Branson board limits height of high-rise

The Branson Board of Aldermen at its Sept. 25 meeting amended the proposal and passed the modified ordinance unanimously. Board members received a number of calls from citizens who are against the high-rise building and heard 14 people speak against it at a public hearing.

The Evergreen Towers complex, located at the site of the former Branson Inn near highways 248 and 65, is proposed by developers HCW Development Co. LLC of Branson and Lebanon-based Evergreen Investments LLC.

HCW and Evergreen also are partners in developing Branson Landing, the Hilton Hotel and the Landing Views condominiums.

Also at the meeting, the board approved on first reading the city’s fiscal 2007 operating and capital budget. The proposed budget is $46.7 million, an 11 percent increase from the 2006 budget of $42.1 million.

The city extended its marketing agreement with the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce to Dec. 31. The three-year agreement specifies the chamber as the marketing agent for the city and was set to expire Sept. 30, but more time is needed to negotiate new terms.