USA, MI: Plans for microbrewery receive preliminary approval from the Buchanan Township Planning Commission

Plans for a new microbrewery that would be part of a larger complex in Buchanan Township received preliminary approval on January 27 from the Buchanan Township Planning Commission, South Bend Tribune reported.

Flatwater Farms hopes to build the microbrewery off of Walton Road in the northeast part of the township. The planning commission meeting was for the company's request for a special land use permit to build the microbrewery.

The matter will now go to the Buchanan Township Board, which will have the final say on granting the permit. No date has been set for that vote.

This week's meeting continued the process started last fall when Flatwater Farms got the land rezoned from residential to agricultural after promising that it would not have any animal feed lot on the land.

Flatwater Farms owns 100 acres there, 30 acres in Buchanan Township and 70 acres in Niles Township. The business already grows organic hops in Buchanan Township and other crops such as corn, sorghum, herbs, flowers, vegetables and fruits.

Flatwater Farms representative Brian Dougherty said the goal is not only to be able to have an organic microbrewery using the hops grown on site, but also to make this area a destination. "We want to turn Buchanan's hops into Buchanan's beer," he said.

"We feel like it will have a really nice appeal and attract people into town," he said. "It's unusual to have the hops grown for beer right there next to the microbrewery and tasting room. It's also very unusual to have organic hops. We hope people will be interested in coming."

Dougherty said he and Flatwater Farms owner Fran Tuite envision a complex that includes a microbrewery, a tasting room, retail area, biergarten outdoor space and a round barn for special events. They also want to host tours of the hops fields and offer recreational activities.

This project isn't the only one of its kind in the works for the Buchanan area. Steve Lecklider of Lehman's Orchard plans to open a store, taproom, winery, distillery and brewery in the former Golden Farm Candy building on Redbud Trail with the store opening by March 1.

29 January, 2016