Lansing holds hearing for Salt Point Brewing stage and pavilion

The additions to Salt Point Brewing Company in the town of Lansing are one step closer to being constructed.

Owner and founder Chris Hesse was on hand at a town of Lansing planning board meeting Aug. 27, when the board held a public hearing on the proposed new stage pavilion and additional beer cooler space at the brewery at 6 Louise Bement Ln.

The full discussion can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJCLtihK5_s.

The existence of a pavilion at the Salt Point site had originally been approved when Hesse came to the planning board before the brewery took shape. 

“The only change I am asking for is where I settle that pavilion within that square block in the site plan,” Hesse said at the meeting. “The final drawing will reflect the changes from the map that is marked up.”

Currently, a map submitted to the planning board shows the pavilion will be situated near the outside seating area at the brewery, beyond the gravel parking lot. 

Hesse also noted he wants to install a split-rail fence near the southwest border of the site. 

“That is, for me, more like a security thing,” Hesse said. “We have kids running around. They are often running down the hill, and then it is only a short jump to the street.”

Town Planner Mason Molesso said the documents submitted to the board satisfied the requests made by the planning board at a prior meeting, when Hesse had submitted initial plans to expand Salt Point. That initial application was submitted on May 20.

“[The plan] shows everything we requested the applicant to correct or add,” Molesso noted.

Beyond the new stage and cooler space, Hesse also outlined plans to include an electric vehicle charger and a bike rack. The plans passed the planning board and received no public input during the public comment period of the meeting.

Back in May, Hesse presented the plan to the planning board, noting that ownership wanted to establish a permanent events pavilion to host musical acts on a regular basis.

Currently, Salt Point hosts live musical acts on Wednesdays with some regularity.

“We have been playing around with the temporary stage in different locations, trying to figure out how close, how far to set it up and have some flexibility,” he added.

Planning Board Chair Al Fiorille said back then he was concerned about having a music venue that could potentially be open past 10 p.m. Hesse said concerts at Salt Point end at 9 p.m. and will continue to do so, even with a permanent stage.

“That will not be an issue,” Hesse added.

Fiorille also noted at the time that he was concerned about potential spillover cars parked outside the brewery due to increased demand during music nights.

“We only do music on Wednesdays, which is a slower night,” Hesse said. “I don’t think the music is what’s affecting street parking. There ends up being more people on the street on a Friday than on Wednesday. That is what we have learned over the past three years. On Fridays, people come in their own cars; other days, people carpool.”

Lighting from concert performances could be a concern for the planning board. Hesse said the stage would have outlets for artists to use their own lights. 

“We would need specifics on the lighting for approval,” Fiorille said. 

Hesse also commented on the need for the additional cooler space.

“Cooler space for breweries is in high demand,” Hesse said. “We have another walk-in cooler space that we are hoping to actually develop this year. That is one of the more urgent projects.” The cooler would be 6 feet by 8 feet, which Hesse noted would be smaller than the existing space used for cooling.

Lansing at Large appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @ezvelazquez.

In brief:

Town to receive additional funds following closure of Cayuga Power Plant in 2019

Town Supervisor Ruth Groff said in her summer newsletter that the town suffered the loss of the payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement payments from Cayuga Operating when the power plant facility ceased to operate. 

“However, under New York State’s Empire State Development division, there exists the Electric Generation Facility Cessation Mitigation Program which will reimburse municipalities for a portion of the lost revenues for seven years following the loss period,” Groff’s newsletter states. “On May 15, the application was submitted for the first year, and the application is expected to be approved by the state at their meeting in September. I am told that the funds will be issued to the Town by December. Next year we will begin submitting for the subsequent years, bringing some long overdue funds back to Lansing.”