7.b2 Winery Ordinance amendment CC staff report 03.13.20
Memorandum
To: Scandia City Council Reference: Ordinance amendment regarding
Winery and Cidery
Copies To: Brenda Eklund, Clerk
Ken Cammilleri, City
Administrator
Project No.: 17723.000
From: Merritt Clapp-Smith,
Planner
Routing:
Date: March 17, 2020 City Council
Meeting
BACKGROUND
Winery is currently allowed as a Conditional Use in only the Rural Commercial District. The
Rural Commercial District exists on three (3) properties in Scandia, each with long-standing and
still occupied businesses – The Big Marine Store, Abrahamsons’ Nursery, and Crabtrees Country
Store. The inclusion of Winery as a definition in the Zoning Development Code indicates that it
is envisioned as a use for the City of Scandia. However, only allowing it in a district with three
commercially occupied parcels, makes the chance of introducing it to Scandia as a use nearly
impossible.
A proposed winery hopes to establish itself in Scandia on property zoned as Agricultural Core
(AG-C). The Planning Commission and City Council discussed if a Winery use would be
appropriate as a Conditional Use in the AG-C zone and thought that it might be. The rationale is
based on the fact that the AG-C District already allows uses that are very consistent with a
winery operation. These uses are “Agriculture”, “Agricultural Processing” and “Agritourism”.
It is proposed that in conjunction with an ordinance amendment regarding “winery”, that the
term “cidery” be added to the winery definition, since the uses and associated activity are so
similar. Wine and cider are both defined under Minnesota State Statute, as follows:
Minnesota Statutes 297G.01 DEFINITIONS
• Subd. 3a. Cider. “Cider” means a product that contains not less than one-half of one
percent nor more than seven percent alcohol by volume and is made from the alcoholic
Ordinance Amendment re: “Winery” Staff Report for March 17, 2020 City Council
Page 2
fermentation of the juice of apples. Cider includes, but is not limited to, flavored,
sparkling, and carbonated cider.
• Subd. 20.Wine. "Wine" is the product made from the normal alcoholic fermentation of
grapes, including still wine, sparkling and carbonated wine, wine made from condensed
grape must, wine made from other agricultural products than sound ripe grapes,
imitation wine, compounds sold as wine, vermouth, cider, perry, and sake, in each
instance containing not less than one-half of one percent nor more than 24 percent
alcohol by volume for nonindustrial use. Wine does not include distilled spirits as defined
in subdivision 7.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing at their March 10, 2020 meeting and
recommended approval of the attached ordinance amendments.