HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/05/2017
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
Alcohol Farm Products Working Group
Meeting Minutes
June 5, 2017
I.Call to order
At 5:00 pm meeting was called to order by Chairperson Frank Purita.
II.Roll call
Louisa Hargrave, Frank Purita, Joann Maynard, Bill Ruland, Scott Russell, Nancy Tochio, Ian
VanBourgondien, Will Lee, Ann Murray, Nancy Foote
Also attending: Adam Suprenant, Chris Baiz, Jessica Avron
III.Discussion
st
May 31 meeting was cancelled. The committee did not have a quorum.
Previous meeting minutes from May 1 & May 15, 2017 were review and two adjustments were made.
Comparison of Winery, Farm Winery and Micro Winery literature from NYS Liquor Authority was
distributed. Chris reviewed similarities and differences for types of licenses, annual fees, and amounts
produced, types of wine and other products. Additional literature from SLA was also distributed in
regards to Cider Producer & Farm Cidery Licenses, Distillery & Farm Distillery Licenses and
literature on Recent developments regarding manufacturing licenses under the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Law. Chris encouraged the group to review all the documents. Frank offered to print out the
State licenses for next meeting.
Scott reminded the group that they would be drafting code for use in the next 20-30 years,
microbreweries may become popular and define appropriate code for such.
Joann shared an article on Tap Rooms. Wine tastings are poured from a keg instead of bottles. Take
away containers can also be filled from the keg. This saves on glass, labels, reduces waste and costs.
Several restaurants in the area offer wine from kegs as well. Tap rooms are informal settings and are
difficult to police. There is no current Town code in place for Tap Rooms.
Frank reminded the group it needs to figure out what tools a winery needs to survive/thrive. Figure out
what the Town requires from an applicant. Nancy Tochio asked if microwineries are viable. Service of
food can boost viability of these businesses. Louisa added that the most famous wineries are tiny in
size. The vineyard is small and the wine very expensive.
Scott Russell reviewed Town Code:
AC, R-80 zones
10 acres planted, committed to product
Scott suggested considering property size for different zoning and determine how close properties
should be to residential areas. Each zone needs a different mindset.
Encouraging property use for agriculture may encourage more land to be preserved. Chris added that
if business plan is correct you need not sell development rights.
Town Zoning was reviewed
R400 10 acres per use (for a house)
R200 5 acres per use (for a house)
AC & R-80 promotes agriculture
R-440 1 acre residential with some spec exceptions, excludes wineries
HD Condos, 1 use/10,000 square feet, excludes wineries
RR Resort and condos
R Office space ie: Dentist with office, residential use, move into commercial space
GB most common business, retail 30,000 square foot/use
HB ½
I Zone Light office 3 acres/use, light industrial , office parks
Traffic assessment was discussed. According to Chris there are 22 wineries east of Mattituck with
approx. 600 cars on their sites at the height of an afternoon. NYSDOT counts 15,000 one way trips for
a given day. Chris does not believe wineries add to heavy traffic flow. Nancy T added that smaller
wineries will encourage more traffic.
Nancy F will contact Mark Terry for a copy of the map indicating 12 plus acres lots with the potential
for a winery.
Committee is planning field trips to three different sized wineries and a brewery to gather data on
winery and parking requirements. Committee will review current code for parking and then make a
recommendation. Frank will reach out to the Health Dept for code regarding this issue. He will also
invite Nancy Steelman, local architect, to a future meeting to discuss formula for building and parking
lot requirements for wineries. Louisa moved to invite Nancy Steelman to a committee meeting. Motion
was passed. Louisa also suggested inviting the Farm Bureau and Wine Council to a future meeting.
Ian offered to approach the Farm Bureau.
Ian thought that use of trolleys would help get cars off the road. A location for where the trolley riders
park their cars initially would have to be researched.
IV.Public Comments
Adam Suprenant spoke to the Committee. He commented that no one complains about traffic in
He asks that the committee be open minded to possible businesses ie: grow grapes and pumpkins. Wine
can be a small part of the business.
Adam requests allowance for long term lease of rent. How does the business get started? Is certain
amount of income required? Can a startup be considered?
While a new vineyard is getting established can business buy grapes?
Two additional points made by Adam:
1.He would like the committee to think simply. He would not like to see the Town over regulate small
items and how business operates. Code should allow for different business. Code cannot be super
restrictive
2.Adam wanted to know if Town of Southold had previously attempted to change code proposed law?
Change code by adding 51% requirement of grapes to be produced on site? SLA weighed in on
local zoning. He is
V.Future meeting set for June 19 at 5:00 PM
Tenative Agenda as follows:
SLA Law, different types of licenses
Planning requirements
Review map of 12+ acres plots with potential to be a winery under current code
Presentation by Nancy Steelman
Meeting adjourned by Chairperson Frank Purita at 6:40 PM.