Blendings Winery visitors, permits and limitations

[Daniel Disilvestro]

Good morning,

My name is Daniel Disilvestro and I have been a resident in Fort Collins since 2009. Since November of that year I have lived in a house near Overland rd and Prospect and I am respectfully writing you this email to inquire about the permits and limitations imposed to Blendings Winery, which I recently attempted to visit but I was not able to. 

It is my understanding that under new regulations the winery can aonly accept 11 cars per day and I have never heard of a similar limitation for another business in town (or anywhere else, if I am honest). If you dont mind me asking, why is there such a a limit on this business and how was this determined?

I imagine there might be a relationship with the zoning on which the winery is at? 

It is also hard to understand how 11 vehicles per day are a good measurement. It cant be related to traffic as this 11 vehicles can all visit the place at the same time but if it happens that way, no one else would be allowed in the business 3 hours later? Also can 11 buses with 50 people each come to the winery but not 12 compact cars full of people in a day?

and last but not least.... I was in a motorcycle, so should I have been counted towards the 11 car per day quota? What about bycicles? (I do leave less than a few miles away)

As you can see the limitations imposed to the busines are not only a surprise but the rationality behind it and the many gaps in it, certainly intrigue me. Is this something temporary that can be changed in the near future?

I consider Blendings winery a good and different option for my leasure time in a town full of breweries (with no car per day limit). It is close to my house and I would think it is a good addition to Fort Collins. Therefore, I felt inclined to write this email and I hope that whenever you have time you can put me up to speed or help me understand this unique issue. 

I look forward to your comments

Sincerely,

Daniel D.

[Lesli Ellis]

Good morning Mr. Disilvestro - 

Thank you for your email and interest in the Blendings.  

The conditions of approval for this business were put in place in 2015 with the Colorado Aronia Project Special Review approval by the Board of County Commissioners at that time.  County staff and the owner have been in discussion for several years now about the process to amend the Special Review.  For the conditions to be changed, the owners will need to file a planning application, and once filed, it is reviewed and sent to the County Commissioners during a public hearing where they can consider and make a decision about amending the prior approval. The owners have been in contact with the planning staff and have been informed about and are aware of the process and steps necessary.  To date, they have not applied to amend the approval. 

Please let me know if you have further questions. 

 

Kind regards,

Lesli 

	Lesli K. Ellis, AICP CEP Director
	Community Planning, Infrastructure, and Resources  200 W Oak St, Fort Collins, CO 80521  Phone:  (970) 498-5741 ellislk@co.larimer.co.us | www.larimer.gov