City grants Firebrand ability to operate with full bar

The Firebrand Hotel downtown has received city approval to operate with a full bar, rather than just serving wine and beer as it currently does.

City Council Dec. 4 approved a conditional use permit for the Firebrand to operate with a full liquor license.

Brian Averill, one of the hotel’s owners, has aid the hotel is looking to add a full liquor license because it has become a necessary part of the operating the “boutique, higher-end” hotel.

One of the conditions of the CUP prohibits the operation of the bar on the hotel’s rooftop patio. It currently includes a restaurant and lounge with a beer and wine licenses, but would like to operate with an all-beverage license in its restaurant and lounge.

Councilor Andy Feury noted a low interest level from neighbors of the hotel for the latest request. He pointed out that several people commented on the initial proposal for the hotel and then again when the hotel last year applied for a rooftop hot tub, but that last week there was just one person to make a comment.

“I don’t know if they’ve won a war of attrition or they’ve been good neighbors,” Feury said. “I prefer applications to come in total, and not come back again.”

Police Chief Bill Dial said his department hasn’t received any complaints about noise coming from the Firebrand.

City Council last year approved the operation of a rooftop hot tub at the downtown hotel as an amendment to the hotel’s CUP. The OK came after objections from neighbors who said the change would increase the noise coming from the hotel creating a disturbance to the residential area to the east of the building.

The hotel was initially approved in 2015. During the public hearing process then, neighbors also voiced opposition to saying the hotel would create noise in the adjacent residential area.