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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – October 3, 2012 3 Municipal ordinances may be more restrictive than State law in terms of the sale of alcohol. City Planner Meagan Beekman reviewed the proposed land use definitions. Staff was directed at the August 20, 2012 City Council work session, to research amending the zoning code to allow microbreweries and micro distilleries as conditional uses to the maximum extent allowable under state law. These recommendations were brought to the September 5, 2012 planning commission work session where it was recommended to staff that brewpubs also be included as a new, and separate, land use from micro breweries and micro distilleries. Brewpubs are microbreweries that have a restaurant component with on-sale sales of products brewed on site. Brewpubs also provide food and can also serve alcoholic products other than those brewed on site. City Planner Meagan Beekman continued the Planning Commission also discussed allowed prepackaged food to be served on site within a taproom, as opposed to food that is prepared on site. The distinction is important because establishments that have food prepared on site would be considered brewpubs rather than taprooms and have different legal requirements within State Statute. Staff has prepared draft amendments to the zoning code that reflect these recommendations. City Planner Meagan Beekman reviewed currently Arden Hills Zoning Code allows breweries and distilleries, as well as distributors of alcohol, in zoning districts that allow manufacturing and processing. The draft zoning code amendments create new land uses for microbreweries, micro distilleries and brewpubs. Microbrewery and micro distillery land uses would allow the manufacture and distribution of intoxicating alcohol, as currently allowed by State Statute, in the assigned zoning districts. Microbreweries would also be permitted to have a retail component. A land use for brewpubs would also be created to differentiate microbreweries that do not have a food component and brewpubs that do have a food service component. Applications for micro breweries, micro distilleries and brewpubs would be approved through the conditional use permit process. The application has submitted information addressing their request for a Zoning Code Amendment and CUP. Rather than make adjustments to the existing land uses within the Code, Staff is recommending creating three new land uses that would then be added to appropriate districts throughout the City. The new land uses would be micro-breweries, micro distilleries, and brew pubs. Staff is recommending that micro breweries and micro distilleries be allowed as Conditional Uses in the B-2, B-3, B-4, GB, I-FLEX and MB zoning districts. Staff is also recommending that brewpubs be allowed as Conditional Uses in the B-2, B-3, B-4 and MB zoning districts. City Planner Meagan Beekman reviewed the following CUP criteria would apply to micro breweries, micro distilleries in the B-4 District: