The Sheboygan City Plan Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit for Euchatastrophe Distilling to operate a craft distillery at 1619 Calumet Drive.

Staff reported the site is in an urban commercial district and the applicant is eligible for a conditional use permit. An applicant representative told commissioners they worked with a distillery consultant who reviewed wastewater and concluded the planned operations fall within city parameters, and offered to provide the wastewater report to staff for review. The representative said the distillery will produce a range of spirits — excluding tequila and rum to start — including gin, vodka, liqueurs and aged brown spirits.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on hours, buffering and the planned event space. The applicant said the business aims to close by 9 p.m. on weekdays and weekends and does not plan to operate as a late-night bar. Architect Audrey Grill described landscaping and buffering plans for the existing paved lot. An architect and owner estimated typical event occupancy would likely be limited — one estimate given during discussion ranged from about 50 to 75 people for indoor space, with additional small greenhouse event space under consideration; exact occupancy limits will be set through building and fire-code review.

A commissioner also asked for documentation from the wastewater consultant; staff said they would collect and review that data as part of permitting. The commission moved and approved the conditional use permit by voice vote. The motion carried and the chair remarked that a distillery with greenhouse event space would be a unique addition to the city.

Next steps: the applicant must satisfy any zoning, building-permit, occupancy and licensing requirements and provide the wastewater documentation to staff for file review.