Rezoning Saves Historic Bar

BROOKSVILLE – In mid-December, the Hernando County Board of Commissioners heard a rezoning request from Wheel- In bar owner Alan Garman, who was looking to change the zoning designation of his property to allow for specific use of alcohol dispensation and outdoor entertainment.
The request for rezoning from Residential Single-Family (R1B) and Commercial One (C1) to Planned Development Project (General Highway Commercial) was unanimously approved by the county’s board 5-0.

The proposal was not just for one property but two contiguous parcels, west of Broad Street and south of Chatfield Drive. On November 4, the planning and zoning commission had also voted 5-0 that the commissioners “adopt the resolution approving the petitioner’s requests” with the “approval of performance conditions,” Hernando County Senior Planner Omar De Pablo stated.

The bar, which has existed on that parcel of land since the 1950s, has been recognized by the local government as being in “legal non-conforming use.” Garman’s desire was to bring it into conformity with the law while incorporating the northern swath of land that was formerly zoned as C1.
De Pablo added that if there is a lapse in use for over a year, a property in non-conforming use must “revert back” to its original zoning designation. This would have resulted in the loss of the ability to use the bar, so the issue had to be addressed.

Thankfully, the county’s comprehensive plans do have provisions for and show a level of leniency towards historic properties like the bar. So, how did this happen in the first place?

After its founding in the mid-20th century, the zoning regulation did not get approved until 1972, Garman noted. “Somewhere along the line, everybody forgot that this was a bar serving liquor and beer and wine […] it got bypassed through history,” he added.

There was also a road that looped around behind the bar that was known as the “Wheel Inn,” which could house up to three RVs at a time. It had overgrown with vegetation, but Garman and company have since cleared it out. They are not intending to use that space for that purpose, though.

While they only serve beer and wine inside the bar, the owners host several food trucks for people who get peckish on their premises. They have also added a pole barn that they use for live entertainment.

In an attempt to be considerate neighbors, Garman’s crew voluntarily cuts off these performances at 11 pm on Friday nights. They usually do not schedule any acts on Sunday but have made exceptions since the hurricanes earlier this year.

With bands struggling to find places to play at the usual locations such as Hernando Beach, Garman has allowed a few such entertainers between five and eight on Sunday evenings.

However, multiple citizens came forward with noise concerns at Tuesday’s meeting. Considering this, as well as the vagueness of local noise ordinances, the commissioners added a specific requirement into the rezoning request that outside live music cease by 11 pm on Fridays.
They also recommended Garman create a berm or some other sound barrier around the back of the barn to buffer the noise from traveling to nearby homes.

The only other stipulations, which were recommended by Public Works Director Scott Herring, were regarding a sidewalk. When the FDOT begins constructing the sidewalk on that stretch of road, Garman agreed to connect to that sidewalk from his property as well as help the state government with the sidewalk and improvements.

Commissioner Steve Champion gave Garman kudos for his work renovating the property on Tuesday. “I just wanted to give you some praise because you have done such a good job on that property considering where it was from and the people are really happy with the business,” said Champion.