USA, NY: Village board approves brewery proposal for Pittsford

A first is coming to the Village of Pittsford. A proposed brewery won approval on Thursday, January 3, WHAM reported.

The village board approved it months after village trustees tried to stop it.

The vote was essentially the moment owners of the proposed brewery were waiting for. The decision gives them the okay to move forward with the next step in the project.

"I'm in awe, shocked right now, no idea this was going in this direction," said Hawley Brewing Company Co-Owner Clay Killian.

Excitement comes for Killian as he and his partners can now move forward with their idea to turn 50 State Street in Pittsford into the Hawley Brewing Company.

"We've done everything we could to adhere they were looking for," said Killian.

With all in favor, but one, the Pittsford Village Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals approved the project.

The plan slated along the Erie Canal had turned into a back and forth discussion between the board and applicant during the past year and half. That is how long it has been since it was first presented to town officials.

The idea is to use the 1500 square foot space at the Northfield Commons.

"I'm really looking forward to working with other businesses in the area I'm excited," said Killian.

While not all board members agreed on the idea of the project, experts in the brewing business believe the project will bring economic prosperity to the town.

"We know for a fact through economic impact studies that breweries bring jobs taxes and they bring tourism to every community," said Paul Leone, executive director of the New York State Brewers Association.

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