Crossbar Der Biergarten, an authentic German biergarten proposed by the Ryleigh’s restaurant group for 12-18 E. Cross St. in the former home of Turner’s/Billabong (12-14 E. Cross St.) and Lanasa Produce in Federal Hill, has gained some key support during this latest round of the approval process. First proposed in April 2013, the group’s request to expand the liquor license to 16 and 18 E. Cross St. was denied by the Baltimore City Liquor Board in June 2013 after failing to reach an agreement with the surrounding communities.
Originally, Crossbar was to have a capacity of 300 people without a food requirement on the liquor license. Now, in the latest proposal, Crossbar will have a capacity of 155 people, a 50/50 food to alcohol ratio requirement, and a taller wall on an outdoor patio. The patio will also have to close by 10pm on Sunday through Thursday and by 12am on Friday and Saturday nights (the entire proposal can be found here). A parking plan must also be in place.
The restaurant group is seeking to have the proposal signed with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association (FHNA) and the South Baltimore Neighborhood Association (SBNA).
Along with approval from the Baltimore City Liquor Board, the project’s real estate drawings will also need zoning approval from the Baltimore City Board of Municipal Zoning Appeals (BMZA).
This new proposal has received support from the Federal Hill South Neighborhood Association (FHSNA) and SBNA. FHSNA voted on January 28th to support the new proposal by a vote of 42-4. SBNA voted to support signing the proposed MOU with Crossbar by a vote of 23-11 on February 11th.
In January, FHNA voted not to support the zoning request with the BMZA by a vote of 42-4, but negotiations progressed with Crossbar over the past weekend on three important issues regarding the neighborhood. Those issues, which would be added as an addendum to the MOU, include memorializing the capacity at 155 with the BMZA, installing a sound arc per a consultant’s recommendations on the north wall of the outdoor patio, and closing the patio at 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The FHNA Liquor Advisory Committee voted 12-3 to recommend FHNA support the proposal with these concessions. Their membership will take a vote on February 18th.
Crossbar has upcoming hearings with the BMZA and the liquor board.