E-Malt.com News article: USA, VI: The Arlington Beer Company plans of opening face obstacles

The Arlington Beer Company is looking to start a manufacturing, bottling, and distribution facility in Arlington Hts. The business would be the first microbrewery in the village, journal-topics.com reported on November, 4.

The brewery came before the village’s plat and subdivision committee on Oct. 22.

Originally, the owners wanted to include a tap room for beer tastings and tours, according to village staff, but that idea is now scrapped. While the village would not require a liquor license for the production of alcohol, Arlington Beer Company would need one if they actually served beer. Arlington Hts. does not have a liquor license specific to tap rooms so the brewery would have to comply with existing liquor laws. That would mean having a full kitchen that would serve food along with the beer tastings, which was not included in the company’s plan for the site.

But that’s not the only potential issue facing the project. The brewery would be located in the Hickory-Kensington neighborhood. The village recently designated the area a tax-increment financing district to spur future redevelopment. The area is mainly industrial now, but the brewery would not fit those multi-family residential guidelines for future development. Arlington Beer Company would need to convince the village board to issue a land use variation in order to operate at the site.

Village staff is also seeking additional information on possible odors from the alcohol production.

The proposal will go before the plan commission at a future date. Commissions will then make a formal recommendation to the village board for or against approval.



07 November, 2014