USA, MI: Edelbrau Brewery production plan approved by Pittsfield Township

Plans for a new brewery proposed for the State and Ellsworth roads intersection in Pittsfield Township are moving forward.

But township approval of plans for a public taproom room at the Edelbrau Brewery are on hold, MLive.com reported on October 31.

In early October, the Pittsfield Township Planning Commission tabled plans for the brewery and the tasting room. At its Oct. 20 meeting, the commission approved a conditional use permit for the project's first phase, which involves production. A second conditional use permit is needed for the taproom that's a part of phase two.

Craig Lyon, director of municipal services for the township, said planning officials are worried about the parking lot layout and pedestrian safety.

"We're concerned about getting the public in there, because it's not a primo site," he said. "The way it’s currently laid out, pedestrians are walking out into the parking around a truck dock, and it's very haphazard. There's no separation between cars and pedestrians.

"We're asking for them to try and figure out some better parking and pedestrian circulation."

The brewery is planned for a 5,332-square-foot warehouse space at 719 Ellsworth Road. Plans submitted to the commission by Edelbrau call for a 4,915-square-foot production facility to be built out as part of the first phase, and a 317-square-foot tasting room to be built in the second phase.

Lyon said phase one includes the production of beer, soda, wine and distillates; educational tours; on premises sales of kegs, bottles and growlers; and distribution of package products.

In a memo to the commission, the owners - Teo Watson-Ahlbrandt and Spike Oliver - noted the importance of also producing wine and liquor, though it isn't clear what type will be made.

"With a combination of these additional products and our high-quality beers and sodas, we will be quite competitive with the other beer manufacture interests in south-eastern Michigan, and, to a degree, with the larger regional and national brands marketed in our area," they wrote.

01 November, 2016