By REID TUCKER
The Paxton Town Council had a quick July meeting, hearing update on the status of projects submitted last year for inclusion on the Florida Department of Transportation’s five-year rural work program.
The board members didn’t have any new suggestions to add on the night of its July 15 meeting, so the current list stands at six Paxton roads in need of work since making the recommendations to the West Florida Regional Planning Council last summer. The Planning Council’s Kate Daniel said the 2015-2019 Rural Work Program includes plans to pave Bear Bay Flats Road, Campground Road, Huckaba Road, Shady Lane, Sandy Ramp Road and Parker Lane, with the program itself to begin this October.
Daniel also invited the Town Council members to join with other local governments in the Planning Council’s seven-county region, which would give Paxton a seat on the Planning Council and a voice in its dealings with FDOT in regard to future projects. The board members’ consensus was to consider the $520 annual membership fee at its upcoming budget workshop, set for Aug. 19 at 5 p.m.
Walton County Economic Development Alliance Director Steve Jaeger gave the Town Council an update of his own, this one related to a retail business potentially setting up shop at the city’s vacant four-acre commercial property north of Town Hall. Jaeger has been in contact with Dollar Tree since his last visit to the Town Council in May, and so far has received positive feedback about the prospect of opening a store location in Paxton. The findings of the demographics study of Paxton will be presented the company’s real estate development committee in the coming weeks.
If the Dollar Tree plan moves forward, a Paxton location would go along with the company’s existing area stores, among them locations in DeFuniak Springs, Andalusia and Crestview. Since no building currently exists at the proposed site, Jaeger said Dollar Tree may put forward an offer to buy the property provided that the city pay for construction of a new building, with the idea being to provide reimbursement over time.
Finally, the Town Council voted to authorize Mayor Hayward Thomas to contribute up to $500 of city monies toward the expenses of a trip to the regional tournament for the city’s Dixie Youth Softball League state championship-winning fastpitch team. The team will travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to compete in the league championship series, with the playoffs set to begin Aug. 3.
Local business owners get variance approval to go to Council
By ALICIA LEONARD
An impassioned group of local residents and business owners packed the council chambers for a special meeting July 21, called to hear a variance request put before the DeFuniak Springs Planning Board.
Morada Enterprises, Inc. owned by Michelle and Brad Harding, requested a variance by the board to move their popular dining establishment, Bogey’s Bar & Restaurant, to the site where Murray’s restaurant had once been located. The simple business transaction had been held up because two churches in the business/historic district would be located within 500 feet of the restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages.
A city code ordinance enacted in 1947 that requires the sale of alcoholic beverages to be more than 500 feet from a church or school was at the heart of the issue.
Business owners and church members near the proposed business came out in support of the Hardings. Citing the need for revitalization of the business district, and a need for store front churches and business owners to live in harmony was requested by many who spoke. Some said that although they did not care for alcoholic beverages themselves, the Hardings were responsible and contributing members of the business community and had their full support.
The restaurant would not be open during Sunday or Monday, said the Hardings, and the business would always be used as a restaurant, and not be turned into a bar-only establishment.
Kim Wennerberg, a Realtor working with the parties involved, told the planning board that sale of the building was hanging on the variance being granted, and a second possible business was coming up that was in a similar situation. She said other small communities are finding older codes to be a hindrance to local businesses trying to open, and until the board and Council revisited the code, the issue would continue to come before them.
Board members Terry Dawkins and Bruce Naylor spoke up in favor of updating older ordinances, with Dawkins saying the ordinance did seem a little “archaic” in this day and time, especially with businesses struggling to stay open, and get people through their doors.
The planning board moved 4-0 to support the variance to the City Council for approval, adding that the property could be sold with the variance intact as long as it was used as a restaurant and not a bar only. The variance will now come before the Council for consideration at a future meeting.