Title
Initiating a comprehensive study of zoning regulations pertaining to commercial brewing.
Body
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Saint Paul finds that the zoning code's present land use definitions and development standards were adopted at various times and for various purposes intended principally to regulate large commercial brewing operations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes an increasing trend towards small, local commercial breweries; and
WHEREAS, it appears to the City Council that the zoning code's present standards which regulate large commercial brewing operations may be unnecessarily burdensome to the evolving small-scale commercial brewing industry and the entrepreneurs who need zoning approvals from the City in order to establish small-scale commercial breweries; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to support the growth of small, local commercial breweries by undertaking a study to consider text amendments to the zoning code which would clarify, harmonize, and update regulatory language, including a reexamination of definitions based on commercial brewery production limit cut-offs and zoning districts appropriate for locating small commercial brewing businesses; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.357, Subd. 4, the Council may initiate amendments to the zoning code and for the purpose of facilitating the growth of small, local commercial breweries the Council desires to do so; now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby refers to the planning commission for study, the proposed amendment to Leg. Code § 65.774 as set forth below, and zoning code sections: 65.910; 65.610; 65.774; 65.820; and 65.821; and to receive from the commission a report and recommendation on the said amendment specified sections, and any other zoning code sections which the commission believes may facilitate the Council's intentions, all in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 462.357, Subd. 4; and
BE IT FURTHERE RESOLVED, that the Council, in its desire to assist small, local commercial breweries by enabling these breweries to obtain tap room licenses pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 340A.301, Subd. 6b, the Council specifically commends the following proposed amendment to Leg. Code § 65.774, entitled "malt liquor production" to the commission for its study, report, and recommendation as follows:
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.