While City Council asked the Zoning and Planning Commission to re-evaluate wording in the Code of Ordinances last Thursday, future brewery owners are stalled on their projects. This amendment to the ordinance would allow breweries, distilleries and similar establishments to open in certain downtown areas.
Two issues raised in the discussion included the wording of the ordinance and issues with parking, said Eddie McBride, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.
The area in question is currently considered “near residential” or “industrial” zoning, said McBride, but business owners pushed to have it changed to commercial, special-use zoning. He mentioned parking as another issue.
“The city staff hadn’t, in the ordinances, developed exactly the precise wording for what they are going to do for breweries and distilleries, comparing them to restaurants, because it is a new phenomena,” said McBride.
Similar businesses for entertainment, like Bier Haus located on Broadway, said they welcome new breweries and distilleries, because it will provide more collaboration between businesses downtown.
“We have spoken with some people that are downtown here that have a brewery and we are working on getting our own Bier Haus Lager and they will be the one who brew it for us,” said Tommy Bonner, owner of Bier Haus.
McBride hopes the city will give businesses in these current zones, the same opportunity to open their doors, like they have for similar businesses already opened.
“No matter where a brewery or distillery wants to go in downtown, it’s treated fairly and treated obviously in the best interest for them to have the opportunity to create commerce in our community,” said McBride.
Bonner said downtown is the perfect location for these businesses to open given its central location.
The issue of the ordinance will be discussed at the next City Council meeting on August 9.
