The Waukesha Ordinance and Licensing Committee on Monday recommended that the Common Council approve a Class C wine license for Fisk Avenue LLC, a creative studio that offers guided DIY workshops such as epoxy pours and basic woodworking.

Committee members heard from a representative for Fisk Avenue LLC, who said the business provides “guided DIY workshops” where customers make items such as charcuterie boards and cutting boards, and that customer feedback indicated guests often want to “drink wine while you paint and sip” or have “a craft beer.”

The committee and city attorney said state law prevents the city from issuing a Class B beer-only license to the business as described. The city attorney explained that Chapter 125 of Wisconsin law limits Class B beer-only licenses to certain types of facilities (for example, hotels, restaurants, bowling alleys or movie theaters) and that a crafts or woodworking studio is not listed among the statutory exceptions. The attorney also noted the fee for the Class B beer license had not been paid and the city “cannot issue the class b beer license.”

Committee members said the recent change in state rules made it easier to obtain a Class C wine license without qualifying as a restaurant. The city attorney said that change removed the prior requirement that an applicant be a restaurant in order to qualify for a Class C license.

Alderperson Helvinslaven made the motion to approve the Class C wine license and Alderperson Wigderson seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Committee minutes will be forwarded to the Common Council for final action and the clerk’s office will follow up with the applicant.

The applicant and committee members discussed contacting state representatives about the statutory limitation on Class B beer-only licenses; the city attorney suggested that a request to change state law would need to go to the Legislature.

Votes at a glance: Motion to recommend approval of a Class C wine license for Fisk Avenue LLC — approved unanimously.

The applicant thanked the committee; the clerk’s office will advise next steps for council consideration.