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Thursday, September 2, 2010 |
Serving Seguin and Guadalupe County since 1888
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Council waives fees, hopes to draw business
Published November 20, 2008
City officials took a step forward in encouraging businesses to move downtown.
During Tuesday’s regular meeting, council voted unanimously to create an ordinance that would waive some building fees for business owners and developers in the downtown historic district.
Planning Director Don Smith said that the fine details are not yet worked out, but he expects the ordinance to cost the city only about $1,000 while waiving building and renovation fees for those who are restoring buildings downtown. Smith spoke on the issue in place of Main Street Director Mary Jo Filip, who was out of town on family business.
Councilman Don Keil said that he hoped the ordinance would cover the spectrum of expenses that burden downtown developers.
“I think there are a lot of other things we could add to help certain downtown developers,” he said. “Fees for fire codes, for example.”
Smith said that the city is looking at such expenses and considering ways to further lighten the cost for business or property owners.
Council also received an update on the Wilson Pottery Museum Project from City Manager Doug Faseler and Mayor Betty Ann Matthies.
Mayor Betty Ann Matthies said that the Texas Historical Commission has shown interest in the planned Wilson Pottery Museum, which will display the works created by freed slaves in what is the first known black-owned business in Texas. Wilson pottery is located near downtown Seguin along the future Walnut Branch Linear Park.
Council heard an update on the project during Tuesday’s regular council meeting
Matthies said the historical commission may help with grants to fund improvements to bring the current Wilson Pottery building up-to-date, including asbestos removal and construction to open up some of the rooms.
“The Texas Historical Commission would write the grants and then we’d funnel them through the city, but we’d be able to work with their grant writers,” Matthies explained. “They’re actually looking at a time-frame of about two years to complete this.”
She said that the project is expected to become a major attraction along the Walnut Branch park, to include parking near the Rose Garden and a bridge over the creek leading to the Wilson Pottery property.
“The thought is to make this a real destination,” Matthies said.
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