After months of deliberation and a public hearing Monday night, Athens City Council members unanimously approved the city’s annexation of 2.2 acres of land along Armitage Road on the northwest side. The move brings local entrepreneurs one step closer to opening a new microbrewery on the property.
Council members passed the measure Monday night during a special session of council. The issue was first brought before council in May by Fourth Ward Democrat Chris Fahl. The land, owned by local businessman and county Republican Party chairman Pete Couladis, had to be annexed by the city so it could link to the city sewer and electricity systems.
Before annexing the property, council held a public hearing allowing citizens to express their concerns regarding the issue.
Ron Hope, a resident who owns property adjacent to the proposed area, spoke out against the annexation of the area, citing his concern that the microbrewery could cause a disturbance. Hope said that he rents out his property to family members, and that there have already been an increase of disturbances in the area since the development of the University Estates area on that side of town.
Sean White, a brewer for Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery and future co-owner of the Armitage Road property, had to choke back tears at one point in the hearing as he explained why council members should approve of annexation.
“We really do believe in this property,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about this for 10 years; I’m getting a little emotional.
The microbrewery will be similar to the Jackie O’s brewery, but will be smaller and independent of the Athens fixture, and will focus on serving farmhouse style beers, White said. It will include a tasting room, which will serve the beer produced at the brewery, and will likely have a small farm area to grow hops and fruit to be used in the beer.
White, who has had already discussions on the issue with Hope, said that he does not foresee the brewery creating much of a disturbance because they won’t be producing beer at an industrial level, and because the tasting room will not function the same way an Uptown bar does.
“We want to focus on having great beer,” he said. “We’re not looking to start a brew pub.”
First Ward Democrat Kent Butler expressed his support for the measure but encouraged the future property owners to continue to have open communication with Hope in order to prevent any ill will between the two parties.
