Plan commission OKs Open Brewing Company front‑yard renovations including new volley courts, band shelter and storage shed
Summary
Open Brewing Company received plan commission approval to reconfigure its front yard: replace a bocce court with sand volleyball, add a band shelter oriented away from nearby apartments, expand the food‑truck area, and add two malt storage tanks and a storage shed; staff required building permits and noise/code compliance.
The West Allis Plan Commission approved site modifications for Open Brewing Company’s front‑yard area, including the conversion of an existing bocce court into a sand volleyball court, reorientation of bag‑toss lanes, expansion of the food‑truck area, a raised band shelter and new storage for malt tanks and outdoor equipment.
Staff said the band shelter will be a pre‑engineered structure on the raised patio and will be oriented west to focus sound toward the beer‑garden and away from the Sono Lofts apartments to the east. The new sand volleyball court will include engineered base layers and subsurface drainage; lighting will be downward‑directed with housings to limit glare, and the existing volleyball court lights will be dimmed further to reduce player glare.
Other elements include a new 8‑by‑16 storage shed for equipment, a split‑rail fence along National Avenue that will not encroach on city right of way, relocated landscaping and replacement of a large tree that must be removed to accommodate the changes. Staff said departments reviewed the plans and code enforcement and building permits will be required for construction.
Commissioners moved and seconded approval; a voice vote carried the motion. Staff highlighted that the city’s noise ordinance will guide any operational limits and that building permits may require additional construction details to satisfy code.
