USA, NY: Tree House Brewing Company given OK to build new location in Saratoga Springs

A Massachusetts brewing company has been given the OK to build a new location on Route 9 in Saratoga Springs — its first approved location in New York, The Daily Gazette reported on April 12.

In October, Tree House Brewing Company announced its intentions to build a brewery facility that would also have indoor and outdoor seating.

Thursday night, the city’s Planning Board approved the over-20,000-square-foot facility at 3376 Route 9, the former location of Murphy’s Driving Range and Mini Golf Site, which closed in 2013.

Board member Michael King voted against the project. Prior to the vote, he voiced concerns raised by members of the public, including that the site plan does not reflect the city's "intended character" and should "better service people arriving on bike or foot."

The proposed plan in Saratoga Springs calls for having a beer-to-go-only entrance at the front of the building — facing Route 9 — where people would stop and pick up their orders. Those looking to drink on site would park to the side of the building and enter through the rear.

"The Broadway face of the building is a large beer cooler. In a better site plan, this would be the front door, not unlike the Lincoln Baths across Broadway," King said in an email to the Gazette. "It would be celebrated. Instead it is being hidden by trees and shrubs."

Chairman Charles Marshall said the company has worked to incorporate many of the items the board and public raised over the last several months.

“While it may not meet the desires of everyone, it is certainly a large improvement from the vacant eyesore of a former driving range that is there today,” Marshall said.

While the company thanked the board, it did not make any comments to the board following approval.

The company has said it is the largest direct-to-consumer, on-premise brewer in the country.

The company has four locations in Massachusetts in Deerfield, Sandwich, Tewksbury and Charlton, as well as one in Woodstock, Connecticut.

The Saratoga Springs location is expected to support at least 60 jobs, the company said.

During the meeting, Marshall said the city has asked the state to lower the speed limit on a portion of Route 9 and that is currently under review.

"Access for those arriving on foot or bike is lacking at best. We can discourage drunk driving by encouraging walking to the brewery," King said via email. "SPAC is a seven minute bike ride away. The race track is 10 minutes. Downtown is a half-hour walk. I want to be able to walk or cycle to the brewery safely and conveniently. It is a shame this site plan does not do more to promote walking and cycling."

The company originally said it will brew a beer with proceeds to benefit Sustainable Saratoga, a local nonprofit organization which uses education, advocacy, and action to advance sustainable practices and works to protect the environment for current and future generations, and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

“We are excited to add Tree House as a new destination facility that will attract visitors to Saratoga 12 months of the year,” said Todd Shimkus, the president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “Our challenge as they begin construction is to ensure there is more collaboration than ever before with them and other local breweries to grow the business for everyone.”

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