NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk Planning Commission is recommending City Council deny conditional use permits for a controversial brewery that wants to continue operating in the city.
Armed Forces Brewing Company is currently brewing beer in the old O'Connor Brewing building under grandfathered permits, which expires at the end of the month. They are waiting for new permits to be approved in order to open their space to the public.
The planning commission voted 4-2 recommending against issuing the permits, days after a Norfolk civic league also voted to ask the commission not to move forward. The Norfolk City Council will have the final say on whether permits are issued, however.
Thursday evening, Alan Beal, the CEO of the brewery, released a statement in response to the commission's decision.
“It is unfortunate that local Veterans and their family members may temporarily lose jobs as this holiday season begins and that Norfolk veteran-owned companies we work with may temporarily lose our business because four political appointees on the Planning Commission ignored the recommendations of the City of Norfolk Planning Commission’s staff to approve our permits."
“While we believe in the right of every American to speak their mind, we also know the First Amendment does not protect defamatory speech, and those who defamed Armed Forces Brewing Company publicly at this hearing and leading up to it will learn that there are legal repercussions to publicly lying and affecting our 9,300 shareholders. We will get our permits, and we will open and serve the patriotic Americans who support us," Beal said.
Back in July, Armed Forces Brewing Company announced Norfolk would be home to their headquarters and inaugural brewing facility. The company has promised that 70% of its workforce will be made up of military veterans.
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A shareholder for the company and veteran, Robert J. O’Neill, has attracted controversy for his anti-LGBTQ rhetoric online, including calling members of the LGBTQ community "pedophiles." He has also stated on social media that "China is going to destroy us" because the U.S. Navy featured a servicemember and drag queen in a recruitment video.
Although no longer a forward facing part of the company, O'Neill is still a 4% owner.
During Thursday's meeting, close to 30 people shared their thoughts, with 11 people asking for the outcome that ultimately prevailed.
"We have been challenged and dismayed to see Armed Forces Brewery coming into Norfolk and don't feel they are a business that will support our community or be a safe place for queer folks in Norfolk," said Hampton Roads Pride President Jeff Ryder.
Andrew Coplon, Owner of Craft Beer Professionals echoed that sentiment.
"These are unmoral people. They are unfit operators that do not deserve the honor of operating a tavern in our vibrant community," he said.
Eighteen people voiced their support for the brewery, many of them showing up in Armed Forces Brewing Co. t-shirts. Many who spoke pointed to their support and employment of veterans as a positive.
"This company allows for service members to be hired and work in a safe environment," said Ellie Schoenthaler, who runs Sales and Advertising for the Norfolk Admirals.
Angela Kirby, Director of Operations for the Hampton Roads Food Truck Association, said she's excited for a new business that food trucks will generate a lot of revenue from.
"We welcome them and would love to support them," she said. "We are super excited to have another place to bring revenue."
After the commission cast their 4-2 vote to send their recommendation to deny to Norfolk City Council, attorney Tim Anderson spoke to the media on behalf of the business, with CEO Alan Beal standing silently by his side. He said they still feel confident City Council will be on their side.
"I think fundamentally when we're talking about land use, whether we should be allowed to operate, there’s really no difference between O’Connor's and Armed Forces Brewery with what they’re gonna do other than the name and the thing, and fundamentally it’s gonna be hard to legally say no to that, despite the politics that happened today," said Anderson.
As for the controversy surrounding them, Anderson assures everyone will be welcome.
"They’re welcoming anybody that wants to come in and support their business so in order to do that, people have to feel safe and secured in there and if they don’t, people aren’t gonna come back," Anderson said.
After two civic leagues voted against the brewery at their recent meetings, commissioners asked if Beal had any dialogue with the two and he said no.
"It's hostile right now," said Anderson when 13News Now asked about that answer. "We need time to open and be present and welcome them into the community and I think we're gonna see things normalize."
When asked about O'Neill's comments, Anderson said those are the comments of an individual who no longer has a forward-facing role in the company.
"There's been no anti-LGBTQ, no racist or any kind of comments coming from the Armed Forces Brewing Company. Individuals on their own Twitter pages are just what those are: individual comments."
This will likely go before Norfolk City Council during a December meeting.