A Sarnia woman is proposing the redevelopment of a downtown parking lot for an outdoor beer garden, operating out of a modified shipping container.
In a letter to Sarnia Council, Donna Hogan says she visited a similar facility in Midland, Michigan last summer.
She thinks it could be a great addition along Sarnia's waterfront and is proposing the city owned parking lot on the north-west corner of Front and George Streets be used.
Mayor Mike Bradley thinks council should take a long and hard look at the proposal before it's considered Monday.
"If you're going to allow public land to be used for this purpose, then it should be open to others," said Bradley. "I think there's other significant issues, which relates to this type of operation, in conflict with a number of restaurants and bars in the downtown core that pay property taxes and directly employ people, and they should have the right to have input on a proposal like this."
Hogan's proposal includes mobile food trucks, large outdoor games like Jenga and Connect Four, picnic tables and open areas for lawn chairs.
Director of Planning and Building Alan Shaw says they've reviewed the request and found it to have planning merit.
He says additional information would be provided on estimated costs and funding opportunities should council direct staff to further review the proposal.
