The Gloucester County Board of Zoning Appeals approved an application for a special exception to allow a microbrewery to open on Main Street.

During the April 25 BZA meeting, applicant Michael W. Brewer of Coke said that he and a partner, Myron Ware of Newport News, plan to operate the microbrewery with help from their relatives in a building at 6778 Main Street that housed the Southern States engine repair shop for many years.

Brewer said they hope to have the microbrewery, complete with a tasting room for approximately 50 patrons, open in about one year.

He said they plan to brew four types of craft beer initially. The business may offer live entertainment such as acoustic musicians occasionally, he said.

In presenting a staff report, planner Tripp Little said the site has adequate ingress/egress and has public water and sewer available. There is ample parking alongside the building for the few employees that will work at the microbrewery, Little said, and the applicant will have...