No big beefs with Town Center BBQ joint

Judge Bean's wins Planning Commission's approval ... along with a few paint suggestions

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.

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.

Portables by any other name

It's now confirmed by Carol Birdsong, Williamson County Schools spokesperson, that the "learning cottages," as described in Sunday's Williamson A.M. and approved by the Brentwood Planning Commission on June 1, are, indeed, good old-fashioned portables.
And we wonder why some people think Brentwood and Williamson County in general put on airs.
Planning Commission chairman Randy Campbell emailed to explain further:
"Susan, I recall the WCS referencing the portables as "education cottages." I believe they are the traditional portables. Currently RHS has 1800 students, which is capacity for the built school. They expect 40 to 50 new students each year for the next two years. They asked and received approval for 8 units, but only expect to put in 3 or 4 units for the 09/2010 school year. The remaining would be put in for 10/11 year, if needed.
The approval is valid for two years. The rep indicated the county is looking for land/site for a new high school in the northeast part of the county, perhaps by the 2011 school year, but obviously no promises, and there did not seem to be great conviction this would occur."
The commission also approved the WCS request for building a new science classroom and lab at Brentwood High.
"It is being built where the portables were prior to RHS opening," Campbell said. "I thought the county did a good job with the applications ... presentation, working with staff, etc. The county can supersede our regs, which they indicated they intend to exercise on a set back for the new building."
And that's the rest of the story.