SLIPPERY ROCK —The North Country Brewing Co. was given the green light Thursday by the Slippery Rock Planning Commission to begin its renovation and expansion.

The motion was approved pending public water and sewage approval, a highway occupancy permit and a developer's agreement.

Owner Bob McCafferty said the project will come in two phases. Thursday's vote approved the first phase, which includes an 8,000-square-foot addition that will give the restaurant additional capacity, will bring 10 more jobs, will provide more parking and will include retail space.

It also needs to be approved by the state Liquor Control Board and other agencies.

The planning commission last year approved a similar plan for the company, but the commission had to approve it again because McCafferty modified his proposal.

Originally, he planned to buy a building in Mercer, Mercer County, to expand. However, the LCB said with his liquor license he would be unable to brew beer in Slippery Rock and then send it to Mercer.

McCafferty originally bought two abandoned houses behind the restaurant, but the need for additional capacity required buying a former hot dog shop adjacent to the restaurant and the houses.

Jesse Hines, the borough's code enforcement officer, said the plan is in line with the borough's codes.

"It's all compliant with what are regulations are," Hines said.

Herb Carlson, a member of the commission, said he liked the plan, including the additional parking.

The second phase of the project will include additional seating, a second kitchen and a banquet hall.

McCafferty pointed out the economic importance of the restaurant to the borough and to Butler County. He said it brings 18,000 to 20,000 customers per month from as far away as Harrisburg and Cleveland, and it was ranked 91st out of 970 pubs in a national poll.

McCafferty bought the original 11,000 square foot building in 1998 and opened the business in 2005.