May 30, 2018 2 min read

ROSTRAVER – A township in the Mon Valley where there is room for businesses to expand is considering opening its doors to craft beer breweries.

Rostraver Township will take action next week on an amendment to its zoning ordinance that sets conditions on the operations of microbreweries and microdistilleries, township records show.

“I think the township is realizing that it will benefit by being open to those activities,” said Gina Lynn, executive director of the Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s the trend,” Lynn said.

Rostraver Township has been showing signs of being progressive in taking action to broaden the business community.

Lynn said the pending brewery decision falls in line with the agritourism ordinance that township commissioners adopted last year, paving the way for a new farmers market.

The market was approved this year for the former Mazzei Farm at Lenity School and Martin roads, where its owners will be selling unprocessed fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. The business also will offer classes and provide wine tastings.

The agritourism ordinance also allowed the upscale Vinoski Winery to open last year in a sprawling mansion on Castle Drive.

Meanwhile, the township also approved an ordinance this year setting conditions on the medical marijuana industry.

“This is one area that has room for development,” Lynn said. “I am probusiness and progrowth. These businesses will sort of feed off of each other.”

The draft ordinance on breweries would permit them in certain retail and industrial zones and control such issues as parking, lighting, hours of operation, entertainment and traffic control.

The commissioners are expected to vote on the ordinance at 6 p.m. June 6 at the township building, 201 Municipal Drive.

The township does not have any applications pending from brewers seeking to set up a business, a Rostraver spokeswoman said.