Council previews code changes to allow brewpubs citywide, with state distancing rules limiting some sites

Planning staff described a two-part code update to enable brewpubs — defined as restaurants that manufacture beer on-site and meet state restaurant criteria — outside the downtown Cairns area where appropriate land uses already permit restaurants. Melissa Anderson told the council staff would enable a manufacturing brewery license in zones where restaurants with alcohol are already allowed and require the brewery to be on the same premises as a restaurant to preserve the brewpub concept. "The intent now, it's important to understand that what we understand as a brew pub is that it's a restaurant with a brewery that sells beer and heavy beer for on-site consumption," Anderson said.

Staff also emphasized state law limits on where an alcohol license may be issued: licenses cannot be issued within specified distances of 'community locations' including schools, churches, libraries, public playgrounds and public parks. Anderson and Leslie Casarell said the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Sept. 4 and issued a positive recommendation; staff will return with ordinance language for formal action in two weeks. "An alcoholic beverage license cannot be issued to a business if they're located within a proximity of what is termed a community location in the state law," Anderson said, noting that state distancing overlays will exclude some sites even if the local zoning would otherwise permit a brewpub.