Folsom Easing Rules To Foster Microbrewery Movement

FOLSOM (CBS13) — Folsom is making changes to its rules to help accommodate a booming market in the Sacramento area.

Michael Costello has been operating a microbrewery at the Yolo Brewing Company in West Sacramento.

"It's as much a neighborhood bar, for people to come in the bar and have a beer in the tasting room," he said.

Setting up shop was easy for him with the city of West Sacramento, but others in the region aren't having as much luck.

David Miller with the City of Folsom says several people have approached the city wanting to start a microbrewery, but the city's zoning laws don't recognize them.

"This is a phenomena that is fairly recent, and a lot of these zoning codes haven't kept up with it," he said.

The City Council will vote on Tuesday night to change the city code to change the code to allow microbrews.

"This Sacramento region is competing to be either the premier, or one of the premier locations in the country," he said.

Miller says bringing brew production to Folsom is a great way to create jobs, buzz and reasons for people to come by the city by the lake.

"We have outdoor venues for music, great farmers markets and all of those kinds of great things that celebrate life are what we want to promote, and this is certainly one of them," he said.

Each brewery would still need to be approved by the City Council.