COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The debate over a controversial plan to bring a brewery to Smyrna heated up Sunday afternoon.
City leaders are considering selling an acre of land to StillFire Brewery, which operates a brewery in Gwinnett County.
The proposed location would be at the intersection of Atlanta Road and Powder Springs Street near downtown Smyrna.
On Sunday, residents weighed in at a town hall meeting to voice their opinions.
Some say it will attract more younger people to the area. Others want to keep the green space.
“We live right down the road from here and we can walk here. We want to see more people our age move to the city,” Laura Pfiester said.
“We already have seven alcoholic serving restaurants within a block of where the brewery is going to be,” Jenny Bartee said. “We think it’s a bad idea.”
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The city proposed to sell the acre of land to StillFire for $600,000, according to officials. The sale is not final until the city council and downtown development authority approve the contract.
StillFire owns a brewery in Suwanee and the new site would be its second location. Owner Aaron Bisges and Suwanee representatives spoke at a recent council meeting about their experience.
The proposed brewery has been a highly-debated topic for months as have Smyrna’s plans to redesign its downtown area.
The city council and mayor approved the plans 4-2 during an October meeting but the brewery is a separate consideration.
The redesigned city space will have more open green space, an interactive water feature, plaza areas, seating, bike racks and an improved stage area for concerts and events, according to city officials.
Construction is planned to begin in the spring with completion expected in early 2023. The cost of the project is estimated at $6.5 million, including all contingencies and fees, according to the city.
As for the brewery, the vote is expected within the next few weeks but an official date has not been set.
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