Rockmill Brewing Co. will present its case for a brewpub on Tuesday before the German Village Commission. In addition to indoor space at the site of Juergen's German Bakery and Restaurant, 525 S. 4th St., the brewery wants to open 1,700-square-foot patio that would seat 57. What it needs is commission to grant a variance to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 21 to eight. Some residents say eight isn't enough. "The parking is the issue," said Ed Elberfeld, who lives about three blocks away. "It's kind of great to do business in German Village. We like having places like Rockmill in our midst," he said. "But you have to deal with parking."

Rockmill Brewing Co. will present its case for a brewpub on Tuesday before the German Village Commission.



In addition to indoor space at the site of Juergen�s German Bakery and Restaurant, 525 S. 4th St., the brewery wants to open 1,700-square-foot patio that would seat 57.



What it needs is commission to grant a variance to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 21 to eight.



Some residents say eight isn�t enough.



�The parking is the issue,� said Ed Elberfeld, who lives about three blocks away.



�It�s kind of great to do business in German Village. We like having places like Rockmill in our midst,� he said. �But you have to deal with parking.�



Change is never easy in German Village, and this proposal is no exception. Neighbors have lined up for and against the brewpub. Some say it will be too noisy. Others say increased traffic will spoil the cozy, brick-lined neighborhood.



The village commission will make a recommendation on the site plan and variances. The project still must go before the city�s Board of Zoning Adjustment to get a special permit to expand the use.



The German Village Society has taken no position on the project. �We�re neutral. We�re cheerleading the process,� said Shiloh Todorov, the society�s executive director.



Rockmill owners have contacted the nearby Livingston United Methodist Church about patrons using 14 parking spaces after 5 p.m. The brewery also wants to use valet parking.



That, too, has some neighbors worried. �The reality of German Village is when you kind of move the parking it kind of moves the problem,� Elberfeld said.



Rockmill owner Matthew Barbee said he worked out a good-neighbor agreement with about five neighbors who would be directly affected. In addition, he said Rockmill would boost landscaping along S. 4th Street to reduce noise.



�We set ourselves up to be an asset to the neighborhood,� Barbee said.



Philip Poll. lives nearby on Jackson Street and supports the project. "Rockmill is right for the area, the right product,� he said.



Juergen�s wouldn�t completely go away. Its owner, Rosemarie Keidel, wants to lease the building to Rockmill and continue her pastry and import business in a small space there.



Barbee said he�d like to be open by late spring.



@MarkFerenchik