Note: this was originally posted on NextDoor.

Hi neighbors,

I wanted to announce that there will be a discussion at the Zoning and Planning Board of Appeals regarding the application of a nanobrewery to open in Schoen Place. Recently, the Village Board of Trustees voted to appeal a decision by the former Building Inspector that would have allowed the nanobrewery to open under a permitted agricultural use in the zone. I wrote about the meeting where the Trustees decided to appeal the BI decision here.

The issue facing the ZBA tonight is a complex one, and I appreciate their diligence in diving into the issue for the benefit of our community. As an example of the complexity in the issue they are reviewing, the packet containing the material for the meeting today is over 150 pages long.

Since this is an important issue, it has raised emotions among many in the community. I won’t mention the name of the person who posted this publicly, but I think it is important to discuss the idea that it presents so that we can address it as a community:

“Show up, Pittsford, and hold your Village Board of Trustees accountable. Trustee Dan Keating needs your support, and your advocacy, as you listen to a case study on WHY so many empty storefronts exist in our village, and WHY so much taxpayer money fuels lawsuits. It’s time to stand up.”

I would also encourage Village residents to attend the meeting tonight, but I respectfully disagree that we “need to hold the Village Board of Trustees accountable.” By filing for this appeal, they have demonstrated that they are accountable for principles of good governance, which in this context means ensuring that our Village Code is upheld. Long-term legal costs are more likely by rushing through decisions pertaining to our Village Code, so we need to be careful that we are thoughtful and consistent.

I do agree that we have not been clear enough with this business owner about what we are able to allow as a business. This is reflective of the fact that currently our Comprehensive Plan and Village Code have not been completed, and the current documents are unclear in many areas (including breweries which it does not mention). However, thanks to efforts by Trustees including Peggy C. Brizee, this process is well under-way. I think that if we can explicitly address breweries in our Village in those documents it would be the ideal scenario, as it would provide great transparency to businesses looking to open in our Village, without exposing ourselves to liability by making determinations that are not fully justified by our Village Code.

Fundamentally, this is a complex issue that relates to good governance, more than whether or not we want a new brewery in the Village. I think that by recognizing that fact, perhaps we can remove some of the divisiveness from the discussion, while we discuss ways to help the ZBA reach a conclusion on this complex issue. I hope to see many of you at the meeting tonight as the details of this appeal are presented and discussed.