NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A proposal for a distillery that would offer "field to glass" drinks must await a decision by North Whitehall Zoning Hearing Board.
Continuing a hearing from Aug. 21, zoners at a special meeting Wednesday reviewed plans by Kenneth and Heather Skorinko for a distillery and tasting room on part of their rural farmland on 1990 Neffs Laurys Road.
Zoners are scheduled to announce a decision at their Nov. 20 meeting.
The proposed facility would have more than half of its drinks made from products raised on the Skorikos' farm.
That would require a special exemption from the zoning hearing board.
The couple would build a 2,400-square-foot pole barn on the property that would house the facilities, which would include a tasting room, distillery facilities, with 16 parking spaces.
In prior hearings, Heather Skorinko said she plans to produce heritage corn whisky, rye whisky, vodka and rum, as well as short runs of fruit brandies.
No expansions are planned at the proposed location, with the goal of preserving the tillable land remaining as much as possible, according to the property owners.
Current plans would have the building open at 4 p.m., with last call for drinks at 9 p.m. and the building closing at 10.
Byproducts from the facility's fermentation process would be used to feed cattle and other livestock on the farm, with excess used as compost.
The land would continued to be farmed, with the parcel used for the distillery "not highly farmable," according to Heather Skorinko.
Residents voice concern
The meeting had about 20 attendees, with speakers voicing worry about the impacts the distillery would have on the local landscape, such as noise, traffic and the fear of drunken drivers.
Attorney and resident Alexis Berg-Townsend argued that the risk of noise and safety impacts should disqualify the commercial venture from being approved.
She said that the board needed to apply conditions to the development if the required exemption is to be approved.
"I think you've heard enough testimony of how important this is to many of the neighbors."Attorney and North Whitehall resident Alexis Berg-Townsend
"I think you've heard enough testimony of how important this is to many of the neighbors," Berg-Townsend said.
"And if you find that the applicant did satisfy somehow their burden ... I think it's important to have conditions that do specifically outline the hours, the days of operation, what noise can there be, how large can the functions be."
Acoustic indoors live music is planned, and regulations make it so amplified music sound is not to leave the property.
Another resident worried about the lack of enforcement for traffic and speed he's seen in the area, and worried how adding alcohol to that will impact things.
Skorinko said she did not anticipate the development having a negative impact or that it would ruin the rural atmosphere, saying traffic impact would be less than any large development in the area.
She acknowledged that there would be some noise on Thursday through Sunday during limited hours, but that a vegetation sound barrier is planned as part of the development.
There now are 16 parking spaces on the property, and additional cars would not be allowed to park on the road, with the potential for some other cars to be parked on the property.
Previously, she said the planned tasting room will have a capacity of about 40 people, and she would not allow larger events such as weddings.
