Planning withdraws protest; assembly to issue non-objection letter for Howling Wolf Brewpub AMCO application

The finance committee discussed KPB 60.906 (the borough review of an Alcoholic Beverage Control transfer-of-location application) for Howling Wolf Brewpub, which operates as Seward Doggy Bar, license number 4747.

Clerk Turner told the committee that planning staff had initially protested the transfer based on ingress/egress and encroachment issues shown on a submitted map, but the applicant submitted a revised site plan and the planning department withdrew its protest. Robert Ruffner, planning director, explained the revised map shows the fenced area moved to keep the operation out of the borough right-of-way and that the pond provides a barrier so the fence does not need to be placed along the water.

Ruffner noted the property sits in a floodway and that the applicant will still need separate permits that comport with borough floodplain requirements in addition to the state process. Assembly members asked about potential traffic or patron access concerns; staff told the committee the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control process will also review such operational impacts and that the borough’s comment is limited to conformance with borough code. The committee concluded with no recorded vote in the finance committee session; the agenda language was revised to reflect the planning department’s withdrawn protest and to authorize issuance of a non-objection letter to the state agency.