Our law firm has been in the heart of Fairfax County, Virginia, since 2001. Before that, I worked a couple blocks from the White House. For the most part, we’ve handled federal beverage law during that time. But increasingly, we are handling local law matters, and this story made the shift seem more real.
See video here.
Jim Vance says the zoning laws got loosened, to make it easier for breweries, wineries and distilleries to open in our county. Even before this change, we were noticing Caboose Brewing down the street, Fair Winds Brewing in Lorton, and The Winery at Bull Run across town in Centreville. There is also the Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton. This Bowman plant closed down in 1988, after beginning distilling operations in Fairfax in 1934. Less than 1.5 miles from the office, there was a winery for a while after Prohibition, producing “Virginia Maid” wine at what is now Nottoway Park. Come to think of it, that’s startlingly little activity for a big, upscale, increasingly urban county with over 1.1 million residents and covering over 400 square miles.
As locals and as lawyers, we look forward to many more fine beverage producers setting up in our county.
This is great news for Fairfax County, and it will hopefully set a good example for Arlington County on how to effectively bring good businesses in.
Fairfax County Department of Zoning has opened up I-4 zones for certain craft breweries. Previously obtaining zoning approval in an I-4 zone for a brewery would have taken a Special Exception, 6-9 months of time, and over $15,000 in filing fees.
As a lifetime resident and neighbor of Fairfax county, this is great news!