AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
CUP-25-31 (Ivar’s River Pub) Hold a public hearing and consider a request by Curtis Lyle Gunnarson, on behalf of Ivar’s River Pub, to renew a Conditional Use Permit to allow on premise consumption of Mixed Beverages, located at 701 Cheatham Street. (C. Garrison)
Body
Meeting date: August 12, 2025
Department: Planning and Development Services
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: N/A
Account Number: N/A
Funds Available: N/A
Account Name: N/A
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: N/A
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Comprehensive Plan Element (s): [Please select the Plan element(s) and Goal # from dropdown menu below]
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Vision San Marcos - A River Runs Through Us
Background Information:
Ivar’s River Pub is an existing restaurant that previously received approval for a CUP request in 2021, and a three-year approval in July of 2022. Since the restaurant’s last CUP approval, there have been no changes to the establishment.
The restaurant provides a total of 189 seats for its patrons. There are 96 seats offered indoors, and 93 seats provided outdoors on the patio as well as on the property’s lawn. Also provided on the property’s lawn is a stage for live music which brings potential for noise disturbance due to the business’ close proximity to residential homes. An attempt to avoiding noise related issues that may be derived from the property, no live music shall be permitted after 9 p.m. all days of the week.
Adjacent to the site is an undeveloped residential lot. To ensure that the lot is not utilized for additional vehicular parking, the restaurant shall be responsible for keeping the barrier in place closed in a secure manner.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
N/A
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval with the following conditions:
1. Permit shall be valid for three (3) years, provided standards are met.
2. The applicant shall provide a barrier that prevents vehicular parking on the adjacent single-family lot.
3. Hours of operation shall be no later than midnight.
4. Live music shall not be permitted on the property after 9 p.m.
5. The floodlights along the deck shall be aimed downward toward the patio rather than at the San Marcos River.
6. The permit shall be posted in the same area and manner as the Certificate of Occupancy.