Date: February 7, 2017
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Scott Tempel, City Planner
Title
Consider Approval of Conditional Use Permit for Imminent Brewing - 519 Division Street
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council Considers Approval of Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for Imminent Brewing at 519 Division Street, Unit 2.
Summary Report:
Staff has been working with representatives from Imminent Brewing for several years on the development of a brewery and taproom in Northfield. In 2016, Imminent Brewing purchased the garage portion of the Northfield Armory from Jonathan and Liz Reppe. The building is currently under renovation and has gone through HPC review, site plan approval and multiple building permit applications.
During the site plan review process, it was anticipated that the use would be allowed as a Brewpub under the Land Development Code. As the applicant was going through the permitting process, it was discovered that the State of Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGE) was concerned that the local zoning did not match the State Manufacturing License which is for a Microbrewery.
Imminent Brewing Company's business plan includes eventual distribution of kegs from the facility. This is called self-distribution and is licensed by the State AGE Division. With self-distribution, the brewer may distribute kegs to licensed retailers for sale to the general public. The Brewpub zoning only allows refillable growlers and bomber bottles to be sold to the public from the facility. While there is no municipal license for self-distribution, the State AGE Division requires that this license be in line with the local zoning. The off sale of malt liquor to the general public at the facility is regulated by State law and City Code Chapter 6 Sect. 6-57 (d) (3) (e) which reads in part, "The malt liquor for off-sale shall be packaged pursuant to Minn. Stat. ? 340A.285 in 64-ounce containers commonly ...
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