Planning board recommends conditional-zoning modification allowing outdoor seating at Sweet Union Brewing; parking and noise discussed

The Indian Trail Planning Board voted to recommend approval of a modification to conditional zoning case CZ2022-0036 that would allow an outdoor seating component for Sweet Union Brewing and adjust previously allocated parking tied to the site’s 2022 approval.

Staff said the roughly 4.8-acre property on Indian Trail–Fairview Road contains three buildings; the front building previously hosted Kimberly’s Place and had parking allocated for indoor and large outdoor pop-up events. The applicant sought a modified concept plan to allow outdoor tables and seating for the brewery and to reallocate parking tied to Kimberly’s Place, which has relocated. Planning staff said that after site improvements and restriping there will be 41 parking spaces on the site; the indoor brewery component requires 21 spaces under the UDO and the proposed outdoor seating would be served by approximately 12 additional spaces on site.

Tyler (senior planner) explained that the requested modification does not change the base zoning (Conditional Zoning, General Business District) but does amend several plan elements and conditions attached to the 2022 ordinance. Staff recommended approval and described a number of unchanged boilerplate conditions; the board asked staff to correct language in condition No. 10 to state that “all outdoor storage shall comply” with screening and UDO requirements, and staff accepted that edit.

Board members and nearby-residence stakeholders discussed amplified sound. Planning Director Brandy Dees said the town adopted Union County’s noise ordinance by resolution; it does not specify decibel levels and enforcement is complaint-driven through the sheriff’s office. Board members expressed concern about the potential for loud live music late on weekend nights given nearby residences across the highway in Hemby Bridge. Staff said Sweet Union Brewing had indicated only a modest outdoor seating plan and that the business had been responsive in the review process; staff offered to work with the applicant and Union County Sheriff’s Office to craft an enforceable condition if the board wanted an explicit limit on amplified sound hours. The board did not add a new hours-of-amplified-music condition at the meeting but asked staff to pursue language with the applicant before Town Council.

Board member [name on transcript not specified] moved to recommend approval of the CZ modification as presented with the editorial change to condition 10; the motion was seconded and carried. The recommendation will be forwarded to Town Council for final action; any additional site-plan changes or increases in impervious area will require compliance with the UDO and land development standards before permits are issued.