Stonington — The Economic Development Commission is asking the Planning and Zoning Commission to immediately begin an effort to amend the town’s zoning regulations to allow microbreweries and brew pubs to operate in certain zones.

In a letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission last week, EDC Chairman Blunt White said the request is being made to pave the way for a proposal by Drew Rodgers, the head brewer at Cottrell Brewing, who wants to open a microbrewery in the Mystic Junction building, 40-44 Washington St.

White said that regulations do not specifically allow microbreweries and brew pubs anywhere in Stonington.

The manufacturing, tasting and sale of beer for consumption off premises currently is allowed by special permit in M-1 zones where the Cottrell Brewery is located in Pawcatuck.

“Given the success of local breweries (Beer’d in Stonington Borough, Cottrell in Pawcatuck and Grey Sail in Westerly) this matter deserves PZC’s immediate attention,” White wrote.

Rodgers is looking to make a presentation to the PZC at its 7 p.m. meeting Wednesday at Mystic Middle School. Chairman John Prue has indicated he will be allowed to make a presentation if time permits.

The EDC’s plan would allow microbreweries and brew pubs by special permit in the DB-5, LS-5 and M-1 zones.

The purpose of the amendment according to the EDC is “to allow for the startup and growth of artisanal breweries in the downtown areas of Mystic and Pawcatuck,” which principally are zoned LS-5 and DB-5. It added that doing so is consistent with the goals of the Plan of Conservation and Development to strengthen village centers and promote the town’s economic drivers.

The EDC added that the “recent trade history of artisanal beer is strong growth; economic success stories are not uncommon. Start-ups begin as Nano Breweries, frequently growing to Micro Breweries. Initially they may only sell beer for consumption off premise, however as the dynamics of free enterprise take hold, growth can take Nano Breweries in complementary directions. For example, consumption of beer on premises, entertainment and catered events. If they offer food they become known as Brewpubs and function as a beer themed restaurants. These business models are experiencing national growth and are at the cutting edge of redevelopment efforts for downtown areas.”

“Thanks to the economic success of the nearly 20-year-old Cottrell Brewery in Pawcatuck, Grey Sail Brewery in Westerly and Beer’d Brewery in Stonington Borough, the Town of Stonington is now uniquely poised to further grow this niche and become a destination in the artisanal, Craft Beer movement,” it added.

The EDC added that “broadening the special permit uses in the M-1 zone to include consumption of beer/liquor on premises, plus restaurants would be consistent with the Heritage Mill Initiative to broaden allowed uses in the M-1 zone” and spur the redevelopment of the mills in Pawcatuck.

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