City votes to annex Lowe's
Published on 5/15/2008
By Tommy Howard
thoward@gtowntimes.com
Lowe's is still a long way from opening the doors for a new home improvement center in Georgetown, but on Thursday night City Council gave first reading approval to a measure annexing 28 acres into the city.
The land, adjacent to Wal-Mart and Wendy's on U.S. Highway 701/Fraser Street, would be the site of a Lowe's store and smaller retail parcels.
There were actually three ordinances on the agenda. One was for annexing the property into the city, a second was to immediately change zoning from low-density residential to General Commercial, and the third was to approve a special sign overlay district. All three were unanimously approved for first reading.
Council members split their votes on an effort by HTC to obtain a franchise so it could provide cable TV service in the city. Time Warner and Southern Coastal Cable already provide cable TV, voice and data communications.
HTC wants to add to its voice and data customers. Mary Prince of Southern Coastal Cable said there's already enough competition, and adding a third provider would just make each company's share of the pie smaller.
First reading was approved on a 4 to 3 vote, with Peggy Wayne, Rudolph Bradley and C.C. Smalls voting no. Earlier, the same three lost on a motion by Wayne to deny approval.
In another controversial matter, Council denied an ordinance that would change the method of citizen input.
City Administrator Steve Thomas proposed setting a five-minute limit on each speaker during a 30-minute public comment period. If more than six people wanted to speak, the 30 minutes would be divided among those wanting to address Council.
"I don't see a need to deny citizens the right to speak," Paige Sawyer said.
"We are public servants," Bradley added. "They can be our eyes and ears. I am not inclined to put restrictions on the public. People need to be heard. It helps me to do a better job as a public servant."
Thomas noted that five council members traveled to Washington Tuesday and met with Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint and Rep. Henry Brown. All three expressed support for wanting to help with securing funding for the long-delayed drainage project. There's not a good prospect of money in the coming fiscal year, Thomas said, but they recommended trying for FY 2010.
seriously
That is a great idea. The only problem I would think they would have is generally Lowes is really tall because of the amount of lumber that they have, among other things. If nothing else. pull that complex down and use the lot plus an acre or two back and to the right into the wooded area. P.S. HTC needs to take that crap elsewhere
5/20/2008 (Report This Comment)
Is there no opportunity for Lowes to acquire the land where the abandoned Walmart building sits and the wooded lot next to it? That would get rid of an eyesore and reduce the forthcoming traffic problem that Kensington will likely have.
5/16/2008 (Report This Comment)