The Highland Park Community Council takes an active role in monitoring zoning-related issues in our neighborhood. When such an issue arises, we tend to insert ourselves into it, in as friendly and cooperative a manner as possible given the circumstances. Our job is to determine if a proposed change is a net positive for the community. If we believe so, we support it; if not, we oppose it. The zoning board takes the HPCC’s comments seriously; it’s just one more way the HPCC benefits you.

 

Jeff Hanna, a Highland Park resident, has been brewing beer in his home as a hobby for some time. He and his partners are ready to take the next step – becoming a licensed brewer – and have written the attached document as an introduction to the neighborhood.

 

The CoStar brewing group came to the HPCC’s August meeting and described their plans to the neighborhood. They also took questions from the audience. They have already applied for a liquor license; they plan to approach the zoning board in the coming weeks. They have no intention of having beer sales or tastings on-site; their plan is to sell to local bars/restaurants. They have been extremely proactive and cooperative in engaging city council, the HPCC and our neighborhood generally in their efforts to establish a craft brewery in Highland Park. As such, our tentative inclination as the HPCC is to declare our general support for their plans. Before we do that, however, we wanted to take a final opportunity for community input and engagement.

 

Please take a few moments to read the attached. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts and feedback, by September 15^th, at boardwalk_2000@yahoo.com. If you have questions for the CoStar group, you can send them to Jeff Hanna at kjeffreyhanna@gmail.com.  Thank you!

 

Eric D. Randall, HPCC President