Commissioners debate future of gravel lot used by Independent Brewing Co.; temporary COVID-era allowance expires

A gravel parcel across Allendale Street that has long been used informally for customer parking — and more recently under a temporary COVID-era permit tied to outdoor dining — was the focus of a lengthy discussion at the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners work session on Sept. 30.

Town staff told commissioners the temporary-use resolution that permitted use of the lot in connection with Independent Brewing Company (IBC) expired at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30. Planning staff and property owners asked the board to consider how to move forward: bring the lot into compliance with town standards (paving, striping, lighting, landscaping and state-required stormwater controls) or to instead pursue other arrangements to preserve parking in the area.

Several owners and business representatives appeared and asked for more time. Mike Petogliano, representing MVP LLC (owner of the gravel lot), said the lot “is a very valuable piece of property for that little area” and that he and IBC were working to find a solution but had not realized the matter required additional permitting until recently. He said the lot is heavily used by trail users and downtown customers on busy weekends.

Staff and several commissioners replied that the town had issued multiple earlier extensions: “this started in late 2020,” staff said, and Mr. Krantz noted there had been roughly four extensions over several years. Commissioner Thompson (Chair Eddie in discussion) and others said the board had understood prior extensions to be final; Commissioner Thompson said she was not inclined to grant another extension without concrete progress.

Town staff reminded the board that gateway legal constraints limit the town: surfacing, landscape, lighting and, most significantly, stormwater management are state-mandated requirements and cannot be waived by a local resolution. Planning staff said the usual path for making the lot permanent would be to take off‑site parking and any proposed development to the Planning Commission for approval and to file engineering drawings so construction can begin; once construction has started the town would consider the project vested.

Staff said the board could direct a narrowly tailored new temporary-use resolution limited to that single lot and use, or the property owners could apply for standard planning approvals (which would include engineering and stormwater solutions). Some commissioners suggested working with IBC, property owners and planning staff to see whether engineering and a site plan could be completed by mid‑2026; others said the board could not indefinitely extend temporary allowances and must be fair to other businesses that have complied with code.

No vote was taken at the work session; staff were asked to prepare clearer documentation of the earlier extension timeline (dates and letters sent) and to work with stakeholders on possible next steps. Commissioners emphasized the town cannot override state stormwater rules and that any permanent solution will need to comply with town and state requirements.