A local chain is expanding with plans to open up shop in Bee Cave. However, the city government there is pushing to keep at least some of Planet K's business out.
The Bee Cave City Council unanimously adopted some new ordinances at Monday's specially-called meeting. Council members told the owner of Planet K that their actions had nothing to do with his business, but he says Planet K is no doubt the target of these new city ordinances.
The old Trading Post on Highway 71 has been around since 1934. It is scheduled to become Planet K's 12th store.
"We are improving the place, putting a new roof on it, putting in a new floor," said Michael Kleinman, the founder of Planet K.
A two-week-old stop work order from the city has kept the latest Planet K from orbiting in Bee Cave.
"I think these people are crazy myself," said Kleinman. "They overacted to a situation. I guess they are going to have to live with it, but it is certainly not going to keep us from opening."
Monday night, the Bee Cave City Council voted unanimously to approve ordinances that define sexually oriented businesses.
"We are not a sexually oriented business," said Kleinman.
The ordinances also puts limits on what can be sold inside, namely drug paraphernalia.
"Drug paraphernalia is illegal," said Kleinman. "We don't sell anything that is illegal."
Council also redefined a mural. It i s now any picture painted directly on a wall that can be seen from the street. That move by council put the kibosh on Planet K's plans to work with a local artist to paint a mural around this entire building. A mural were told, that would depict longhorns amid bluebonnets.
"They have banned public art, murals," said Kleinman. "You cannot put a mural in Bee Cave. That is banned. It is illegal. It is a threat to public safety."
Bee Cave residents KVUE spoke to saw both sides of the Planet K argument.
"I do not think there is any need or necessity for that type of material, and I think its a bad influence on society," said Eric Chambers, a Bee Cave resident.
"When we try to suppress things that we are afraid of for our kids, it ends up attracting the very thing that we want to suppress," said Michael Thomas, a Bee Cave resident.
KVUE's calls to the City of Bee Cave were not returned. Kleinman says he has told council members his store will comply with city rules and regulations. However, he says if a problem arises regarding whether merchandise inside Planet K is legal, he will let the courts make that decision, not the city of Bee Cave.
