The Chattanooga Beer Board moved to return a beer-permit application for the Smart Music Project Cheese and Beer Festival to regulatory review and approved the minutes from its Sept. 4 meeting during a short public session.

The action matters because the Cheese and Beer festival application is currently held up in zoning, including an apparent incorrect address on the application and no applicant present to clarify details. Without zoning clarification, board members said, staff and regulatory reviewers cannot complete a final permit determination.

Board members first addressed a beer permit previously reviewed by regulatory: the Greater Chattanooga Public Television Corporation’s WTCI PBS Ale Trail Off the Track Beer Festival was noted as approved by regulatory staff. "I encourage everyone to support our public television," the Board Chair said when introducing the item.

The board then discussed a new temporary permit application for the Smart Music Project Cheese and Beer Festival. Board members said zoning review was delaying action and flagged what appeared to be an incorrect address on the application. The Board Chair asked, "What's the date of this event? It doesn't say." A staff member told the board they had asked the applicant for clarification but had not yet received it.

Because no representative for the Smart Music Project appeared at the meeting, a motion was made to return the application to regulatory for follow-up. The Board Chair moved to send the item back; another board member seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Earlier in the meeting a board member moved to approve the minutes for Sept. 4 and the chair called for a voice vote. That motion also carried with no opposition recorded.

The Beer Board then adjourned this portion of its meeting; a regulatory hearing was scheduled to begin about five minutes later.