Buzz Meadery owners want to develop 21 Jefferson St.

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(July 20, 2023) Megan and Brett Hines, the owners of Buzz Meadery, and their architect, Erich Pfeffer, brought plans to the Planning Commission last Wednesday for the property at 21 Jefferson Street in Berlin.

The property, which the couple has owned since 2021, is a triangle piece of grassy land at the intersection of Gay and Jefferson streets. It is currently called the Berlin Commons. Occasionally the Buzz Meadery hosts events there on Friday evenings.

The Hines’s are proposing a threestory mixed-use building that would include two floors of commercial space and two apartment units on the third floor.

They told the commission they plan to build in stages, beginning with the bottom floor, which they would like to use as a food service establishment with a small amount of indoor seating. Current zoning is for a 10-foot setback from the curb. They are asking for a five-foot setback.

The plan includes four parking spaces on the lot. They also said they would include bike racks and encourage people to bike or walk to the es- tablishment.

“My mind is open to a unique design. It’s an unusual building on an unusual lot. You are giving something to the town that is interesting and unique. If we can get around the parking problem, I like it,” said commission member Ron Cascio.

Dave Engelhart, the planning director for the town, reminded commission members that there is a parking fund on the books for businesses to pay into to solve the parking problem. He said he had never seen it applied, but it could be considered.

During public comments, resident Ed Hammond raised concerns about drainage issues with the site. He said he had a memorandum of understanding with the town that says the town would not take actions that would increase stormwater flow into Bottle Branch.

“Unless the planning department can demonstrate to me that there is 100 percent capture of large rainfall events, I would consider the town in breach of its MOU,” said Hammond.

He said this development would be new and impervious cover and suggested the lot remain as open