Brewery Law Amended In Moorestown, Paving Way For Industry To Enter Town

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Breweries, distilleries and winery salesrooms can conduct business out of multi-use properties, according to a new Moorestown regulation.

The Township Council passed an ordinance Monday that clarifies the municipality's restrictions on brewery-type businesses. In 2021, the council adopted standards to welcome the establishments into the historically dry down. But one policy created some confusion.

The 2021 ordinance included a subsection requiring a brewery, distillery or winery to be the principal use of its premises, rather than a secondary use. The policy was designed to promote independent establishments and prevent breweries from becoming add-ons to existing businesses.

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But the regulation created a hurdle for prospective business owners, who wondered if they could place a brewery-type business in a multi-tenant or multi-use property. The new ordinance says they can.

The amendment is "technical in nature" and meant to clarify confusion over the existing regulations, according to Township Planner John Barree. It does not expand where breweries, distilleries and wineries can open in Moorestown.

The Planning Board reviewed the ordinance last week, finding it was consistent with Moorestown's master plan. Council members voted 4-0 on Monday to approve the measure — Deputy Mayor Quinton Law, a council member, was absent from the meeting.