By Steve Keenan
Two men who proposed a micro-brewery in Oak Hill and also considered it for Fayetteville instead will locate the facility in Wolf Creek Park between the two municipalities.
Last week, Nathan Herrold and Ken Linch signed a lease with the Fayette County Urban Renewal Authority, the owners of Wolf Creek Park, a planned 1,065-acre mixed-use industrial park off U.S. Rte. 19. The park is zoned as a planned development industrial park.
Although work has occurred on the park’s infrastructure and the accompanying New River Birding and Nature Center, the micro-brewery is the first tenant to commit to a sales agreement at the park, says Ken Eskew, URA chairman.
“Our park’s a multi-purpose use (facility),” Eskew said, “and we thought the brewery would lend itself to the type of development we’ll be going after.
“We’re happy (with securing the first tenant). We hope this is the first of many more to come. We hope they’ll be successful.”
In addition to tourism-related businesses, Wolf Creek officials are also seeking light manufacturing firms for inclusion on the tenant roster. There will also be a residential component.
The micro-brewery will be located in a one-acre parcel. Infrastructure is already in place, as is a foundation for the building. County building code official Allen Ballard will keep an eye on the progress of the building construction, said Eskew.
The men proposed the micro-brewery for Oak Hill in early 2008. Despite some opposition, they received the permits they needed from the city to begin operation but eventually opted against placing the business in Fayette County’s largest municipality.
The duo also tossed the idea around with Fayetteville officials but withdrew their application for a change in a Fayetteville zoning ordinance that could have paved the way for operation of the business in the county seat.
The micro-brewery will sell beer to local businesses for distribution at their places of business, Eskew said.
Herrold didn’t return a phone call to discuss plans.
— E-mail:
skeenan@register-herald.com
