News Bulletin Castroville • La Coste
Oratorical contest a success for MV Page 2
Volume 55
Lady Panthers victorious against Bandera Bulldogs Page 4
Thursday, December 5, 2013 Castroville, Texas
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P&Z reviews sign ordinance, CZO
The District 2 Fire rescue team responded to a call around 5 p.m. on Dec. 3 off of Highway 211 and Highway 90. Assistant Fire Chief to District 2, Scott Collard stated that the gate was locked to the property when they arrived on the scene. The abandoned structure was storing hay and had six to eight bails of hay on fire upon arrival. Emergency responders worked to put the fire out and will investigate the situation. Collard is naming the cause as suspicious in nature. (Photo by Luz Moreno-Lozano)
Old Fashion Christmas is this weekend Ann Chen Staff Writer Old Fashion Christmas, where visitors and vendors from near and far will share in the Christmas spirit with Castroville, is just around the corner. The two-day event kicks off Friday night with Fiorella Friday and the Christmas tree lighting. “We’re going to light the Christmas tree around 6 p.m.,” said Chamber of Commerce Vice President Alexandra Brooks. “We have a snow queen…[who will] light [it]. [When] we light the tree, the [Medina Valley] children’s choir [will] start singing [and] Santa [will arrive].” Other entertainment Friday night will include the Medina Valley High School Band, a performance by musician Ryan Kelich and Christmas music from Medina Valley High School student Katie McKenzie. Kids will also get a chance to warm themselves up with a special treat at 7 p.m. “We’re going to roast marshmallows…in the square. I’m going to take my grill there and we already have the marshmallows on the sticks. We’re going to do that maybe for 30 minutes,” said Brooks. Fiorella Street will also be abuzz that night for this month’s ‘Nite in Old Castroville,’ with Firefly Distillery offering liquor tasting and music at La Boheme at 1101 Fiorella. Both begin at 6 p.m. Saturday’s Old Fashion Christmas festivities begin at 9 a.m. in Houston Square. “There’s going to be vendors going up to Fiorella, I mean, it’s going to be packed with vendors. We’re going to have [about] 250,” Brooks said. According to Brooks, vendors come from all over to participate. “They come from every place, not just from here. [We have] people coming [from] out of state…and then all around us. [People come from] Devine, San Antonio [and] New Braunfels. The vendors like to participate, they like the entertainment,” Brooks said. “I love this event. It’s just once a year, but it brings a lot of people here to Castroville.”
Santa will be dropping in again at 12:30 p.m. to spread Christmas cheer with the children’s choir. For Brooks, this is an event highlight that captures the joy and essence of the holidays. Santa will be available to take pictures with children until 2 p.m. Other entertainment throughout the day will include Scottish bagpipe music, Texas Cheer and Tumbling and a performance by the Castroville Line Dancers, as well as Christmas music in the morning and afternoon. Those coming out on Friday and Saturday are
advised to bundle up, with temperatures expected to be in the 40s. “Last year we didn’t have any [rain], but the year before we had sprinkles. But people [were] still there and shopping, and the vendors were still there. It’s going to be freezing, but we’re still going to be there. Kids and everybody that’s going to participate [should] wrap themselves [up],” Brooks said. Visitors looking for a specific vendor or item are welcome to visit the Chamber of Commerce’s trailer, which will be set up in the middle of the square.
“We [will] just give information, everything about Castroville, and give brochures. If people want to find something, usually they come over to the Chamber asking for information about [vendors],” said Brooks. Besides showing off Castroville, Old Fashion Christmas is also a way of reinforcing the community that’s here year-round. “I think it’s a good event, something to look forward [to], and something that brings the community together,” Brooks said. “Everybody’s involved here. Really, everybody’s involved.”
Ann Chen Staff Writer The Planning and Zoning Commission continued its review of the Castroville’s comprehensive zoning ordinance and sign ordinance draft, both of which were presented by city staff at the Nov. 20 meeting. According to Community Development Coordinator Lora Robins, the revisions to the sign ordinance have been a work in progress for years, however council and staff have made significant progress in the past year. “The sign ordinance has a long history,” said City Administrator Paul Hofmann. “The draft sign ordinance was…reviewed by the city council several months ago, and the council provided some specific input [as to] what they wanted to see in the next draft. That draft was also reviewed by members of the business community here in town, and they provided some input on the draft.” The sign ordinance currently in place is within the CZO. Though the P&Z originally intended for the sign ordinance to be revised as part of the CZO, council gave direction in January to make the sign ordinance a separate document. “[Revising the sign ordinance from within the CZO] was the direction for some time, but it has been taken out of the CZO as far as this draft is concerned, and that’s where we are right now with it,” said Robins. Some key concerns that have been brought up regarding the sign ordinance draft
have been the inclusion of a variance process, regulations on electronic signs, enforcement of the sign ordinance in the city’s extra-territorial jurisdiction, non-conforming signs and the permit process for signs. A number of concerns were brought up specifically by the business community. One such concern was signage in the buffer zone between commercial and residential districts, referred to in Robins’ presentation as the neighborhood district. “Right now there are regulations within the CZO for a business-residential transition area. And so the business community wanted more clarity on what types of signs would be allowed or not be allowed in that district,” Robins said. Yet another concern of the business community were restrictions on Highway 90 signage size, changeable copy signs and banners that were felt to be too limiting. According to Robins, all concerns have been reviewed or addressed by staff in the ordinance draft. Changes to the CZO were less extensive, and commission comments focused primarily on clarification of terms. Proposed amendments to the CZO included reducing redundancy and confusing language within the document, as well as codifying the Highway 90 design criteria. “They didn’t suggest any changes. They had a few questions. We answered them, and so we’re still on that path,” See “February” Page 2
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FOOTBALL Panther
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