Brentwood Planning Commission meetings, much like City Commission ones, can be dry and dull. Unless, of course, you’re one of the parties involved in whatever agenda item is currently under discussion.
Several laugh-out-loud moments Monday night mostly courtesy of restaurateur Aubrey
Bean made the other 60 minutes of humdrum-business-as-usual decision making much more palatable.
Anyone who frequented or is familiar with the old Church Street Pub or any of its successors over the past decade or so will probably affirm the following facts:
1. It’s not the most attractive building in Town Center
2. It’s not the easiest place to get in and out of, and
3. It’s one of those places a majority of Brentwoodians always secretly wanted to visit but never quite had the nerve.
Now Bean is bringing his popular Texas-style Judge Bean’s Bar-B-Que to town. And bless his heart he's trying to make the most of the framed building that sits adjacent to the busy but downtrodden Brentwood Court shopping center’s Church Street entrance.
Bean was seeking approval for non-conforming signs, new paint colors, an outdoor dining area, and permission to haul in his portable smoker every day. Dressed in khaki shorts, a Miller Lite-branded polo shirt and crocs, Bean made a statement before he even reached the podium, and it wasn’t a bad one. He looked like a barbecue man on a mission, which he is.
Bean's sign contractor, Jim Rowan of Sign Me Up!, described how they hoped to get permission to get rid of the tacky existing signage that while not conforming to current requirements could be grandfathered in. Instead of simply slapping on new plastic sheets with the restaurant's name, they want to design and install wooden signs that would be attached to the roof (a no-no for new construction under current C-4 Town Center guidelines) facing both the parking lot and Church Street.
Then came a discussion on paint colors. Sandi Wells switched hats from planning commissioner to designer to suggest to Bean he consider a color besides Navajo White for the building's aluminum shingles.
Several laugh-out-loud moments Monday night mostly courtesy of restaurateur Aubrey
Bean made the other 60 minutes of humdrum-business-as-usual decision making much more palatable.Anyone who frequented or is familiar with the old Church Street Pub or any of its successors over the past decade or so will probably affirm the following facts:
1. It’s not the most attractive building in Town Center
2. It’s not the easiest place to get in and out of, and
3. It’s one of those places a majority of Brentwoodians always secretly wanted to visit but never quite had the nerve.
Now Bean is bringing his popular Texas-style Judge Bean’s Bar-B-Que to town. And bless his heart he's trying to make the most of the framed building that sits adjacent to the busy but downtrodden Brentwood Court shopping center’s Church Street entrance.
Bean was seeking approval for non-conforming signs, new paint colors, an outdoor dining area, and permission to haul in his portable smoker every day. Dressed in khaki shorts, a Miller Lite-branded polo shirt and crocs, Bean made a statement before he even reached the podium, and it wasn’t a bad one. He looked like a barbecue man on a mission, which he is.
Bean's sign contractor, Jim Rowan of Sign Me Up!, described how they hoped to get permission to get rid of the tacky existing signage that while not conforming to current requirements could be grandfathered in. Instead of simply slapping on new plastic sheets with the restaurant's name, they want to design and install wooden signs that would be attached to the roof (a no-no for new construction under current C-4 Town Center guidelines) facing both the parking lot and Church Street.
Then came a discussion on paint colors. Sandi Wells switched hats from planning commissioner to designer to suggest to Bean he consider a color besides Navajo White for the building's aluminum shingles.
Bean seemed delighted with the help. He told her to pick a color and he’d use it.
“I don’t know much that can make this place look great,” he added, which lead to laughter all around.
Then the discussion turned to his smoker. “It’s so gorgeous,” Bean said, like a man smitten by his first love. He explained that he planned to cook the meats at his farm, and then pull the smoker to and from the restaurant each day.
Which brought up discussion about whether or not a permanent smoker wouldn’t be a better idea. And then there was the matter of the back concrete steps which don’t have a railing, the exposed dumpster, and, most importantly, how many parking spaces will be available. Parking is an issue not only by how many are required by zoning requirements but the state of the parking lot itself. Many of the spaces either are not marked, or are marked in the wrong directions.
“I wish I could change a lot of things,” Bean said about his new space, but later beamed with pride when he told the board they won’t believe the changes he's making when they visit.
“It’s fancy! We have three bathrooms!” he told them.
In the end, everything related to Judge Bean’s request was passed, unanimously.
“We look forward to having you,” said Commission Chair Randy Campbell.
Then the discussion turned to his smoker. “It’s so gorgeous,” Bean said, like a man smitten by his first love. He explained that he planned to cook the meats at his farm, and then pull the smoker to and from the restaurant each day.
Which brought up discussion about whether or not a permanent smoker wouldn’t be a better idea. And then there was the matter of the back concrete steps which don’t have a railing, the exposed dumpster, and, most importantly, how many parking spaces will be available. Parking is an issue not only by how many are required by zoning requirements but the state of the parking lot itself. Many of the spaces either are not marked, or are marked in the wrong directions.
“I wish I could change a lot of things,” Bean said about his new space, but later beamed with pride when he told the board they won’t believe the changes he's making when they visit.
“It’s fancy! We have three bathrooms!” he told them.
In the end, everything related to Judge Bean’s request was passed, unanimously.
“We look forward to having you,” said Commission Chair Randy Campbell.
WOW I'm impressed he got every request from them. He must be quite the charmer. You and I should go eat there when he opens!
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