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North Branford PZC Addresses More Concerns on Farm Brewery Amendment

Following the close of a public hearing on January 18, North Branford Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) has 65 days to vote on a resolution outlining regulations for zoning law amendment to allow, by Special Use Permit, farm breweries on farms of 10 acres or more in residential zones. The town currently has no farm breweries in operation.

The amendment request, brought by applicant Alexander DeFrancesco of DeFranceso Farm in Northford (336 Forest Road), includes manufacturing and brewing of beer, retail sale of beer, associated tasting room and events, and consumption of beer on the premises of a compliant farm location.

The PZC opened the application review and public hearing in November 2017. The hearing was closed on Jan. 18 following final input received from DeFrancesco and five members of the public, according to meeting minutes.

Town Planner Carey Duques said she is updating a resolution which takes into consideration several issues raised during the review. The resolution outlining the proposed language in the text amendment will be in front of the PZC at its Thurs. Feb. 1 meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall.  While the PZC is not required to vote at that time, the vote can take at any PZC meeting during the 65-day window of action.

Latest concerns covered in the new language will address the operation's waste water process, how to handle the amount of water used by the brewery, and how to regulate it, said Duques.

The resolution is being modified to include "... some added language that requires, as part of the special use permit, to show a plan regarding the process of disposal and a plan for water supply and water usage," said Duques.

Duques' research of the waste water issue include follow-up with CT Department of Energy and Enviromental Protection (DEEP), from which she learned that the DEEP regulates disposable waste water from breweries and requires a waste water permit. Options for handling waste water include a DEEP-approved holding tank or a DEEP-approved onsite treatment facility.

The latest draft resolution will also specify that a farm brewery's hours of operation, hours of manufacturing and hours of retail will be determined by the PZC on a case-by-case basis.

Concerns raised by residents during the Jan. 18 public hearing took issue with potential noise, parking, traffic created by such an operation. One resident also discussed following DEEP-regulated solid mash disposal practices.

Should the PZC approve the zoning text amendment, it will create the opportunity for any farm meeting the requirements, such as DeFrancesco Farms, to apply for a Special Use Permit to open and operate a farm brewery operation.

Each Special Use Permit application would then be subject to PZC review, including a public hearing, prior to approval.