Bertram council approves amendment to Central Business District to allow mixed residential and commercial uses

At its May 2026 meeting the Bertram City Council voted to amend the Central Business District (CBD) rules to permit mixed residential and commercial uses and to change the district name. The ordinance was read as number 26 0 5 2 6 2 6 and, after an amendment removing a spacing asterisk and a minimum front-setback row, the council approved the measure.

Cheryl Erwin, who identified herself as co-owner of Texas Exist Winery, told the council she supported mixed use because it would allow lodging and outdoor entertainment near her business. "So we would really like to have the opportunity to build a tiny home or something for somebody to stay in," Erwin said (SEG 068–070). Erwin said expanded lodging options would help make the winery more of a destination and boost local businesses and tax revenue.

Council members debated several technical points in the allowed-uses table. The presiding officer noted that the table lists "barbershop, beauty shop, cosmetology, or hairdresser" with an asterisk that would effectively bar a new barbershop because the rule requires businesses to be more than 550 feet apart; "there's not a single barbershop in this town," the presiding officer said in describing the practical effect (SEG 144–146). Councilors also discussed sidewalks and a proposed 10-foot setback that could force new buildings out into the street or conflict with existing irregular lot lines; members considered a 0-lot-line approach to preserve historic alignment.

A councilor moved to remove the asterisk on the barber/beauty line and to eliminate the minimum front-setback row from the ordinance. The amendment passed on a council vote, the main motion was moved and seconded, and the ordinance was approved as read. The council did not record an individual roll-call tally in the transcript; the motion was announced as carried on the record (SEG 463–473).