Published: May 18, 2008 06:14 pm            

Council changes zoning designation for business growth

By Raymond Billy

rbilly@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Bullard City Council on Tuesday approved a measure designed to foster retail growth in the city.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the request by entrepreneurs Raymond and Brenda Welsh and Benita Robins for a zoning change that will allow the group to develop a retail center they say will bring at least four businesses to Bullard.

The center will be situated near the corner of Rollingwood Drive and U.S. Highway 69. The Welshes — who were present at the meeting to lobby the council for the zoning change — said plans are in the works to build a Whataburger “supercenter” — a combination restaurant, convenient store and gas station — on the property as the first major step in the development.

The couple’s real estate broker, Bill Marsh of Bill Marsh Real Estate in Bullard, said his clients already have a plan for how to develop their property for the business venture. He said the Diamond Shamrock gas station and the Welsh Retail produce store the couple currently owns will be moved to accommodate the new businesses.

“As they’re building that Whataburger and that new convenient store behind that existing convenient store, they’ll leave the existing one open until they get the other one built,” Marsh said. “Then, they’ll bulldoze down the existing convenient store and Welsh Retail. So, they will make way for a little business center there with three or four businesses,” he said.

Brenda Welsh said at the meeting that a bank and representatives from Donut Palace have already expressed interest in renting space in the retail center.

Raymond Welsh — alluding to a statement made earlier in the meeting by Mayor A.W. that the city needed to pursue more businesses to increase tax revenue — said the plan would be a gift to the city.

“You were talking about new business and a broader tax base and we’re going to help you, but you’ve got to help us first,” Welsh said shortly before council members answered his request affirmatively.

Bullard City Council regularly meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in City Hall.

        

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