At tonight’s Decatur City Commission meeting, commissioners will take up zoning for some of the finer things in life.

The commission will take up revisions to the city’s alcohol ordinance to specify the allowance of “craft breweries” inside the city limits in C3 commercial districts.  As described in an early July post, it was suggested by the City’s attorney that the commission clarify the alcohol ordinance to establish a license category for the manufacture of beer in the heavy-commercial C3 district.  Currently, the only C3 district in the city exists in the East College Avenue/New Street area around and behind East Decatur Station.

In related and always exciting zoning news, the city commission is being asked this evening to also specify the allowance of “bed & breakfasts” inside the city in R60 and R85 residential districts.  As stated by a note from Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne, the city has long-allowed bed & breakfasts, however the use needs clarification since it is subject to state licensing.

According to Ms. Menne’s note, a B&B is “defined as an owner-occupied residence offering no more than three bedrooms for a short-term rental and providing breakfast as part of the rental service. The term of the rental may not exceed 14 days.” Ms. Menne goes on to state that “The City of Decatur offers an ideal location for successful small B&B operations because of our proximity to Atlanta, access to MARTA and the location of Agnes Scott College, Columbia Seminary and Emory University.

 

You may recall our recent post about the coming of Decatur’s first brewery, Three Taverns, located at East Decatur Station.

Well according to Decatur Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne, when the two local residents involved in the operation approached the city about a license they “found that [they] had no license category that fit.”

Consulting with the city’s attorneys, the city identified “two refinements in existing ordinances that are necessary to support craft brewing operations.”  So, tonight the city commission will vote on clarifying the ordinance language, establishing a license category and adding “craft breweries” as a specified use in C3 Heavy Commercial Zoning District. According to the city zoning map (pdf), the only current “heavy commercial zoning district” is located in and around East Decatur Station.

The first refinement could be approved this evening, while the amendment to the zoning ordinance require advertisement and a hearing by the Planning and City Commissions, which probably won’t be considered until August.

The zoning change would limit the number of barrels per year to 100,000.  An email written by the applicant, Chet Burge, says that Sweetwater brews upwards of 100,000 barrels a year, while Terrapin is “probably approaching 50,000 barrels”.

Ms. Menne notes that diversifying business types, with a focus on locally owned, independent, is part of Goal 2 of the 2010 Decatur Strategic Plan.

See page 31 of the city commission meeting materials (pdf) for more detail.