Council approves conditional use permit for small package store on Ranch Road 12
August 21, 2025 | Wimberley City, Hays County, Texas
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WIMBERLEY, Texas '025 ' The Wimberley City Council approved Ordinance 2025-17 on Aug. 21, granting conditional use permit CUP-25-011 to allow a package store selling bottled or canned beer and wine for off-premises consumption at 13620 Ranch Road 12, Suite 1.
Nathan (staff) presented the application, noting the suite is 800 square feet in the city center overlay and that the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval on the preceding Thursday. The application was notified to neighbors within 200 feet and a legal notice published; the council received a letter of opposition from Wimberley Christian Church and a letter of support from a nearby property owner.
Gary Fine, pastor of Whitmoreland Christian Church, said the church had an informal agreement with nearby businesses not to serve alcohol until after 2 p.m. on Sundays and asked the council to seek adherence to that understanding. Pastor Fine told the council the congregation considers the church and its schedule a long-standing community designation and requested attention to the earlier handshake agreement.
Nathan and councilmembers explained that the state's 300-foot proximity rule to churches can be modified by a local ordinance and that those properties had received prior variances; they also explained that a package store use is a conditional use under the C-1 zoning classification and therefore requires council approval regardless of past variances. Councilmembers said staff would follow up with business owners about honoring previous informal commitments to limit Sunday hours.
Councilmember Beau Bowman moved to approve the ordinance; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The council did not add a specific condition on operating hours to the approved permit; council and staff said they would pursue voluntary adherence with business owners and enforcement options if commitments are not kept.
The applicant, John Messina, was not present; staff had placed his letter in the council packet. A nearby business representative, Zach Hunt, spoke in support and offered to convey character references on behalf of the business owners.
Nathan (staff) presented the application, noting the suite is 800 square feet in the city center overlay and that the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval on the preceding Thursday. The application was notified to neighbors within 200 feet and a legal notice published; the council received a letter of opposition from Wimberley Christian Church and a letter of support from a nearby property owner.
Gary Fine, pastor of Whitmoreland Christian Church, said the church had an informal agreement with nearby businesses not to serve alcohol until after 2 p.m. on Sundays and asked the council to seek adherence to that understanding. Pastor Fine told the council the congregation considers the church and its schedule a long-standing community designation and requested attention to the earlier handshake agreement.
Nathan and councilmembers explained that the state's 300-foot proximity rule to churches can be modified by a local ordinance and that those properties had received prior variances; they also explained that a package store use is a conditional use under the C-1 zoning classification and therefore requires council approval regardless of past variances. Councilmembers said staff would follow up with business owners about honoring previous informal commitments to limit Sunday hours.
Councilmember Beau Bowman moved to approve the ordinance; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The council did not add a specific condition on operating hours to the approved permit; council and staff said they would pursue voluntary adherence with business owners and enforcement options if commitments are not kept.
The applicant, John Messina, was not present; staff had placed his letter in the council packet. A nearby business representative, Zach Hunt, spoke in support and offered to convey character references on behalf of the business owners.
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