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Planning board forwards rezoning near Orono Brewing and adds a brewery definition to land‑use ordinance
Summary
The Orono Planning Board voted to forward a positive recommendation to adopt zoning‑map amendments to rezone Tax Map 31 lots 26, 28, 29a and 29b from MDR to C‑2 and to add a brewery definition to the land‑use ordinance; Orono Brewing co‑owner Abe Firth spoke in favor and offered technical input on licensing and operations.
The Orono Planning Board on July 15 voted to forward a positive recommendation to adopt zoning‑map amendments and land‑use ordinance changes to rezone four parcels on Tax Map 31 from medium‑density residential (MDR) to commercial‑2 (C‑2) and to add a definition for a brewery to the schedule of uses.
Planning staff (EJ Roach) told the board the change was proposed to align zoning with the existing and intended use around Orono Brewing Company and to allow sensible expansion and future uses on the adjacent parcels. Staff said the work has been in preparation for many months, that three of the parcels are under control of the brewery and that the fourth landowner supported the change because it offers more flexibility while still allowing residential uses.
Abe Firth, co‑owner of Orono Brewing Company, said about 90% of the business is production and 10% is public‑facing tasting room operations; he described modest planned expansions for storage and fermenters over 2027–2028 and offered to assist the town with defining the term "brewery," noting breweries often carry multiple licenses and the industry is highly regulated. Firth said the brewery's tasting room is important for identity while the bulk of operations remain behind the scenes.
A resident of Margin Street asked for clarification about MDR versus C‑2 and raised a question about tax‑map notation for lot 29b. Planning staff explained MDR denotes medium‑density residential, that Lot 26 is privately owned but was included to create a coherent zone, and that 29 corresponds to the 29b designation in the town mapping. Staff recommended adding a brewery definition to the ordinance to reduce later ambiguity over allowable activities (for example, whether a tasting room or restaurant is treated as brewery activity or as a separate use requiring other licenses).
The board moved to forward a positive recommendation for rezoning and to add the brewery definition; both motions were seconded and the board voted in favor.
What’s next: The Planning Board’s positive recommendation will be forwarded to the next step in the town’s adoption process (town council or ordinance adoption process); specific regulatory approvals (licenses for alcohol service and related matters) remain with state and town licensing authorities.
