As part of their policy and planning meeting Tuesday, the Pella City Council is scheduled to discuss potentially permitting brewpubs under the city’s zoning code.

According to city staff, a brewpub is defined as a restaurant which includes a brewery. The discussion is taking in place in part because of the rapid expansion of craft brewing in Iowa. Current code does not allow the construction of alcohol production facilities in the city limits. City staff is submitting a proposal for review by the Pella City Council, that would include a definition to add brewpubs as an allowable use through a zoning ordinance and limiting them through special use permits from the Board of Adjustment.

The Pella City Council will discuss potential strategy at policy and planning following regular business at their meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Potential Definition:
Brewpub: A restaurant which includes the brewing of beer as an accessory use. The brewing operation processes water, malt, hops, and yeast into beer or ale. By definition, said establishments produce no more than ten thousand (10,000) barrels of beer or ale annually. The area, by definition, used for brewing, including bottling and kegging, shall not exceed twenty five percent (25%) of the total floor area of the commercial space.

After reviewing this issue, staff would propose brewpubs as defined above, be allowed in by right in the Community Commercial Zoning Districts. Likewise, staff would also recommend brewpubs be allowed in the Central Business District subject to obtaining a special use permit from the Board of Adjustment.
Furthermore, we would also recommend the number of special use permits allowed in the Central Business District for brewpubs be limited to one.