Blackrocks Brewery, located on North Third Street in Marquette, is allowed to operate its outdoor patio for an extra hour each night after the city planning commission on Tuesday approved a change in the brewery’s permit. The issue drew several positive comments from patrons and negative feedback from neighbors who opposed the extended hours. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Blackrocks Brewery on Third Street is commencing an expansion to its outdoor seating area this week after gaining approval from the Marquette Planning Commission Tuesday evening.

The new patio is expected to be complete within a month.

The commission unanimously approved the expansion to the 7-year-old microbrewery’s existing conditional use permit, with one commissioner vocally expressing dissent, but adding his vote wouldn’t make a difference.

The new patio will replace the parking lot in the rear (east) of the old house-turned-brewery at 424 N. Third St. A wood pergola with 6-foot-high fence will enclose the new seating area, which will also include greenery and a gas-powered outdoor fire pit. Sand fill will bring the ground up level with the main story of the building.

“We’re thrilled to be able to expand the venue outside, even if it’s only for a handful of months a year,” said co-founder Andy Langlois after the meeting.

James Goodreau, owner of two houses next to Blackrocks, opposed the expansion during public comment and reiterated pre-existing complaints about noise in the neighborhood.

“The noise is unbelievable when they have bands, you cannot even hear your TV when the windows are all shut,” Goodreau said. “I just put $3,200 into windows that are supposed to be triple pane; … it’s a little help, but still you can’t even hear your TV.”

He said noise from the food trucks, games, people and bands make it hard to keep tenants, of which he has lost four.

“A lot of the neighbors have just given up, they say there’s no use coming here because nobody’s listening,” Goodreau said. “But (you’ve got to) remember the people that are coming here to use this bar are not the people that live there. They leave when they want to. Tenants and people that live in the area cannot leave.”

Langlois said they’ve adjusted their hours, limited bands to only acoustic ones and put a policy in place ending outdoor music by 9-9:30 p.m.

“We’ve really bent over to make sure that we set a good example as a business who is trying to provide a fun environment for the patrons but be respectful of the neighbors,” Langlois said.

Commission material shows the Marquette Police Department, which made no comment on the expansion, submitted all information related to the noise complaints associated with Blackrocks from 2016. There was one loud noise complaint in January, one in April, two on May 26 and one in September. No citations were issued after police warned staff.

“Though some landlords may feel we’re a hindrance, we’ve also heard from many people who make it a point to buy apartments that are close to the pub. We’ve seen it as a selling point, close to Blackrocks,” Langlois said.

Dawn Gallo, another neighbor, spoke up to complain about noise from the food truck generators, adding that otherwise she had no problem.

“It would be nice if you had some sort of hookup for them in future because they’re loud, they’re really loud, I can’t even sit in my backyard,” Gallo said.

Paul Schoegel, vice chairman of the planning commission, said he hopes the owners take what they’d heard from neighbors home with them and consider getting a hookup for the food trucks, but applauded their efforts so far.

Chairman Taylor Klipp recused himself for a conflict of interest.

Planning Commissioner John Carlson empathized with the neighbors, but said the expansion is in line with the Community Master Plan.

“The interface of residential and this growing business area is complicated, and I understand what it would be like to be living right next door. I can imagine,” Carlson said. “It does seem like this is the direction in the master plan that Third Street’s supposed to be going — this more active, vibrant, people outdoors milling about. … As far as difficulties with some residents, which I get, it might be one of those things that works out over time.”

Planning Commissioner Aaron Andres said while acknowledging the issues with close neighbors, he thinks Blackrocks has done a good job toning down the problems.

“So in that respect I think they’ve pretty much done all they can do and they’re willing to try other means of quieting down stuff,” Andres said. “But there’s only so much you can do, and in that sense I think it applies with the master plan, and we can move forward with approval.”

Planning Commissioner Wayne Premeau asked about whether the property meets the ordinance. City staff said it does, but Premeau said he agreed with Goodreau.

“They’ve already got one patio out there, and I know it’s a pretty popular place, … but this is like in a residential neighborhood,” Premeau said. “I think it’s pushing the envelope to buy an old house, make it into a brewery and then build it up to the point where you’re actually driving the neighborhood out.”

Planning Commissioner Michael Larson said: “My only comment to that is that it seems that it meets the conditional use portion of the law, and per state law, if it meets that, … then it would be approved on that basis.”

Per the application, Blackrocks hours never extend past 11 p.m.

Mary Wardell can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is mwardell@miningjournal.net.