2nd Hearing On North Branford Farm Brewery Slated for Jan. 3rd

NORTH BRANFORD, CT - A second public hearing will be held on January 3rd on a request to open a farm brewery at 418 Forest Road – at DeFrancesco Farms.

Alex DeFranceso and his attorney for the project, Sylvia Rutkowska, are proposing a town tavern and restore a historic building.

The property is currently used as a farm today.

The front of the building will be remodeled and remain two stories. Everything from the farm will be used for the brewery.

DeFrancesco has been very active in the movement of planting hops for beer growing in Connecticut.

DeFrancesco said since the state legislature passed legislation allowing the brewing of beer under a manufacturing permit on a farm it has been his intention to do so.

DeFrancesco has worked with Town Planner Carey Duques on making sure his plan would work with town regulations in mind.

Earlier this year, zoners approved the amendment, It went into effect February 16th - meaning anyone, including DeFrancesco can apply to operate a farm brewery in North Branford, after that date.

DeFranceso said while he wants to have the beer operation and farm to table dinners at the farm, the family also wants to maintain the farm as an agriculture-based operation.

At the first of two public hearings on the project in December in front the Planning and Zoning Commission, the zoners said they had received 56 letters of support in favor of the brewery.

The development will only occupy one acre within the property, Rutkowska said. She explained what the site would look like and the type of renovations that will be done to the residential home. There will be no change to the second floor.

The parking lot will be a gravel parking lot, which is designed for 20 spaces.

Photo by Jack Kramer