CITY CONSIDERS CRAFT BREWERY LEGISLATION

Now the city of San Diego is considering changing its development code to require that the community be allowed to voice its views when a brewery seeks to open up a secondary, off-site tasting room. That process could take up to six months, Voice of San Diego reports.

Twisted Manzanita Ales and Stone Brewing Company are among the well-known breweries that have expanded off-site, beyond their brewery location, to reach customers directly. 

The proposed rule change would assure that a brewery’s tasting room at its main brewing location can open without these additional reviews, in industrial areas.  The matter is expected to come before Council by April. 

But even with a six month review process to get a permit and allow public comments, the lucrative brewing business is likely to continue to lure brewers to cash in on opportunities to open new tasting rooms.  In fact, the City has agreed to partially subsidize expansions for several local brewers in order to support the burgeoning beer-making industry and create new jobs in San Diego.