USA, MA: Magnify Brewing LLC’s concept of new brewery approved by Medford Planning Board
A brewery that will distribute to bars, restaurants and liquor stores and serve its beer in a Main Street, Medford, tasting room and outdoor beer garden was unanimously approved Wednesday, September 27 by the Medford Planning Board.
17 North Main Street LLC, the property owner, will demolish the old Town Hall at 17 North Main Street and build the 8,200-square-foot building, Alexander Barth, of the Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman law firm, told the board. The property, which will front on North Main Street, is bounded by Post Office Lane and Charles Street.
The property owner is a unit of Magnify Brewing LLC, which operates a brewery and tasting room in Fairfield, New Jersey, said principal Eric Ruta, who said he is the founder and owner of Magnify Brewing.
Besides selling beer in its tasting room, the Fairfield operation distributes its beer to 350 commercial customers in New Jersey and other states, Ruta said.
The board gave the project preliminary and final site plan approval. No variances were sought for the site, which has been designated an Area in Need of Redevelopment by Township Council.
17 North Main LLC will purchase the property from the Township for $218,000 and the total cost of the project will be $2,593,000, according to Magnify Brewing's redevelopment agreement filed with the Planning Board.
Because of the redevelopment designation, 17 North Main Street LLC would be eligible for a property tax abatement, according to the Township redevelopment plan. Council may negotiate long-term financial agreements that could include a five-year tax abatement, the redevelopment plan states.
Some neighbors speaking during the public testimony part of the board meeting asked if the 16 parking spaces on the site would be enough. The developer said its employees would park elsewhere in town.
"I do think parking is a huge concern," said Dr. Bill Stiles, a dentist whose office is next door to the future brewery.
Traffic would increase by 116 in and out trips in the peak evening hour on Saturdays and by 50 in and out trips during the weekly evening peak hour, according to traffic estimates in the developer's filing.
Board planner Scott Taylor of Taylor Design Group told board members that municipal lots are in the area and on-street parking also is available. "The town is also looking at other potential expansions of parking," he said.
During his presentation, owner Ruta explained that state regulations prohibit the North Jersey brewery from supplying beer to the Medford one. He expects to employ nine people at the Medford brewery, including two beer production workers and seven involved in the taproom.
The hours would be Sunday through Wednesday, from noon to 9 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday, from noon to 11 p.m., he said.
Although the Township redevelopment plan has been approved by the state Pinelands Commission, the brewery's proposal now needs to be approved by the state commission.
29 September, 2023
