During Tuesday morning’s meeting, the Brownwood City Council passed on first reading an ordinance to prohibit game rooms from opening in the downtown area.

A public hearing took place regarding the City of Brownwood’s Zoning Ordinance to amend the permitted use chart to prohibit game rooms within the City’s C-2A Downtown Business District and to permit game rooms as conditional uses in C-1, C-2, M-1 and M-2 zoning districts.

City Staff has received numerous permit requests for game rooms recently, including within the City’s C-2A Downtown Business District, which encompasses all the designated 102-block Historic District. The current ordinance and Chart of Permitted Use do not have language that prohibits such businesses from being in the C-2A Downtown Business District.

Staff presented the amendment request to the Planning & Zoning Commission in a public hearing meeting on Sept. 18. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to amend Chapter 98-431 restricting game room operations from being located within the City’s C-2A Downtown District and to amend the Chart of Permitted Uses in Section 98-561 to reference permissible zoning locations for game rooms which would allow them in C-1 (Local Business District), C-2 (General Business District), M1 (Restricted Industrial District) and M2 (Industrial District).

The Council was informed Tuesday morning by Director of Planning and Development Tim Murray that three businesses located in the downtown area currently possess at least one gaming machine. Those businesses have stated they have no issue removing the machines, and a grace period of 45 to 60 days was recommended. However, if those businesses choose not to comply, according to City Attorney Pat Chesser, they will be grandfathered in as their gaming machines were on site before the ordinance goes into effect.

The ordinance must pass second and third/final reading at the next City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 27 before it becomes official.

There are 40 businesses with the city limits that contain gaming machines, according to the City, but the decision not to include them in the downtown area is due to the Downtown Master Plan the City is working to implement.

Also Tuesday, Council conducted a public hearing regarding changing the zoning classification of 1505 Beaver St. from R-3 Multifamily District to C-1 Local Business District.

On Sept. 18, the Planning and Zoning Board met to vote on a request from Ginnifer Brister, represented by Michael Brister, to change the zoning classification of property located at 1505 Beaver Street, from R-3 Multifamily Residential District to C-1 Local Business District.

Brister stated the zoning change would allow them to sell the property for a commercial business. There was no opposition from the surrounding neighborhood of the zoning request. The Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously to approve the request to change the zoning classification from R-3 Multifamily District to C-1 Local Business District.

The City Council also voted unanimously to approve the change on first reading, which must be again approved on second and third/final reading when the Council next convenes.