Fiscal Court gives first approval to new regs governing craft distilleries

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 1 p.m. — Nelson Fiscal Court approved first reading on zoning regulation changes governing craft distilleries, bourbon storage and event facilities in agricultural areas at its meeting Tuesday morning.

Nelson Fiscal Court. From left, Magistrates Jerry Hahn, Jeff Lear, Bernard Ice, Sam Hutchins, Keith Metcalfe and Judge Executive Dean Watts.

Planning administrator Janet Johnston-Crowe explained that the changes create two classes of craft distillery. A Type I craft distillery will allow 50,000 gallons of bourbon production annually, and would be allowed in B-2 business zoning. A Type II craft distillery will allow up to 500,000 gallons of bourbon produced per year.

The craft distilleries would be prohibited from having more than four barrels of distilled spirits stored on site.

The new regulations also increased the size of event facilities in unincorporated parts of the county zoned A-1 Agriculture. The current rules require a minimum size of 2,500 square feet, which is too small to accommodate 300 guests. The changes increase the facility size to 4,500 sq. ft.

The changes also allow distilled spirits storage as a conditional use on agriculturally zoned property of 50 to 100 acres in size, in unincorporated parts of the county. The change will require an applicant to participate in a public hearing during which adjoining property owners will have a chance to express any concerns they may have.

BULKY ITEM PICKUP. The first week this year’s bulky item pickup has been the most active first week since 2013, according to John Greenwell, the county’s solid waste coordinator.

Sheriff Ed Mattingly spoke with Magistrate Jerry Hahn prior to the start of Tuesday morning’s meeting.

The first week of the pickup netted 148 tons collected. The next highest recent total was 147 tons in 2013.

The weather has put the pickup two or three days behind, Greenwell told the court. The next phase of the pickup — including all areas west of KY 49 and south of the Bluegrass Parkway — is expected to begin as scheduled on March 13

The final phase of the pickup is scheduled t begin March 27 and will include the northwestern part of the county north of the Bluegrass Parkway and west of Louisville Road.

Greenwell encouraged residents who have items for the pickup to have them set out by the roadway by the first day the pickup starts for their area.

CLERK SETTLEMENT. County Clerk Elaine Filiatreau presented Nelson Fiscal Court with a check for $448,481 at Tuesday’s meeting. The money represents the clerk’s office excess fees, which by statute are returned to fiscal court.

MARCH MADNESS. Filiatreau also announced that commercial truck owner or farmers to expect the clerk’s office to be very busy this month with tag renewals for commercial vehicles and trailers.

Filiatreau said most day so far this month there has been a line for license tag renewals, and asked those with plates due this month to consider coming in well before the end of the month.

In other business, the court:

— added 31 hand guns to the county’s surplus property list. The sheriff’s office will only sell them to licensed firearms dealers. Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly said the proceeds of the sale of the weapons will be applied toward the purchase of new rifles for the sheriff’s office.

— set March 29 as the date for opening sealed bids on larger surplus items and for conducting an auction to sell the smaller surplus items.

— accepted a draft of the proposed Nelson County Jail budget.

— accepted a draft of the proposed E-911 budget, which the court plans to approve at its next meeting.

— approved a resolution regarding the county’s funding of transportation for the county’s parochial schools.

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