Owners of the Asbury Festhalle and Biergarden received word Tuesday — in writing — that they will not be responsible for a $320,000 sewer connection fee.
According to a letter from City Engineer Joe Cunha addressed to Jennifer Lampert, one of the partners in the two-story Austrio-Hungarian restaurant slated for 527 Lake Ave., it was determined “there will be no sewer connection fee assessed” for the beer garden’s application.
“It’s gone,” said Lampert. “We’re extremely happy. I have it in writing, so I can sleep now.”
City ordinance requires a one-time connection fee to be charged for new construction projects that tap into the sewer line. The purpose of the fee is to support the sewer infrastructure of the city. Fees for the sewer connection ordinance are calculated through the city’s engineering department. They are based on building usage and, in the case of restaurant usage, how many seats there are in the establishment multiplied by 20 gallons per day at $21.88 price per gallon, according to the ordinance.
The beer garden will have seating for over 700 people in the warm weather season, and under 300 in winter, according to Lampert.
After working with the city on the project for nine months, an unforeseen $400,000 fee was brought to Lampert’s attention around Christmas after demolition began, ceasing construction at the site. The fee was later reduced to $320,000.
Based on original projection it was thought a six-inch pipe would be necessary, but it has since been determined that the current pipe is sufficient and there is no need to increase the capacity, said City Manager John “Jack” Kelly.
An increase in the size of the pipe would have triggered a new connection fee, according to the ordinance.
A pre-existing sewer pipe was already in place at the site, but “no one was sure what size existed,” she said. “We had to dig, but the calculations always indicated a four-inch pipe was sufficient.”
City officials also measured the slope of the pipe to be certain it conformed to National Standard Plumbing Code, according to the letter.
The letter signed by Cunha states “the existing 4″ sanitary sewer lateral leaving the building [is] sufficient to handle the proposed flow so long as it exists at a 0.70% minimum slope. Pursuant to the verification last week of existing pipe slope at 12.5% the existing pipe is definitely sufficient to handle the proposed flow in its existing condition.”
Lampert said the city has been “hands-on, communicative and helpful” throughout the process and she is now back to moving forward with the appropriate review of permits.
Almost 16-foot high windows will adorn the building within the coming weeks to flood the interior with natural light. She received comments on her window installation application and updated drawings for the construction process will be submitted Wednesday for the city’s review, Lampert said.
“It’s a big buildout,” said Lampert.
She is projecting a July 1 opening, but in a seasonal city she is aware losing May and June will cut into profit margins, she said.
“We definitely lost May and June,” Lampert said. “Hopefully we’ll get back on track with Octoberfest, being that we are a beer garden.”
For more information about the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarden check out their Facebook page.
[CLARIFICATION: This post has been updated to clarify that the seating capacity of over 700 is during the warm weather season, with a capacity of under 300 in the winter.]
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