The Maplewood Planning and Zoning Commission decided on Wednesday, with a 5-1 vote, against the rezoning of an empty lot on Hazel Avenue — from residential to commercial — to allow Side Project Brewing to turn it into a parking lot for 15 cars for the brewery.
Side Project owner Cory King explained that the business has grown from three employees to 40 since first coming to Maplewood, and now includes the Cellar on Marietta Avenue, the Brewery on Manchester Road, and Pizza Champ, across the street from the brewery. He said they have outgrown the building and he is just looking out for his business. He said he knew rezoning the lot would be an uphill battle. He bought the lot last year.
See also:
- Side Project Brewing buys lot on Hazel Avenue, residents are concerned about commercial intrusion on block — now updated (Dec. 2023)
- Side Project Brewery to seek rezoning for adjoining lot on Hazel Avenue (May 2024)
King said he has reached out to the Jay B. Smith Funeral Home to use their lot but hasn’t received a response. The funeral home’s large lot abuts the lot that King would like to use. It was built at least as early as 1955, which predates the current zoning laws, Maplewood Public Works Director Anthony Traxler said.
Commission member Pickett Lema said that Maplewood has struggled to have good businesses lately, and appreciated that King has been respectful of the city. Several of the residents who spoke after her agreed that King has grown an admirable business.
Of the approximately 25 residents at the meeting, thirteen spoke, and 12 of those were against the rezoning.
Several Hazel Avenue residents said a parking lot would have a negative impact on the neighborhood. The house at the end of the street would be bordered by commercial lots on three sides, isolating it from the neighborhood and decreasing its value, the home’s owner John Niehaus said.
James Fox, who lives across from the lot, said he admires the business but the commission should consider the impact on the neighborhood. Residents from nearby Maple and Flora avenues also expressed concern about encroaching commercial properties. Flora resident John Ford said Maplewood’s beautiful, tremendous houses attract people to Maplewood and that shouldn’t be jeopardized.
Before the vote the commission chair Kevin Sullivan said Side Project is a wonderful business and wonderful to work with, but didn’t want to set a precedent of having commercial properties intruding on residential. Other commission members suggested that King could be as creative in his parking problem as he has been in his business.
The commission’s vote is a recommendation to the city council to deny the rezoning request when they vote on the matter. The council’s first and second readings will be Sept. 10, and the third and final reading (vote) will be on Sept. 24. Both meetings start at 7pm.
