Microbrewery owners look for options after Fort Smith Board rejects business plan, pleased with community reaction

Quentin Willard is learning to take the good with the bad.  The military veteran and young entrepreneur pushing for inclusion of microbreweries into commercial-heavy (C-5) zones within Fort Smith’s Unified Development Ordinance lost a vote at the Fort Smith Board of Directors’ Nov. 3 meeting.

However, he’s not letting it derail plans for his and partner Brooke Elder’s Fort Smith Brewing Company.

Willard and Elder had won unanimous support from the city’s planning commission at a group meeting on Oct. 13. The commission was so impressed with their application they even chose to adopt the pair’s definition of a “microbrewery/microwinery/microdistillery” over the less clear definition currently on the books.

The FSBC’s proposal defined the facility as one that would produce no more than 15,000 barrels of alcoholic beverages per year (465,000 gallons) from a manufacturing facility no larger than 10,000 square feet.  Additionally, there would be a “specialty manufacturing” area no larger than 5,000 square feet. This area could be “with or without” a retail space.

Unlike a bar, FSBC’s proposed definition of a microbrewery would be a small scale production facility similar to a cabinet shop, coffee roaster, or homemade craft store with a small manufacturing area. An estimated 75 percent of alcoholic beverage sales would take place off-site.

No one showed up to the October meeting to voice opposition, and it appeared to be a done deal. Then representatives from two churches in the Ninth Street area where FSBC planned on locating signed up to speak to the Board at the Nov. 3 meeting.

‘ETHICAL AND MORAL’ OBJECTIONS

The two churches speaking against the microbrewery were Ninth Street Baptist and Mission United Methodist. George Wills, Jr., represented Ninth Street Baptist, simply stating he was “opposed” to the proposal while Reverend Ulysses Washington from Mission United felt it was wrong to “locate a business such as this so close to our communities of faith.”

He also believed the traffic generated by such a business would require FSBC to utilize Mission United’s parking, though Willard would later claim their proposed facility would have enough parking to accommodate the expected amount of traffic without spillover. Ultimately, for matters of “safety” and “ethical and moral principles,” Washington said, he was opposed.

While three of the Board members said they had nothing against microbreweries — City Directors Kevin Settle, Tracy Pennartz, and Andre Good — they ultimately joined with Director Don Hutchings, senior pastor of Evangel Temple, in refusing the C-5 request. City Directors George Catsavis, Keith Lau, and Mike Lorenz voted against the majority.

Instead the Board adopted an amended ordinance to allow microbreweries in C-6 and industrial zones I-1, I-2, and I-3. The move effectively shut FSBC out of its location and caused Willard and Elder to go back to the drawing board.

“The plan is definitely to relocate,” Willard said in comments to Talk Business & Politics on Wednesday (Nov. 11). “The neighborhood has spoken and although there were some that wanted us there, the pastors of the two churches were adamant they were speaking for the community when they said that they did not want us there.”

UP IN THE AIR

Willard was clearly frustrated with the move after the meeting, particularly because the zoning allows him to open a bar in the same prospective location, but he noted the fallout from that decision “provoked several other businesses in the area to contact us about potential properties both leasing and purchasing.”

“It’s been very positive and we’ve looked at properties from Garrison to Chaffee Crossing,” he said. “Communicating with other businesses in the area has confirmed our confidence that there are still many people in the city looking to help small businesses succeed.”

Willard wasn’t comfortable revealing location specifics, but “due to the outpouring of support, we can say with confidence that the brewery will be opening up in Fort Smith soon.” How soon is anybody’s guess, and could be dependent on getting the board to pass new legislation.

“If the building we choose is in a C-5 zoned area, then we’ll have to wait on legislation to allow it,” Willard confirmed. “If we find a building in another area that is currently permissible, then that’s great and we’ll waste no time.”

There are significantly fewer properties in C-6 areas to support FSBC’s goals and industrial zones [I-1, I-2, I-3] are not ideal for microbreweries since they do not have the capacity to work large scales, Willard explained.

“One of the most important notes is that microbreweries have to start off very, very small in order to gain popularity for a product before they consider getting anywhere close to an industrial-sized operation. If they never have the opportunity to start off in a small location, then they may never take off.” As an example, Willard cited Samuel Adams, which “started off in a garage and now they are the second largest microbrewery in America.”

“It would be awesome to see Fort Smith give a shot to other young entrepreneurs who have similar aspirations,” he added.

A CAUSE IGNITED

After the board meeting, a number of Fort Smith residents came forward to show support and were just as upset by the outcome, Willard said. Dozens who weighed in on the initial TalkBusiness report back up that claim, and they even prompted a response from Director Lau.

“To all who have commented,” Lau said, “I say to you ‘don’t give up on Us’ and ‘have patience.’ You may not see the positive changes in the headlines but as a city director I can assure you they are happening. Give us 12 to 18 months and you will see and feel the difference. Improvements in accountability, transparency, morality, commerce, and leadership are all in our future.”

To see real change, however, Willard is encouraging his supporters to “transfer this level of enthusiasm for legislation that affects all the small businesses in the community.”

He continued: “The reason we are having this conversation is because we proposed an amendment to zoning that would affect other small businesses and not just Fort Smith Brewing Company. That legislation is still not final and there is a chance for the community to come together and show their support and hopefully influence the Board of Directors to vote in favor of permissible use for microbreweries in all C-5 zoned areas.”

That, for Willard, would add to the “innumerable positives” that he has managed to find amid the frustration.

He continued: “Immediately after the Board’s initial decision, people began texting and commenting their support for us. Community members started a conversation in the workplace, online, and in their circles about how much they wanted a brewery in Fort Smith. It’s really good to know that although legislation is currently not in our favor, a large populace in Fort Smith is in our favor. We cannot stress how thankful we are of this community and the support they have shown us during this hiccup. It’s that community support that reminds us why we want to be in Fort Smith.”