At the August 20 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission Nathan and Katie Drewitz of Chatfield Township requested a conditional use permit for a farm winery.
The couple has a business plan for the future Chosen Valley Winery. They currently have rows of grapes on about a half-acre. They have plans to grow their acreage and their business.
There were no comments from the public or the township during the public hearing.
Katie Drewitz explained they have plans for growing, production, sale and tasting using most of their own grapes. She added they will need to purchase grapes until production is more ramped up.
Duane Bakke asked about their septic system and its capacity. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins said it is an exceptionally large tank that will meet the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency code. The tank is 3,000 gallons with a drain field made extra-large for the planned winery. If they held a large event they plan to also have portable options on site.
Bakke said if the system meets state standards, he is not against the CUP. He noted the county language is stricter. Adkins said the language was likely taken from another county. Bakke noted the stricter language could be changed when some other ordinance language is discussed and possibly revised in a couple of months.
A motion to send the request for a CUP on to the county board for their consideration was approved with one condition; the SSTS must meet state standards.
Shawn and Megan Merkel requested a CUP for a building addition to Merkel Enterprises in section 26 of Bloomfield Township. There were no comments from the public or the township. They provide service to ag businesses, both commercial and individual farmers. Gary Ruskell said it was a clean site that is well run. There is adequate space for implements. The CUP was sent on to the county board for their consideration with no conditions.
Board of Adjustment
A variance was approved for an addition to a dwelling for Jason and Tami Goetzinger, section 17 of Jordan Township. Jason explained they want to replace a room that is pulling away from the house. The new 14-foot by 16-foot room is to be built in the same location. The 14-foot variance from the required distance from the center of the road was approved. There was no comment from the public or the township.
A variance permit was applied for by Nathan and Misty Heusinkveld. The variance from three property line setbacks is for the construction of a subsurface treatment system on a .22-acre property in Cherry Grove. Cathy Gossman, Gossman Dirt Work and Septic Services LLC, explained the system cannot meet all required property line setbacks due to the limited size of the site. There was no public or township comment during the public hearing. The requested setback variances on the west, east, and south sides of the property were approved.
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