The Sandusky Planning Commission on Nov. 25 recommended that the City Commission approve a zoning map amendment to make the combined parcel at 223–225 Make Street entirely Downtown Business, clearing the way for future brewery-related development.

City planning staff told the commission the parcel is currently split-zoned and that the proposed change would align the property with an earlier site plan approved in January 2023. Staff said the rezoning would not by itself authorize new buildings beyond the limits set by required minimum setbacks, and that any future expansion would be subject to site-plan review and applicable permitting.

The property owner’s representative, who said the applicant has stepped back from adding a separate brewhouse for now, described plans to renovate the old bait shop and to use the small remnant parcel in connection with the brewery. "This property just needs to be rezoned," the applicant said, adding that the immediate focus is renovation of the bait shop.

Commissioners asked whether rezoning would change parking obligations. Staff replied that parking requirements are tied to the future land use and would be assessed during a later site-plan review, and that staff had counted 166 existing parking spaces on the parcel and adjacent lots—exceeding the 150-space minimum the addition would require. Commissioners urged continued attention to neighborhood circulation and encouraged the applicant and staff to discuss beautification and surfacing improvements for nearby parking areas.

A motion to recommend approval subject to staff conditions passed on a roll call in which Commissioners Mike Zulof, Jim Jackson, Connor Whelan, David Miller and Steve Pajali voted yes. The matter will next go to the City Commission, where staff said they intend to ask that the public hearing be set in February.