The Fredericksburg Planning & Zoning Commission approved a conditional-use permit and site plan for a proposed microbrewery and taproom (Lynn Development LLC, brand name “Four Choices”) at the southeast corner of South Creek and Highway 87 South after staff and the applicant revised the plans to address landscaping, lighting and buffering concerns.

Applicant Rick LaPlante described the business model as a small-batch brew house with a family- and community-oriented taproom and outdoor space for events. He said the design team had worked closely with city staff to reduce lighting impacts, increase native landscaping, and add water-capture features. Steven Almo of OPA Design Studio (Austin) described the architecture as “Hill Country modern,” and emphasized material choices and a reduced lighting pole height approach to reduce impacts on adjacent residential property.

Staff (Shelby) said the building totals roughly 5,056 square feet with about 2,000 square feet for brewing and the remainder for seating and gathering space; the site plan proposes approximately 109 parking spaces (staff calculated 61 spaces would meet minimum code requirements). Staff noted the applicant provided an entry-corridor–appropriate design, site layout, landscaping and a revised trash-dumpster placement after discussing alternatives that would have impacted a detention area rather than residential yards.

Public comment included questions and concerns about amplified outdoor music, hours, proximity to the few backyard lots that back onto the property, and the applicant’s plans for rainwater capture. Several residents asked about the location and height of a fence along the property line adjacent to new Lennar lots. The applicant and staff explained the plan includes an eight-foot screening fence along the shared edge, 20 feet of buffer between the fence and the applicant’s parking, and low-level bollard lighting rather than tall pole lights.

The commission conditioned approval on civil construction-plan approval, TxDOT driveway-permit approval, completion and approval of a detailed screening/landscape plan, and a complete sign package to be returned to staff for final review. The commission also adopted the applicant’s proposed limits on amplified outdoor music as a condition: no outdoor amplified music after 10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, and no outdoor amplified music after 9 p.m. on other weeknights. The motion to approve the conditional-use permit and site plan carried after a second.

Why it matters: The approval allows a neighborhood-scale hospitality and manufacturing use to proceed. Conditions target potential impacts — noise, light and screening — and require detailed civil, landscaping and signage plans before building permits can be issued.