The Forney City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday night, December 3, 2013, to discuss and consider a variance for a Zanata restaurant in downtown Forney, Texas, to be able to sell alcohol at their proposed location in 215 and 213 South Bois D'Arc Street. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Currently, Zanata would not be able to sell alcoholic beverages at their proposed restaurant because it is located across the street from a Forney Independent School District campus - a violation of distance requirements set forth in the City of Forney Code of Ordinances and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TABC).
According to a timeline of events from the Forney Economic Development Corporation, and reported by inForney.com, Zanata was previously going to request the variance in January or February of 2014 after it applied for an alcohol license with the TABC. Zanata will now be requesting the variance before the TABC licensing process.
The variance would allow Zanata to sell alcohol in 215 and 213 South Bois D'Arc Street. If the ownership or locations change, the variance no longer applies. If the variance is approved, building permits and construction would then begin in February, according to the timeline.
If not approved, a performance agreement with the Forney Economic Development Corporation provides Zanata the opportunity to terminate their agreement in writing. The Forney Economic Development Corporation would then be liable to refund any incurred expenses of Zanatas in acquiring a TABC alcohol license and any fees associated with the variance – which are now being avoided by placing the variance vote ahead of the licensing process. Zanata has expressed to the Forney Economic Development Corporation their future plans in Forney hinge on the alcohol variance.
Zanata has entered into a performance agreement with the Forney Economic Development Corporation which will use funds from a recently passed bond to finish-out 215 and 213 South Bois D'Arc. $375,000 from the $2 million bond will be allocated to the future Zanata location. The bond money will be available for disbursement on December 10, 2013.
![Picture 48]()
According to a timeline of events from the Forney Economic Development Corporation, and reported by inForney.com, Zanata was previously going to request the variance in January or February of 2014 after it applied for an alcohol license with the TABC. Zanata will now be requesting the variance before the TABC licensing process.
The variance would allow Zanata to sell alcohol in 215 and 213 South Bois D'Arc Street. If the ownership or locations change, the variance no longer applies. If the variance is approved, building permits and construction would then begin in February, according to the timeline.
If not approved, a performance agreement with the Forney Economic Development Corporation provides Zanata the opportunity to terminate their agreement in writing. The Forney Economic Development Corporation would then be liable to refund any incurred expenses of Zanatas in acquiring a TABC alcohol license and any fees associated with the variance – which are now being avoided by placing the variance vote ahead of the licensing process. Zanata has expressed to the Forney Economic Development Corporation their future plans in Forney hinge on the alcohol variance.
Zanata has entered into a performance agreement with the Forney Economic Development Corporation which will use funds from a recently passed bond to finish-out 215 and 213 South Bois D'Arc. $375,000 from the $2 million bond will be allocated to the future Zanata location. The bond money will be available for disbursement on December 10, 2013.
