Following public comment about allowing zoning changes for a farm winery and tasting room, Gilmer County commissioners denied the change.
“I would hate for it to be taken as a referendum on how we feel about wineries,” Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris said.
Lloyd and Gloria Clark were requesting a zoning change for property located at 100 River Hill Road.
Michael Smith was the first to speak at the board’s work session. He disagreed with the zoning change because he said the winery was in the neighborhood of a church and very close to three other homes.
Speakers were asked to refrain from arguing the matter which was done during the public hearing at the planning board and simply state whether they are in favor or against the change. This came after Smith’s first comments.
Board Attorney David Clark said the planning board held a hearing and voted 4-1 in favor of allowing the zoning changes.
Smith said he wanted to argue whether the winery and tasting room would violate alcohol ordinances in the county.
Clark responded the farm winery and tasting room ordinance allows for wine tasting on premise as does state law.
A convenience store across from a church can not sell alcohol, but a winery can, Smith asked. He said this is wrong because selling alcohol is selling alcohol.
“Progress at all cost is not progress,” Smith said.
He said a moritorium on new wineries should be put in place “until we get things sorted out.”
A petition of 370 names was submitted opposing the winery along with many other speakers rising in opposition.
Others residents stood and supported the winery.
Karla Roper, executive director of Georgia Wine Producers, spoke in support of the winery.
“I think all of the vineyards and wineries in this state have been good stewards of their communities and they have proven to be supportive of their counties,” she said.
Following public comment, Paris clarified he was pro winery, as did Post Commissioner Hubert Parker, but, he said, he and the other board members would make a deicsion based on the facts.
“It should not be assumed that because other wineries, other tastings rooms have been approved that this one automatically must be,” Paris said. “Nor should it be assumed that it automatically will not be for any reason.”
One issue brought up was the driveway of the proposed winery.
Public Works Director Jim Smith said the approved driveway was for residential use. A tasting room would need a commercial entrance, he said.
Lloyd Clark said when the zoning for a winery was denied in 2019 he and his wife took a step back and attempted to make some changes. He said the new driveway was in response to previous concerns with suggestions from Smith.
He said they also made changes to keep rainwater from going into the roadway.
“We’re trying to be good stewards for our neighbors,” he said. “I’m coming to you all asking for assistance what I need to do to comply.”
Paris said he was working on the assumption changes would be made to the driveway if the county asked.
Parker said he was concerned with the location of the driveway in relation to the road.
“I absolutely support our vineyards in this county,” said Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson. “However, every vineyard is different and every location is different and we have to take all that into consideration.”
Commissioners also asked about noise at the proposed farm winery.
Lloyd Clark said he would take the neighborhood and community interests into consideration when planning events at the winery. He said they intended to have inside music which would be light and acoustic.
At the regular meeting Paris made a motion to approve the farm winery saying he thought the growing of grapes would be fine. It died for lack of a second.
Parker said when he looked into it further many activites of a tasting room would be allowed at a farm winery. County Attorney David Clark then clarified the ordinance and said a tasting room allows for free samples.
Paris then withdrew his motion.
“This is one of those things that half of you folks are going to leave here fuming and the other half will be smiling and probably nobody up here is going to be happy about anything,” he said. “I believe the primary purpose of zoning is to protect people’s property, people’s lifestyle and really, in my mind, I see no other benefit to zoning.”
Paris made a motion to deny the zoning change for a farm winery and a tasting room. It was seconded by Parker and passed unanimously.
“It’s been presented in some respects that this is a referendum on whether or not we support wineries, that is not what we are voting on,” Parker said.
Swimming pool
Paris gave an update on the county swimming pool at the work session.
“We have been advertising for bids for the swimming pool for the last four weeks and did not get a bid, not a single one, “ he said “Which is kind of in line with the way everything else has gone with this pool.”
Bidding will continue until July 6 with a small change, removing an immediate start specification. Paris said the county is now asking for the pool to be completed and ready to open by Memorial Day of 2022.