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Council approves plan for drive-in<br>

The developers presented their plan for final site approval to the Williams City Council Feb. 27. The council approved the plan, but did not agree in principle with what the developers seemed to be really looking for – approximately $25,000 in waived buy in and permit fees.

Though the council seemed to agree the city should do what it can to help get the business off the ground, many members voiced concerns that granting waivers would set a bad precedent.

“We’ve never waived fees,” said Mayor Ken Edes.

Councilman Don Dent said he received three phone calls that day from people promising they would soon be asking for concessions from the should the council grant any for the theater.

For the developers, the city’s fees create a negative impact on development – especially small, local owned businesses.

“If you want a Wal-Mart out there, let us know,” said Hodgkins. “Otherwise, we’re putting a theater up there.”

The city has waived off-site curb, gutter and utility requirements and will not make the developers widen the roadway to 37 feet. The council also directed city staff to take another look at how buy in fees were calculated. Initially the theater was considered a restaurant, since its planned snack bar would be used to prepare food. Whether a different category will be used or if that will have any effect on the required fees will be determined later.

“I can understand they don’t want to set a precedent,” said Mason. “But, you know, if you want to encourage development or whatever in the right ways, you give incentives.”

The developers plan to wait to see if their project will be placed in a different category. If it is, that could lower some of the required fees.

For now, the project is anything but dead, Mason said.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “We’ve got to wait and see if they readjust those fees a little bit. At least we got waivers on putting in sidewalks, curbs and gutters.”

“We intentionally budgeted about $12,000 for a building permit,” he said.

Mason and Hodgkins have many ideas for the drive-in, including planning theme weekends to coincide with other events going on around Williams. For example, during the Harley Owners Group rally scheduled this summer in Williams, the theater could show “Easy Rider." Other ideas include showing westerns during rodeo weekends, said Mason.

The site could also be used for day venues, such as swap meets or to accommodate groups shut out of the National Forests if fire dangers force their closure during the summer.

If built, the theater will operate Thursdays through Sundays from around 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Developers figure they will need eight to 12 employees, including some for lot security, Mason said.

“This won’t be a free for all,” he said. “If someone breaks the rules, they’ll be out. People want to feel safe and we want them to come back.”


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