The homeowners at 322 S. Plum St. were at city council Monday to express concern about plans for the building at 222 E. Eighth St. The owner is planning a brewery for the building. The home at 322 S. Plum St. was recently built by Habitat for Humanity and does not appear in the photo above, included in the brewery application. (Photo submitted)
A Plum Street mother is expressing concerns about a proposed brewery in the area.
Paige Sponseller, of Plum Street, was at Marysville City Council this week to discuss the impact a proposed brewery could have on her neighborhood.
“With a large number of young children living in eyesight proximity and a school bus stop being on the corner of Eighth Street and S. Plum Street, I am sure most parents would agree with me and my neighbors that this is not the ideal location of a bar,” Sponseller told council members.
In October, the city’s board of zoning appeals approved a conditional use permit for Red Diamond Restorations, LLC to open a brewery at 222 E. Eighth St. The site is in the city’s Uptown Transitional District, meaning a specialty beverage facility is a conditionally permitted use.
Owner Doug Olson said he and a partner intend to renovate a portion of the building and tear down an addition in the back. That space will be used for an outdoor patio.
Olson said the property will be “fenced in for privacy.”
Even so, Sponseller said she is concerned. Weeks after the use was approved by the board of zoning appeals, Sponseller and her husband purchased a newly built Habitat for Humanity home at the corner of Plum and Eighth streets.
Sponseller said she was “caught off guard” when she learned about the brewery.
“This wasn’t something we were expecting and was upsetting to find out,” Sponseller said. “Our minds started racing about all the issues this will cause us and our children.”
Sponseller said she and her husband were already planning to report “a constant banging” coming from the building’s eroding exterior. She said it was becoming a problem for her children to sleep at night.
While at City Hall to report the noise issue, the Sponsellers asked more about the brewery and learned that Habitat for Humanity of Delaware and Union Counties had been notified about it.
“Unfortunately, we were never informed of this hearing or we would have been there, due to the building being in direct view of our bedroom windows and touching the back yard that our four children and two dogs will be playing in for years to come,” Sponseller told council.
She explained that she has an awkward shaped backyard and she plans to put a trampoline and other children’s toys near a proposed patio for the brewery.
“I believe anyone with children would understand my concerns about my children playing next to a brewery daily,” Sponseller said.
The mother said she spoke with owner Doug Olson who reported he planned to keep the business open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and possibly as late as 11 p.m. on the weekends. She said her children, ages 4 to 10, go to bed at 8:30 p.m. each night.
“Having people and small bands making noise on the patio of the brewery would be a major disruption to their lives,” Sponseller said. “Them not having enough sleep or the sleep their bodies are accustomed to can cause issues with their behavior and ability to learn at school.”
She said the lack of sleep could eventually impact their ability to get into the college of their choice.
Sponseller said she also has concerns about “the condition of the building and Mr. Olson’s ability to repair the building and construct the brewery so quickly.”
“It is hard to believe the building can be fixed, up to code, and have an open brewery in just a handful of months,” Sponseller said.
In information provided to the board of zoning appeals, Olson said the renovation will “take advantage of the historic character of this building.”
“Exterior brick will remain exposed and painting/renovations will seek to highlight the historic features of the building,” he wrote.
Olson said his brewery would be similar to other specialty beverage houses, citing Leon’s Garage which is also close to homes.
Sponseller said she did not feel that was “a good comparison.”
“Craft Breweries have become staple businesses in historic downtowns through the country,” Olson wrote. “Several surrounding cities have examples of breweries located in similar historic downtowns and we believe that this aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan.”
He added, “The addition of this business will draw more visitors into the Uptown and will help the economic welfare of the community.”
Sponseller said the people are the issue.
“Will they be intoxicated?” she asked.
Council member Mark Reams asked about parking at the site. Red Diamond Restorations also owns a lot across the alley from the building. That lot will be used for parking, according to plans.
Council member Donald Boerger said Sponseller and the proposed brewery are in his ward. He said he lives near Leon’s Garage and can hear noise at night.
“I was unaware you did not know what was going on,” Boerger told the woman.
City Manager Terry Emery explained that all neighboring property owners were notified of plans for the property. He said that since Habitat for Humanity of Delaware and Union Counties owned the property, the notification went to it.
Emery explained that Olson has done several other projects in the area.
“He has done a nice job,” Emery said. “I would anticipate nothing less than quality work.”
In his application to the city, Olson wrote that “all exterior changes will be submitted through the DRB (Design Review Board) process for approval.”
Emery encouraged Sponseller to attend those Design Review Board meetings.