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Planning and Zoning Commission approves SUD for Detour Bar at 1708 Rankin Highway, 7-0
Summary
The Midland Planning and Zoning Commission approved a two‑year specific use designation to allow on‑premises sale of all alcoholic beverages at the Detour Bar, 1708 Rankin Highway, after hearing staff and the property owner address parking, objections and lawful‑existence questions.
The Midland Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7‑0 on July 7 to approve a specific use designation (SUD) allowing the on‑premises sale of all alcoholic beverages at the Detour Bar, 1708 Rankin Highway, in Council District 2. The commission approved the request with the standard staff‑recommended conditions; SUDs default to a two‑year term.
Staff presented the request as an SUD for an existing bar whose serviceable area is 3,361 square feet inside a 3,870 square foot building. The presenter said the property is in the RR (Regional Retail) zoning district and that staff verified it is not within 300 feet of schools or churches. Staff reported two written objections (about 4% of notices mailed), primarily citing loud music, parking and traffic. Staff recommended approval, noting an active TABC license through year‑end and a certificate of occupancy dating to 2017.
The discussion focused on parking and the legal status of the existing use. A staff member said, "If a use is existing before the date of the zoning ordinance ... we can't make them add more parking," explaining that the city cannot require additional off‑street parking for an existing building unless a structure is enlarged. A commissioner pressed on whether the business had been lawfully existing; the staff presenter distinguished the building/use from the specific request for alcohol sales, saying the physical use predated the current zoning ordinance and the certificate of occupancy indicated compliance at the time it was issued.
Property owner Russell Hoffman, who identified his home address and said he has owned the Detour for 16½ years, told the commission the business has operated continuously and that he only recently learned some city records were out of date. "We were operating legally all this time," Hoffman said, adding that most customers park in a large area behind the building and that the site can accommodate roughly 35 cars, in addition to street parking.
Commissioners asked whether prior SUD approvals that required on‑site security were precedential; staff said such conditions are imposed case‑by‑case and recommended sticking with standard SUD conditions for this request. A final question confirmed that SUDs default to two years, which staff affirmed.
Commissioner Richardson moved to approve; Commissioner O'Field seconded. The motion carried 7‑0.
The approval grants the business the specific use designation for the sale of all alcoholic beverages for on‑premises consumption under the city's standard conditions for SUDs; no additional parking requirement was imposed as part of this approval. The commission did not adopt any additional, item‑specific security condition.
