It appears a coffee roasting operation will be coming to Colonial Beach.

A public hearing was held at last week’s Town Council Work Session to adjust some definitions within the zoning ordinances and amend the Resort‑Commercial District Conditional Uses and other sections of the zoning ordinances that would allow for the creation of “small‑scale production, not exceeding 6,000 square feet.”

A business looking to set up a gas‑fired coffee roasting machine had made inquiries about the Town’s zoning ordinances. They anticipate roasting 500 pounds of coffee per month. The roastery would have a retail space for customers to buy beans, merchandise, brewing equipment, and other related supplies, and the beans could also be purchased online. Eventually, the roastery also plans to sell to wholesale customers, but not on a nationwide scale.

The Town’s Department of Planning & Community Development was supportive, with one memorandum from Angela Lawrence, the Director of DPCD, stating, “Coffee roasting, like microbrewing and brew pubs, have the potential to be an excellent fit in the Town’s commercial districts.”

However, there was a small snag. According to Lawrence, she was unable to find zoning text specific to coffee roasteries. Many localities zone it as light manufacturing (which the Town doesn’t have) or general business/commercial districts, which depend on secondary uses like retail or restaurant use. The Town’s DPCD staff therefore recommended that the Town first amend Section 20‑2 definitions in the Town’s zoning ordinances to add a definition for “small‑scale production,” and then apply that to the operation.

When the public hearing was held, nobody spoke or gave public input. Councilman Rick Wood was in favor of the recommendations by Town staff, even moving for immediate action by the Town toward that end, especially since there was the possibility of a pending application.

“It brings new business and new jobs to town, and it’s not a particularly controversial group of businesses,” stated Wood. “This is something we’ve heard about from the Planning Commission and Town Council. I’d like to see us take action if we can.”

“One thing that comes to mind with ‘small‑scale production’ is the matter of trucks, deliveries, pickups, and other stuff like that,” commented Councilman David Williams. “Does all of that get addressed in the Conditional Use Permit process?”

“It will, and we will certainly ask for traffic flow and look at the traffic conditions as well as some of the others,” replied Lawrence shortly before the Council approved the new zoning definition and then applied it to conditional use permits.

A permit application is currently being reviewed by Town staff, then will move to the Planning Commission and then the Town Council. More details about the coffee roasting operation are expected at the Town Council’s regular meeting later this month.