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City Council OKs domestic winery license
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
After a lengthy discussion Monday night, the Benson City Council recommended approval of a domestic farm winery license for a residence on Barrel Cactus Ridge Drive.
The measure passed 5-1, with Councilwoman Jo Deen Boncquet voting against it, and Councilman Al Sacco abstaining from the vote because he lives in the RV Park where the wine will be made.
In August of last year, the council passed a resolution recommending approval for the license at the same address, but for George Neff. Neff later withdrew the application, and Gary Kessler has now applied for the liquor license to be in his name at the same location.
James Trail, a park resident, spoke against the proposal.
"We already have roads that are failing that haven't been in very long," he said. "We have a lot of sinkholes and bad spots. The traffic that could be generated by a domestic farm winery could be enormous."
Lee Peterson, also of the Cochise Terrace RV Resort, said he supports the resolution, stating he lives near the proposed winery, and "you don't even know it's there and it has no impact on me as a resident."
Steven Butler, another park resident, said he is against the winery proposal because it is a residential, gated over 55 community.
"When we bought in there and moved into this community, we had no idea there would be a licensed operation such as a domestic farm winery," he said. "I would just like to register my opposition to the board tonight."
Kessler plans to make the wine at his residence, but will be selling it at local businesses such as the Turquoise Hills Golf and RV. Later he hopes other businesses will sell the products.
Mayor Mark Fenn stressed that the city does not have the final say on the matter. The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses & Control is the final authority.
City Attorney Michael Massee said Kessler will not be doing any retail activity at the location; he will only be doing the fermenting and bottling.
Kessler agreed with Massee that he will be making the wine at the RV Park, but will take it to the golf course for sale.
Vice Mayor Toney King asked if there is a limit to what they can make each year. Kessler said the license will allow him to make more than 200 gallons, and less than 40,000 gallons a year.
The prospective wine maker said he doesn't expect to make anywhere near the maximum amount allowed each year.
"I don't anticipate the quantities being large enough to bring trucks in," Kessler said. "It is just going to be a one person thing."
In the beginning, Kessler said he plans to ship wine to the golf course a couple times a month, and may increase if the demand increases. He estimated one shipment would be six or eight bottles.
The winery will be an addition to the microbrewery Turquoise Hills installed last year.
Councilman Sacco asked why there were no written comments against or for the proposed winery. He asked that with two residents speaking out against the winery Monday night, that maybe the city didn't do a good enough job posting the information.
City Clerk Vicki Vivian said all statutes were followed, noting they posted the notice at Cochise Terrace RV Park, and asked the park's office to post a second notice in one of the most public places.
Sacco also questioned whether or not the winery will violate zoning regulations.
"Mr. Massee and I are at odds over the restrictions," he said.
Massee said the zoning codes being questioned center around retail businesses, and that's not what Kessler is going to be doing.
"If he does start conducting retail sales at the location, then that would be a violation," Massee said. "Still, independent of the liquor license he is going to have to follow zoning codes."
After questioning the issue, Sacco did not vote.
If the state authority approves the liquor license, Turquoise Hills will begin selling the new product in the bar, and if popular enough, may sell by the bottle.
The business license for the new domestic winery is under Terrace Tee Winery.
After a lengthy discussion Monday night, the Benson City Council recommended approval of a domestic farm winery license for a residence on Barrel Cactus Ridge Drive.
The measure passed 5-1, with Councilwoman Jo Deen Boncquet voting against it, and Councilman Al Sacco abstaining from the vote because he lives in the RV Park where the wine will be made.
In August of last year, the council passed a resolution recommending approval for the license at the same address, but for George Neff. Neff later withdrew the application, and Gary Kessler has now applied for the liquor license to be in his name at the same location.
James Trail, a park resident, spoke against the proposal.
"We already have roads that are failing that haven't been in very long," he said. "We have a lot of sinkholes and bad spots. The traffic that could be generated by a domestic farm winery could be enormous."
Lee Peterson, also of the Cochise Terrace RV Resort, said he supports the resolution, stating he lives near the proposed winery, and "you don't even know it's there and it has no impact on me as a resident."
Steven Butler, another park resident, said he is against the winery proposal because it is a residential, gated over 55 community.
"When we bought in there and moved into this community, we had no idea there would be a licensed operation such as a domestic farm winery," he said. "I would just like to register my opposition to the board tonight."
Kessler plans to make the wine at his residence, but will be selling it at local businesses such as the Turquoise Hills Golf and RV. Later he hopes other businesses will sell the products.
Mayor Mark Fenn stressed that the city does not have the final say on the matter. The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses & Control is the final authority.
City Attorney Michael Massee said Kessler will not be doing any retail activity at the location; he will only be doing the fermenting and bottling.
Kessler agreed with Massee that he will be making the wine at the RV Park, but will take it to the golf course for sale.
Vice Mayor Toney King asked if there is a limit to what they can make each year. Kessler said the license will allow him to make more than 200 gallons, and less than 40,000 gallons a year.
The prospective wine maker said he doesn't expect to make anywhere near the maximum amount allowed each year.
"I don't anticipate the quantities being large enough to bring trucks in," Kessler said. "It is just going to be a one person thing."
In the beginning, Kessler said he plans to ship wine to the golf course a couple times a month, and may increase if the demand increases. He estimated one shipment would be six or eight bottles.
The winery will be an addition to the microbrewery Turquoise Hills installed last year.
Councilman Sacco asked why there were no written comments against or for the proposed winery. He asked that with two residents speaking out against the winery Monday night, that maybe the city didn't do a good enough job posting the information.
City Clerk Vicki Vivian said all statutes were followed, noting they posted the notice at Cochise Terrace RV Park, and asked the park's office to post a second notice in one of the most public places.
Sacco also questioned whether or not the winery will violate zoning regulations.
"Mr. Massee and I are at odds over the restrictions," he said.
Massee said the zoning codes being questioned center around retail businesses, and that's not what Kessler is going to be doing.
"If he does start conducting retail sales at the location, then that would be a violation," Massee said. "Still, independent of the liquor license he is going to have to follow zoning codes."
After questioning the issue, Sacco did not vote.
If the state authority approves the liquor license, Turquoise Hills will begin selling the new product in the bar, and if popular enough, may sell by the bottle.
The business license for the new domestic winery is under Terrace Tee Winery.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
Ex-Cochise Terrace Resident wrote on Feb 28, 2010 7:39 PM:
" Perhaps the city should also investigate why they issued a business license to other business located at Cochise Terrace? "
Vigilante1 wrote on Mar 2, 2010 9:11 PM:
" Nana if you wanted to crochet sweaters, tie quilts, or paint paintings in your home and then sell them online or have then sold at a local retail outlet would that be a violation of city or community code? Its a business gosh darn it! Lets not be so ignorant...don't buy gold canyon candles (business run from home), don't buy Amway (business run from home), don't but Avon (business run from home). Just becasue it isn't YOUR type of home hobby doesn't mean its not legitimate. "
Nana wrote on Feb 25, 2010 2:24 PM: