Trustees find no local conflict with Strange Craft salesroom; state approval to proceed

The Buena Vista Board of Trustees voted July 22 to notify the Colorado state licensing authority that the proposed Strange Craft Beer salesroom on East Main Street would not produce traffic, noise or other neighborhood impacts inconsistent with local regulations.

Why it matters: the Colorado Department of Revenue requires local licensing authorities to review salesroom applications and to identify any conflicts with local zoning or land‑use rules. The town’s review focuses on land‑use compatibility (for example, whether a beer trailer or permanent structure violates setback or frontage rules) and immediate public‑safety issues. A local response must be filed within 45 days or the state will deem the municipality non‑objecting.

Staff reported that the initial plan to operate from a beer trailer conflicted with the town’s Unified Development Code because a permanent structure is required to support a liquor salesroom; the applicants subsequently completed a change‑of‑use of an existing permanent structure and obtained a county certificate of occupancy and fire‑district approval. The Colorado Department of Revenue investigator completed a site inspection July 16 and indicated approval; other local departments (police, fire, planning, code enforcement and county consumer protection) had reported no objection.

At the meeting, Ken and April (applicants) described plans for an outdoor beer‑garden style salesroom with communal seating, food trucks and limited hours year‑round; they said they would start by serving Strange Craft products and invited modest ambient music. Staff described fencing and signage plans to contain the salesroom area.

Trustee discussion focused on the review process. One trustee said the board should honor the usual public‑comment process used for other liquor licenses; others noted that the salesroom is a distinct state license tied to a brewery license and that the state had already carried out background and site review. The town’s role was limited to land‑use compatibility and whether the location’s existing activity (food trucks, Main Street businesses) made the salesroom inconsistent with local rules.

Roll call vote: the motion to determine that the proposed salesroom would not create inconsistent impacts passed on a roll call (Yes: Trustee Hyche, Trustee Rosenauer, Trustee Roe, Trustee Stern, Trustee Swisher; No: Trustee Rice). The town administrator said staff would notify the state licensing authority of the local authority’s non‑objection and would sign the required form for submission.

Ending: Trustees approved the determination and asked staff to document fencing, signage and hours in the file; trustees also noted they may request state action if the salesroom later violates state law or creates a local nuisance.