Downtown Microbrewery Zoning Plans Get Preliminary Approval

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — The Arlington Heights village board preliminarily approved changes to zoning rules Monday in a 6-0 vote for where microbreweries and breweries would be allowed throughout town. Daily Herald reports Monday's vote came shortly after trustees indicated their approval in April of adding a new Class "M" license to the liquor code for anyone who wants to open a brewery or microbrewery.

According to village officials, Microbreweries would be allowed in business districts and in the village's downtown area if they're 2,500 square feet or less, Daily Herald says.

Microbreweries and larger breweries no larger than 20,000 square feet would be allowed in manufacturing areas, Daily Herald reports, adding that anything larger than 4,000 square feet wouldn't be allowed next to a residential area and would need special permission if up to 4,000 feet.

Formal approval of these zoning changes is expected in two weeks.

Earlier this year, Itasca Brewing Co. operators shared their plan for a microbrewery and tap room on Hickory Avenue with village officials, but whether the plan would be approved without extra permission depends on the exact proposal, as a formal plan hasn't been submitted, Daily Herald reports Charles Witherington-Perkins, the village's director of planning and community development, said.

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