency repairs that had to be done to Well No. 8 and at the wastewater treatment plant cost the city $11,540.14, Public Works Director Guy Gevers informed the board. The repairs to the well cost $4,655.14, with the work at the treatment facility costing $6,885. • Aldermen agreed to award two bids to paint two water towers despite the lowest bids coming in $81,600 over budget. The projects will cost the city $490,000. The city had budgeted $408,400 for the work. Officials said they will use funds that had been unappropriated in the budget to cover the funding gap. Aldermen voted 4-0 to award the paint jobs to Maguire Iron. • Aldermen adopted two ordinances establishing new water and sewer rates for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. Rates are increasing by 5 percent and are effective Aug. 1. • The liquor license application for 2014-2015 was renewed for the R Corner Bar and Grill by a 4-0 vote.
Rezoning request in Warrenton withdrawn
