Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Microbrewery Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve conditional rezoning for microbrewery; neighbors voice traffic, compatibility concerns
Summary
The board rezoned 1.23 acres on Wards Gap Road to allow a small-scale microbrewery and craft distillery operation with limits; neighbors raised concerns about traffic and the property's proximity to Ridgecrest Retirement community.
The Surry County Board of Commissioners voted March 17 to rezone 1.23 acres at 2244 Wards Gap Road from Rural Residential (RR) to Community Business Conditional (CB conditional) to allow microbreweries producing less than 15,000 barrels per year and craft distilleries producing less than 15,000 gallons per year.
Development Services Director Adrian Gardner told the board the parcel sits in an area of medium residential density with a history of mixed residential and commercial uses; Ridgecrest Retirement and Assisted Living Community lies about a tenth of a mile southwest of the property. Gardner said the planning board recommended approval and that the site plan includes buffering and setbacks intended to make the use compatible with nearby properties.
Maximus Bowman, operations manager for Thirsty Souls, said the company plans to move brewing operations from its downtown location into the existing warehouse shell at the Wards Gap Road address. “We’re not gonna be outside the building. We’re not gonna have parties. We’re not gonna be serving alcohol there. We’re just looking at moving our operations inside to have more space at the downtown location,” Bowman said. He described the use as manufacturing and storage with two to three employees at the site.
Several nearby residents spoke in opposition. Marie Nicholson said she and neighbors do not want extra traffic in the older Ward’s Gap Road neighborhood and that the property is adjacent to family-owned lots; she said the building had been vacant about 30 years and that she preferred another reuse. Abdul Zaki said he lives near the area and expressed concern about increased commercial vehicle traffic on narrow roads used by many older residents.
Commissioner Corey Hyatt moved to approve the rezoning and to include the site-plan waivers noted on the plan (setback and buffer modifications); the motion was seconded. Commissioners spoke to residents’ concerns about traffic and quality-of-life impacts, and Commissioner Eddie Harris said he heard the objections but did not see a reason to oppose the request. The board approved the rezoning.
The conditional approval limits production to the stated annual volumes and ties additional changes to future approvals: any change exceeding those thresholds would require the applicant to return to the board for further action.
