After additional comments from opponents and supporters, the board this time voted 5-0 to allow the Buckeye Distillery in the building Lee is leasing at 130 W. Plum St. He also plans to relocate a fire/water restoration business from Troy to the building.
The board’s decision can be appealed to the city within 10 days, Matt Spring, city planner, said.
The board initially considered the request in July before tabling it to hear from nearby property owners. August’s tie vote followed concerns about possible odors, explosion and fire and traffic on the one-way street in a mostly residential neighborhood.
Lee plans to distill up to 50 gallons per batch of alcohol similar to flavored vodka.
Several batches would be in various stages of the distillation process at any time, according to the city planning department staff report. The alcohol would be produced, fermented, distilled, aged, bottled and labeled from the 130 W. Plum St. building. An air filtration system would be installed and an open boiler would be used, eliminating concerns about pressure build up in the distillation, Spring said.
The building is located in the Legacy Industrial District near the city’s downtown.
While the board in August heard mostly concerns about the distillery, supporters including the local Chamber of Commerce and the downtown business organization were heard from Tuesday.
Fire Chief Steve Kessler, who had been asked to address concerns about fire said a vehicle with ethanol would have more alcohol than the proposed business. Firefighters carry foam on fire trucks to deal with related fires, Kessler said, adding he doesn’t think the distillery would pose a problem.
Board members who voted no in August said their questions/concerns had been addressed by information presented by Lee.
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