JUNE 22, 2022 FORMER DSISD TEACHER FACES CHARGES
LOCAL GROUP WORKING FOR REFORM Page 2
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Vol. 42 • No. 40
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Hit songwriter to perform in Dripping Springs BY C. J. VETTER DRIPPING SPRINGS — Local venue, Stone Valley Music Park, will be hosting a live performance on July 9 by the Wyatt Weaver Band followed by Anthony Smith, a songwriter for country stars such as George Strait, Blake Shelton and Tim McGraw. Some of the profits will be directly donated to Patriots' Hall, a veterans center located in Dripping Springs. The live music event will kick off at 6 p.m. and begin with the Wyatt Weaver Band, before a solo acoustic performance by Anthony Smith. General admission to the performances will be $15, although there are VIP options for an upper deck ticket and a picnic table ticket, both of which are $50. Food and drink will be available for purchase, and guests are able to bring their own chairs. However, outside food and drinks, backpacks, non-service animals and recording devices are prohibited. Smith and the show's promoter, Bart Burk, met in Nashville during college, and worked together on a few songs before Burk
moved back to Texas. Smith remained in Nashville and went on to write popular songs such as “Run,” “Cowboys Like Us” and “If That Ain’t Country.” In addition to being a songwriter, Smith is also an acoustic guitarist, and was invited to perform by Burk. "He just sounds so good, and he sounds so full. It's like he has more players up there with him,” Burk said. As a former veteran, Burk is giving his share of the profits to Patriots' Hall. Currently, the retreat has a functional meeting hall, but has plans for further construction, including a wellness clinic and gathering hall. Burk is also hosting a silent auction for a guitar autographed by Smith, with all proceeds from it going to Patriots' Hall. "It’s just a place for veterans to come to when they need a place to be around each other, to be with like-minded people with the same experience and who have gone through the same things as they have,” Burk said. In addition to helping fund Patriots' Hall, Burk has also made it a point that this show is for the entire community alongside those veterans within it.
The selection of Stone Valley was made as an effort to help build up the venue, following the closure of the nearby Nutty Brown Amphitheater. The Nutty Brown, a staple of the live music scene in Dripping Springs for over 20 years, was closed in 2021, and the property will be turned into a new H-E-B. Burk hopes that by helping promote Stone Valley, it can help fill the gap left by the closure. “The Nutty Brown was around for years and years, and was a very similar venue. It had a patio and picnic tables, and they had tons of concerts out there. They closed that location and moved out to Round Rock, but this venue is very similar,” Burk said. “Honestly, when you see the place, it’ll blow you away. The backdrop is the hill country and the sunsets are beautiful, it has a giant 50-foot covered stage, a second level VIP area with its own bar, staff and restroom, and the bottom is a large bar and kitchen.” To find out more about the venue or purchase tickets, visit www.stonevalleytexas.com.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Hit songwriter Anthony Smith is one of the artists slated to perform at Stone Valley Music Park on July 9. Smith has written for artists such as George Strait, Blake Shelton and Tim McGraw.
DS adopts ordinance for special event venues BY MEGAN WEHRING DRIPPING SPRINGS – Wedding venues and special event facilities now have a specific definition listed in the city’s Code of Ordinances. The city of Dripping Springs has been approached by prospective applicants interested in operating wedding venues in the city limits.
However, after exploring the land use chart and definitions in the zoning ordinance, city staff found that the use was not listed at the time. On April 26, the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved the text amendment – which allows wedding venues and other similar uses in commercial districts
after approval of a Conditional Use Permit. The city council was later approached at its May 17 meeting yet concerns were raised about how the new land use would affect existing businesses who currently host special events on a regular basis. After review with the city attorney, city staff determined that busi-
nesses which operate as a primary use other than a special event facility can host special events on an occasional basis, without being considered a special event facility. The ordinance with the updated language was approved by the city council on June 7. A special event facility is now defined as, “An
establishment and/ or premises which is reserved whose primary use is the reservation by individuals or groups via appointment for limited engagement(s) to accommodate gatherings and functions, both private and public, including, but not limited to, banquets, weddings,
VENUES, page 10
DS denies variance request for property BY MEGAN WEHRING DRIPPING SPRINGS – Upon recommendations from the city staff and Planning & Zoning Commission, a request for a pool on a property in the extraterritorial jurisdiction was turned down by the Dripping Springs Board of Adjustment. The property owner submitted a variance request, with a permit for a pool, for a single-family 8,750 square-foot property in the Headwaters Development at Barton Creek. The applicant applied for and was granted an administrative pool encroachment variance to allow the pool to be within the building setback. This property is subject to the Headwaters Devel-
OPINIONS – Page 4
opment Agreement – limflow, according to the iting the impervious cover Dripping Springs Code to be 50% (4,375 square of Ordinance. This can feet) on residential lots yet include roads, driveways, the applicant requested parkways, buildings, side52% (4,620 square feet) walks and swimming pool impervious cover. This is a water surface areas. 2.8% deficit (approximate“While it is a modest ly 245 square feet). increase that they are “The applicant can requesting,” said Mim reduce the pool size by James, P&Z Chair, “I think about 39% and still meet we have to be really careful the impervious cover because we are probably requirement,” said Tory going to see more requests Carpenter, Senior Planner. for these pool installations “In fact, we have some in high-density areas.” pools in the area of smaller The applicant was not size that people were able present at the board of to build and still meet the adjustment/city council impervious cover requireand P&Z meetings. But, ment.” they did provide a descripImpervious covers tion of the reason for their include all man-made request. improvements which • A pool is a reasonable prevent the infiltration of accessory for a sinwater into the natural soil, or prevent the migration VARIANCE, page 10 of the infiltration as base
A request for a pool on a property in the Headwaters Development at Barton Creek was denied in Dripping Springs.
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