Unlike the '90s Logan now votes to allow brew pubs

LOGAN — Brew pubs are now legal in downtown Logan.

The Municipal Council voted Tuesday to allow restaurants in the downtown historic district to brew and sell beer as long as alcohol sales don't amount to more than half of the business' revenues.

What a difference 12 years makes.

Tuesday's calm meeting contrasted starkly with contentious meetings in 1996 when Logan considered allowing a brew pub on Main Street. Council members, who were then rewriting the city's alcohol ordinances, ultimately rejected brew pubs.

"They were adamantly against microbreweries. It got be an alcohol issue, not a brew pub issue," said Darla D. Clark, who was mayor then. "It was pretty nasty."

In an effort to increase activity downtown, a group of business owners recently asked Logan officials to change the code, which had prohibited brew pubs.

Four council members voted to allow brew pubs Tuesday, but Councilman Jay Monson abstained. Monson said he has "a real, personal concern about alcohol abuse."

He said one of his best friends killed himself because of alcoholism, and he pointed out that a Utah State University student recently died of alcohol poisoning.

Only one person spoke out against brew pubs at Tuesday's meeting. Logan resident John Eiman said the city should find other ways to boost business.

"I'm thinking about the family-orientation of the city of Logan, and Cache Valley in general, and the traditions that have been established here by people long ago," Eiman said.

Glen Goins, Logan's planning manager, said he contacted other Utah cities about potential problems with brew pubs.

"None of them have had any major issues they can remember with any activities related to the brew pub establishments," Goins said.

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