Zoning board to reconsider Welch request

The Gonzales Zoning Board of Adjustment, in a meeting set for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, was scheduled to reconsider a request concerning the use of a large historic home in the 300 block of St. Paul Street.

The board on May 4 voted to deny the request of Jim Welch to establish Eternal Awakenings Ministry in the Lewis House, formerly the Twin Oaks Bed & Breakfast, at 306 St. Paul Street.

When the request was considered May 4, the board was discussing it for the third time. Although board members initially approved the request, they decided in a meeting April 27 to rescind approval and ask Welch to meet with the board to discuss his request. Welch, however, did not attend the May 4 meeting.

"I'm not going to put it back on the agenda until I hear from him," Sam Lewis, the city's code enforcement officer, told the board May 4.

Lewis said Monday that he subsequently had spoken with Welch on several occasions.

"We talked to him several times, and he is going to be there," Lewis said regarding the meeting scheduled for June 8.

In a revised request for a "permitted use" submitted June 3, Welch describes Eternal Awakenings as "a faith-based chemical dependency program" providing counseling, education and spiritual development. His request says the chemical dependency program is registered with the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Welch's request has drawn opposition from several local residents.

"The location of this house and the historical nature of the structure render the property unsuitable for the requested variance. I encourage you to deny the request," Bob Burchard, chairman of the Gonzales County Historical Commission, said in a May 4 letter to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

"I have no problems with these types of outreach programs and am so thankful there are individuals such as Mr. Welch that will take it upon themselves to reach out to victims of alcohol and narcotic abuse. However, I strongly feel a neighborhood with small children and businesses seeking to positively promote the future of our community is not an appropriate place for such meetings to be held," said Clinton Hille, a resident of the 200 block of St. Peter Street, said in a May 17 letter to the board.

Welch's request is among four on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustments. According to the agenda, the others are:

• The request of Tufail Malik for a 10-foot variance off the west property line at 1304 St. Louis Street;

• The request of Melvin Calvin to operate the True Vine Community Church at 1409 Mesquite Street.

• The request of Ronnie and Ivanka Lilie to operate a multi-family residence at 510 St. Michael Street.

Meetings of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Sign Control Board are held in the council chambers at the Municipal Building, 820 St. Joseph Street.