The township board is appealing variances granted to Sunset Hill Brewery, which operates on land surrounded by farmland protected by the township.
The township's zoning hearing board approved several uses for 1.16 acres of land that is not part of the conservation easement covering the surrounding 33.4 acres of former Suloman dairy farm. The township paid $700,000 in 2019 to protect the land as open space.The brewery is situated on Leidy Road between Swamp Pike and Buchert Road.
The retail dairy store, operating on 1.16 acres, was not part of the preservation. The township purchased a conservation easement to ensure the land remains a farm despite changes in ownership.
Funds for the conservation easement were generated from a .15 mill tax on earned income, which voters approved in a townwide referendum in 2006.
Firely Enterprises LLC, the new owner, operates the farm on the protected land and leases the retail space to the brewery.
Township supervisors publicly addressed zoning violations, impervious surface installation without a permit, and unauthorized use of the property for beer garden, food trucks, and live events.
Township Manager Jamie Gwynn acknowledges the brewery's positive impact but states the need for addressing certain issues.
The matter went before the Zoning Hearing Board with Sunset Hill seeking variances for selling items not produced on the site, hosting entertainment events, and expanding its business floor area using tents.
A hearing took place on Jan. 22.
The brewery's front sales area has 38 seats and an established parking lot with 23 spaces. A hay barn and unused residences are part of the ongoing farm operation across the road.
The brewery currently has 830 square feet of sales area and is seeking to expand to 4,600 square feet using exterior tents for special events held across the street, despite entertainment not being permitted in the conservation area.
Some of those who spoke both against and in favor of the variances also spoke at the March 7 supervisors’ meeting.
Several individuals mentioned that the music from special events is excessively loud and customers are parking on the street, then walking down the road to reach the brewery.
“This residential area cannot handle additional activity,” expressed Frank DelVecchio. “I wish success for the brewery, but they must adhere to the restrictions,” he informed the supervisors, expressing concern about the implications of granting variances “for other protected properties.”
Matthew Landis stated that the mulch laid down by the brewery recently to create more parking “acts like red clay and increases run-off. I’m already getting an oil sheen from the parking lot. It’s ruined my pond.”
Sophia Schneible and her husband Paul reside adjacent to the brewery site and she informed the supervisors “I tried to have civil conservations with the business operators, but that was not reciprocated. We cannot leave,” she said. “We live here.”
But the business also has its supporters.
“Sunset Hill is a good thing, but not everything is for everyone,” said Jeremy Ralston. “If we ban or cancel things some don’t like, we’ll be left with nothing at all.” The brewery “is a family place run by a local family. We supported it when it was a dairy, local businesses need to be celebrated.”
Jen Romanowski mentioned that she and her family relocated to the area in 2018 and were thrilled when the brewery opened, “they’re so welcoming to everyone.”
John Firely informed the supervisors that none of the violations “were done intentionally. There have been so many lies told about me and my family” and he expressed gratitude to those who came out to speak in support of the business. “We don’t want a lot of angry people. We have a parking problem and we’re trying to work through them. We love open space as well and we want it to be, that’s why we came here.”
Morgan Davidheiser, the operations manager, informed the supervisors “We want to provide a path forward that makes everyone comfortable. Parking is a significant challenge and our goal is to add parking on site with minimal impact and we have no intent of breaking into the easement.”
He added that a recent weekend event at the site, which caused many calls to the township building and a site visit by staff, “exceeded our expectations and we found out that parking on mulch is not great.”
“We’re working with the Montgomery County Conservation District to come up with a safe way to add parking within the brewery footprint,” said Davidheiser.
