Lewisville sets public hearing for annexation, rezoning: Resident expresses concerns over reason for request from venue located on Williams Road 

Published 12:10 am Thursday, July 24, 2025

By Jim Buice

For the Clemmons Courier

Even before multiple new business items on the agenda for annexation and rezoning requests on Williams Road were addressed in the July monthly meeting of the Lewisville Town Council, a neighbor approached the podium and gave his take during public comments.

“I live about 800 feet from the property in question that seeks to be annexed,” said Corey Pendergrass, who lives in the 5500 block of Williams Road. “I asked myself when we got the notification, ‘Why is the Westbend Bar & Venue seeking to annex?’ It was not a change in status on trash pickup or any other amenities that the city offers.

“So my assumption is that it’s to obtain a license to sell liquor by the drink. As a father, a husband and an active member of this community, I have some concerns about that.”

Pendergrass talked about the potential impact on the residential neighborhood if this annexation request is approved.

“For what it’s worth, I applaud any business that works to better themselves, but I am concerned as a family man that this would bring harm to our community,” said Pendergrass, who said he has five children, the oldest of which is 15 and getting ready to get his license next year. “And with a neighborhood that already has three bars between Old Nick’s, the Incendiary and Westbend, we probably don’t need liquor by the drink.”

The next steps for the property located at 5394 Williams Road followed, including directing town clerk Angie Lord to investigate the annexation petition, which she disclosed in the agenda meeting the previous week before the council meeting.

Then there were resolutions to establish the date of the public hearing on the question of annexation for Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall during the next council meeting, and also setting the public hearing to receive comments on the L-113 rezoning request by Jerry Chapman, Susan Chapman, Joshua Shore and Bradley Ross to rezone annexed property from Agriculture & Yadkin River (Forsyth County) to Agriculture & Yadkin River (Lewisville).

Lord disclosed the property of approximately 24 acres is described as noncontiguous to the town’s primary corporate limits and would be a satellite annexation. She was then asked if those making the rezoning request gave any reason for seeking the change, and she stated she didn’t have that information.

Town Manager Stacy Tolbert then said, “Whenever they ask for voluntary annexation, they don’t have to necessarily give us a reason of why they would like to do that.”

Another question followed that if the town were to approve the annexation, would that mean they would be able to obtain a license for liquor by the drink, and Tolbert said, “That’s correct.”

Mayor Mike Horn then asked if the town could check to make sure that’s the case, and attorney Elliot Fus responded.

“I can check on that,” Fus said. “It may be county by county. And it could just be that Forsyth County for the unincorporated areas hasn’t voted to have liquor by the drink. Each local government has to have a referendum to allow it within their jurisdictions.

“Just to clarify on these agenda items what we’re doing tonight is basically a routine procedural requirement. This is not the vote on whether or not you want to annex. This is a vote to essentially accept the clerk’s certificate that the application checks out and then to set a time where people can come and talk to you about whether it’s a good idea or a bad idea.”

When Tolbert was asked if it was required that those making the annexation request had to attend the public hearing, she said, “It’s customary but probably not required, but we do highly encourage them to attend.”

A request for that rezoning was received by the Lewisville Planning Board from Westbend Holdings LLC on the tract that was formally used as part of the former Westbend Vineyard property.

In the staff analysis and recommendation, they found the application to be complete and ready for board consideration, finding the request to be consistent with the intentions and descriptions of the Comprehensive Plan in the Rural Residential place type — with staff recommending approval of zoning map amendment L-113 for the upcoming rezoning request. 

Tolbert provided more context on the timeline, saying that in June the case for annexation and rezoning was before the planning board, “so what happened on July 3, we had a discussion about it at the agenda briefing. July 10 was simply setting the public hearing for Aug. 14. That is when the presentation will be given and when council will vote on it. 

“The planning board makes the recommendation to council on rezoning. Staff will make a recommendation to planning board initially, but really the recommendation that counts is the one from planning board.

“And that recommendation will be presented to council on Aug. 14, and then that’s when they will have the public hearing for members of the public to come and speak, and then that is the evening they will vote on the annexation and the rezoning.”

In another item on the agenda, Tolbert said the council has worked toward approving a comprehensively revised United Development Ordinance, including a special called meeting, “and that time has finally come for us to finish the rewrites of the UDO.”

The document deals with all of Lewisville’s zoning, subdivision and environmental regulations, and along with the town’s Comprehensive Plan, it provides a way to manage Lewisville’s growth and development.

The first version came out shortly after the town was formed in 1991, closely following what was in place with Forsyth County at the time. It has been amended at various points, but with soaring growth in Lewisville over the last 30-plus years and many changes to state laws, this is the first complete UDO review and rewrite.

In other highlights from the meeting, the council:

• Was introduced to Dep. Robert Boggs as the latest addition to the town’s public safety team. Boggs comes to Lewisville from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, where he served in a variety of capacities in the last seven years. Sgt. P.J. Stringer, who heads the local force, said that Boggs will cover the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift.
• Approved spending $12,052 to remove 12 crape myrtle trees in Shallowford Square. The trees near to be relocated due to the construction for the Great Wagon Road.
• Recognized Tom Fowler as “One of the Reasons Lewisville is a Great Place to Live” for his restoration of the historic Roller Mill as a vibrant center for small business and his continuing efforts to preserve Lewisville’s most prominent landmark.
• Heard from Tolbert that National Night Out will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Shallowford Square. There will be activities, games, demonstrations and more along with a free hot dog dinner and popcorn as long as supplies last. The national event supports law enforcement officers, fire departments and public safety agencies.