Renderings show the Tire Shack expansion approved by Moncton City Council (Image via City of Moncton)
Tire Shack Brewery has received the go-ahead from Moncton City Council for plans of expansion.
Plans include the demolition of the neighbouring property to create a two-storey multi-purpose addition.
Co-owners Alan Norman and Jerrica Kennedy provided council with a snapshot of how a once abandoned auto-shop has been overhauled to create a successful microbrewery.
Located on the corner of Dominion Street and John Street, “In the parking lot, you would see drug paraphernalia, and now you see Teslas,” Norman told council, speaking about the transformation.
The expansion will provide increased space for brewing, additional seating, and a four seasons rooftop patio used exclusively for events.
“We’ve seen many breweries in other cities transform industrial spaces into magical event spaces, and we can’t wait to bring an exciting and vibrant space like this to Moncton,” said Kennedy.
As owners of the neighbouring property, they say the four current tenants are understanding and encouraging of the expansion.
Council’s approval will allow the property to rezone from Urban Dwelling to Mixed Use.
Before the vote, council heard from residents worried about the impact of the development.
Living beside the property set to be demolished, Vicky Kurkowsky spoke of her 91-year-old mother, who requires caregivers. She worries about the trouble her caregivers will have parking and that the expansion will affect her families privacy.
With shelters and community kitchens nearby, “a middle-aged woman should not have to walk Dominion Street at night in the dark,” Kurkowsky said, adding the expansion will only make parking worse.
Because her house will now sit directly beside the brewery, she raised concerns about having privacy and the potential for it to get loud.
Kennedy and Norman assured Kurowsky and council that they try to keep the noise down and always adhere to the by-laws.
As for parking, the owners have secured an agreement with a neighbouring landowner for ten additional off-street parking spaces.
In addition, “there is adequate on-street parking in the vicinity to handle the expected traffic,” according to a parking study in a city report.
City council approved the motion with an amendment to ensure an opaque fence or something similar be added between the properties.
