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11/19/2015 10:12 AMAfter an inaugural summer season drawing thousands of customers, Stony Creek Brewery (SCB) is recalibrating to adjust for some “growing pains” by adding a third food truck and responding to overflow parking issues affecting area residents.
The brewery’s current parking lot, immediately adjacent to SCB, has 152 parking spaces. On Nov. 18, Branford Planning and Zoning Assistant Town Planner Rich Stoecker told Zip06 he spoke with site engineer Bob Criscuolo, who is working to develop SCB’s overflow parking area. Stoecker said a proposed schedule for completion of the overflow parking area is expected to submitted to the town in December. The overflow lot is on land located directly across from SCB at 5 Indian Neck Ave. Original site plans approved by the PZC (Jan. 2014) call for the overflow lot to have 35 parking spaces.
The town’s request for a schedule of completion for the overflow lot was a condition of a Nov. 5 Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) vote; during which the PZC unanimously approved (5-0) allowing a third food truck on site for SCB customers, to be situated at SCB’s rear loading dock area. In April, the PZC approved a modification request from SCB to allow two food trucks in the main parking lot.
On Nov. 5, the PZC also heard from area residents who said SCB patron parking, especially during summer weekends, regularly outnumbers spaces in SCB’s main parking lot. The problem is causing customers to sometimes park in neighboring lots, in designated fire lanes and on roadsides.
Residents living adjacent to SCB in Anchor Reef’s Mill building were represented on Nov. 5 by Anchor Reef Association president Reg Waylen. Waylen told the PZC he was glad to hear SCB will be addressing opening the overflow lot.
“That’s a great solution to it (because) it has been a particular concern for us,” said Waylen.
Waylen said Anchor Reef residents think SCB is a “great facility” and that the group has “no objection to any number of food trucks in the loading area.” But the success of the brewery has, “...created such overflow parking that our parking lots (are) being used, and on many occasions, have closed out our own residents from parking close to the building,” said Waylen. “We had to go and purchase some signage (approximately $600) denoting that’s private property... we’ve also had to put up pylons (to) prevent cars from going in.”
Maureen Gercken, a Wilford Avenue resident, said while she also agrees, “...it’s great the brewery is there, and is so successful,” she felt, “...the brewery really did affect the people in that area; between the music when they have parties, and the parking. “
“This summer, people were parking all over the place,” Gercken told the PZC. “There were times when you couldn’t even get through there. They were parked on both sides, they were parked by the dock; and there was nobody controlling it.”
Gercken said SCB was very responsive to requests to dampen down the music, which she said could be heard on Wilford Avenue when, “...you’re sitting in your yard.” But she wondered whether SCB needed to add another food truck.
“I’d like to see the people in the center of town being one of those people selling food,” she said. “Restaurants are not thriving; there are restaurants that will be exiting.”
Economic Development Commission (EDC) chair Perry Maresca told the PZC that SCB’s success has been beneficial to the community. He added SCB has already proven itself an excellent corporate citizen; such as recently working with Branford Lions to hold an Oktoberfest raising $3,500 in proceeds. The Lions gave the proceeds in equal parts to Branford Food Pantry and Community Dining Room.
“The brewery has been a tremendous success. It’s added to a lot of what has been going on in that area,” said Maresca. “I don’t see (a third) food truck adding to parking issue — the crowd is coming whether there’s two food trucks or three food trucks.”
Maresca said the food trucks, which are there for SCB customers only, provide just a “...snack or get-by while having beer.”
“From what I understand, a lot of the restaurants are doing better since the brewery,” Maresca noted. “I heard the Lobster Shack was up 300 percent this summer from last year. There’s one reason why they’re doing better.”
SCB owner Ed Crowley Sr. said he has also heard from owners of area restaurants experiencing increased patronage since the brewery opened last spring. Crowley said that includes neighboring businesses Nellie Green’s and the Lobster Shack as well as Lenny’s Indian Head Inn (Indian Neck ) and downtown Main Street restaurants Pasta Cosi and Home.
“All of their businesses have exploded,” said Crowley. “Was it because of the brewery? I don’t know; maybe it’s because of the (thousands of) people coming into town that have to eat somewhere.”
Crowley also noted he called Branford Police when patron parking at SCB spilled over onto the street on one occasion. He learned from police that, because there are no “No Parking” signs posted, little can be done legally to remove the cars. Crowley agreed with the PZC that SCB should work to address any cars parked in the fire lane.
“We will take a look at this. We will meet with Fire Marshal to talk about him about that,” said Crowley.
Also on Nov. 5, site engineer Criscuolo noted SCB has been looking into opening the overflow lot.
“Mr. Crowley has been working with my office on developing the reserve parking area; (so) something is going on. We’re working on designs,” said Criscuolo.
PZC chairman Chuck Andres said the need for a new business to develop its overflow parking area so quickly after opening is “unusual.” Overflow lots are generally incorporated into site plans as a stop-gap to address future growth, if needed.
“We require many applicants not to build out the parking plan,” Andres pointed out. “His growing pains, even in our experience — it’s unusual.”