Jennifer Pittorino
Franco Cozzo’s iconic Footscray store will remain a vacant space following Maribyrnong councils decision to deny Moon Dog’s brewery planning permit.
On Thursday, June 15, Maribyrnong council chief executive Celia Haddock said safety concerns were the primary reason for the application being refused.
“As the existing building is built to the boundary/footpath line, with approximately 2.5 metres between the building and the edge of Hopkins Street – an arterial road that carries significant volumes of traffic … the narrow width of the footpath coupled with the high volume of traffic, presented an unacceptable safety risk for future patrons,” she said.
“This was highlighted in an independent road safety audit, commissioned by Moon Dog, with the audit finding a number of risks which could not be mitigated.”
Moon Dog Brewery proposed to transform the Hopkins Street building into a brewery with a DJ booth and rooftop bar, while paying tribute to the furniture king.
As reported by Star Weekly, after half a century selling furniture in Footscray, Mr Cozzo sold the 1088-square-metre Hopkins Road premises for well over $6 million in 2018.
Moon Dog Brewing lodged a planning permit application with council in November 2022, and the application was advertised in December 2022.
The proposal outlined that the brewery and bar would trade from 11am to 1am for seven days a week, with no more than 900 patrons permitted on site and no more than 850 patrons after midnight.
“While council took into account the concerns of nearby residents regarding the impact the venue may have in terms of noise and amenity impacts, this was not a factor in the issuing of the refusal,” Ms Haddock said.
In Maribyrnong council documents seen by Star Weekly, grounds of refusal included the sale and consumption of liquor would result in unacceptable amenity impacts in the area; the proposed hours of operation would have adverse amenity impacts on the surrounding area; the proposed number of patrons would have detrimental impacts on the amenity of the immediate and surrounding area; the proposed sale and consumption of liquor would cause unreasonable amenity impacts by way of cumulative impacts resulting from existing and permitted licensed premises/uses in the immediate and surrounding area; and the proposal fails to provide the number of car parking spaces as required by the Maribyrnong Planning Scheme.
Moon Dog has 60 days to lodge an appeal against this decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal or it can submit another application to council with a revised proposal for consideration.
