Saint Paul City council members Russ Stark and Amy Brendmoen have introduced a resolution that will modify zoning to allow smaller breweries to have taprooms in traditional neighborhood and commercial zoning districts, as opposed to only industrial districts.

The council is having a public hearing on this issue and others at 5:30 on Wednesday, March 20, in the Council Chambers on the third floor of St. Paul City Hall. Join members of your community in speaking up about the advantages that taprooms bring to your neighborhood!

CURRENT ORDINANCE

Sec. 65.774. – Malt liquor production.

Standards and conditions in traditional neighborhood and business districts.

(a)

In traditional neighborhood and B2 business districts, a conditional use permit is required for such uses with more than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet of floor area to ensure size and design compatibility with the particular location.

(b)

Fewer than five thousand (5,000) barrels of malt liquor shall be produced in a year.

(c)

The malt liquor shall not be sold to customers for consumption on the site where manufactured.

The resolution would completely eliminate section (c), allowing St. Paul to enter the taproom scene, joining cities like Stillwater, Rochester, Minneapolis, and more.

It would be great to see Saint Paul catch up to other leading cities, but does the resolution go far enough? The 5,000 barrel limit may be the next hurdle to overcome. Without the ability grow brewers will still put Saint Paul near the bottom of the list for potential brewery locations.

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