Selma council denies special-use permit for River Oak Commons event venue with bar near residential area

The Town Council on June 25 denied a special-use permit request for River Oak Commons, a proposed business and event venue at 1101 River Road that included a small bar as an ancillary feature.

Taylor Graham, planning staff, summarized the request: River Oak Commons LLC sought permission to use the 5.07-acre site in General Business (GB) for office space, event rental and a bar as a supplementary use. Staff noted the office and event uses are permitted by right but the bar required a special-use permit under the code.

Applicant Eric Edwards said the site would include offices, a 12,500-square-foot event building containing a 555-square-foot bar (roughly 4 percent of the building), a commercial kitchen, seminar rooms, coworking space and outdoor patios. Edwards said the bar's purpose was to serve event patrons and that he anticipated private and corporate events rather than a stand-alone bar.

However, the police chief and fire department raised concerns in staff materials and during the hearing about the proximity of the venue to a predominantly residential area, potential increases in DWI incidents, higher call volume and the need for security. During the quasi-judicial review council voted the findings of fact; council voted not to find that the development "will not endanger the public health or safety" and similarly voted negative on the finding that the development would be "in harmony with the area." The council found the project would not substantially injure adjoining property values and would conform with the town's future land-use plan, but the negative votes on public-safety and harmony findings led to a motion to deny the special-use permit.

Council denied the special-use permit by motion after deliberation; staff and the applicant were advised of the council's concerns and the denial was entered into the record.