GAINESVILLE - For the second time, the entrepreneurs who want to establish a micro-brewery in Gainesville were back before city council Tuesday night.
The facility - Left Nut Brewing Company - had already been approved once when the owners ran into roadblocks with the initial location in midtown Gainesville near Wild Wings Cafe off Jesse Jewell Parkway. Now, the plan is to build inside the old Johnson & Johnson administration building at Chicopee Mill. To do that, they need a special use application from the city of Gainesville.
City Planning Manager Matt Tate told council members at their regular meeting the owners plan to completely renovate the interior of the old building and make some improvements to the exterior of the building, including adding a patio. Tate said the micro-bewery will occupy about 20,000 square feet.
Rick Foote, representing brewery developer Pap Datta, spoke in favor of the proposal. There was no opposition to the plan.
Council members voted unanimously to approve the special use application; council members Sam Couvillon and George Wangeman were absent from Tuesday's meeting.
Tate said the approval Tuesday night was final and a second reading will not be needed.
Left Nut Brewing Company will be the first micro-brewery for the city of Gainesville.
