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Posted: Thursday, 19 November 2009 3:40PM
Liquor Store Scotches Plans for Charles Street Location
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By L.P. Phillips
Deanie Milligan was bubbling and laughing as she stood on the front porch of her house. As she looked across the street at the property that was for sale, she wasn't certain what the future would hold. However, for how it will not be a liquor store.
"It's a small victory!" said Milligan. "The city. The location. It's just so wrong."
The liquor store has withdrawn its option on the property and will not build. Today Majestic President Ben Lanford confirmed "for business reasons" the liquor store would not be built on the site and the company is moving on to other projects
Milligan and her 88 year old mother Lucy Jernigan have become the symbol of defiance in Hebron. Others have hitched their wagon to their drive to stop the Majestic Fine Wines and Spirits chain from tearing down a house and building a 12-thousand square foot liquor store. Reverend Ben Mullen, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hebron, has concerns for the neighborhood, but he is more worried about Hebron High School, one-half mile away.
"Glory, hallelujah. I didn't expect it to come that fast, but it's great news." Rev. Mullen said. "The proximity to the high school, this the nature of it really being a family neighborhood and not a business district. It didn't seem like a fit from the beginning."
Others were concerned about the lack of zoning, the involvement of city council members and a wet-dry election that has been called in question as well.
Hebron town councilman Ron Mabra pointed out the town has no zoning. A liquor store could be built without a city council vote. Had there been a vote, Mabra says he would have stepped aside, because of a conflict of interest.
Mabra is the listing real estate agent on the property in question. He would have been joined by a second city councilman, Joe Everett. Everett owns the property.
Everett maintains he has a right to sell to anyone, even if it a liquor store. While he is still on the council, Everett was contacted at property he owns in Mayhill New Mexico. His local phone has been disconnected.
Looming in the background of the entire dispute is the vote that allowed a liquor store to even consider Hebron. On May 9, 2009 Denton County voters in Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 passed alcohol sales. The precinct covers a huge tract of land that barely, but legally, includes the Charles Street property. But some are calling the election in question. Two Frisco men have filed suit against the Denton County Commissioners Court asking for another vote. They say the wet-dry election was not publicized, and that the outcome may have been much different had more people been aware the matter was on the ballot. A lawyer for the men had asked the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission not to issue any liquor store permits until the District Courts can resolve the matter. So far the TABC has not hinted whether it would honor that request.
The Charles Street residents were growing concerned. Lawyers say if the liquor store had decided to build, and TABC had issued a permit, the store could have remained even if the courts overturned the wet-dry election.
But with Majestic Fine Wines and Spirits pulling out of the land deal, none of it seems to matter. Deanie Milligan was giddy when she heard the news, her lip quivering. "I'm sorry" she said, speaking of her unbridled enthusiasm. But after considering her situation for a few seconds, she changed her mind. "No, I'm not."
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