The speed limit around the neighborhood of the Free State Cellars winery will be 25 mph and two new stop signs will be installed.
The Orange City Council Tuesday approved on first reading an ordinance making the changes. Neighbors and the owners of the winery agreed to the changes after a workshop meeting with the council to work out complaints about the traffic.
Free State opened in the summer at the site of the former Piney Woods Winery, which was off Tejas Parkway and Willow Street for more than 30 years.
Free State added buildings, including a tasting and sale room, plus outdoors dining areas. Neighbors complained complained about the traffic problems as business boomed.
Managing partner Dana Swope previously said they had worked to add more parking areas and had hired off-duty police to direct traffic.
Under the agreement, the city will put 25 mph speed limit signs on Tejas Parkway and Evergreen Drive. In addition a stop sign will be erected at the intersection of Tejas and Willow, and another stop sign at the intersection of Tejas and Evergreen.
In other business, the council appointed Clifford Carruthers, Judy Gobert, and Janie Justice to the Library Advisory Board.
Michael Smith and Mark Frey were reappointed to two-year terms on the city’s Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.
The council also waived the ordinance that prevents living in trailers or RVs because of damage to houses during Imelda. People repairing their houses will be able to have a trailer or RV on their properties. Also, the council voted to waive building fees for people repairing Imelda damage.
Planning Director Kelvin Knauf said the city had waived the fees and allowed trailers after previous storms.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
Social Media