City Council votes on requested variances

When the Daingerfield City Council met for the last time in 2016, there were two requests on the agenda for variances on existing ordinances.

The first was brought to the Council by Mr. Mark Priestner, representing Mr. Saaa Shelk. Shelk is looking into purchasing property across Highway 259 from Daingerfield’s South Elementary School. Currently, the building is unoccupied. Shelk intends to renovate the current gas station building, and was seeking a variance to the distance requirement for the sale of beer and wine. Under the current ordinance, the building is too close to the school to sell alcohol.

Priestner had addressed the Council at the November meeting, when they chose to table the item until all members could be in attendance. However, due to scheduling conflicts, the council chose to go ahead and act on the request. Priestner shared with the council two renderings. The first was of the current building and how it would be renovated, including landscaping possibilities and the like. The second showed a new, larger building that Shelk is hoping to be able to build on the property in the future.

Priestner again reminded the council that purchase of the property by his client, and any subsequent renovations, were contingent on the variance being granted. “If the variance is not granted, the purchase is off, as it would put him (Shelk) at a disadvantage to not sell beer and wine,” said Priestner. After discussion, Bob Thorne made a motion to grant the variance, with the stipulation that there would be no outside beer or wine advertisement. The motion passed unanimously.

The second variance request involved installation of a 75 square foot sign on a 20 foot, free standing pole. This request was submitted by Jennifer Kennedy with East Texas Signs on behalf of the new O’Reilly Auto Parts store being built at 707 Linda Drive. After discussion, the board voted to approve a motion by Mike Carter to approve the variance. Lonnie Tucker seconded the motion.

Mayor Lou Irvin suggested that the council set a time to review and possibly revise current ordinances, as the council was receiving numerous requests for variances. Although there was no action to be taken on the suggestion, the Council agreed it was time for review. The last review was done around 2003.