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County commissioners authorize public hearing to define small‑scale alcoholic beverage production use in ULDC
Summary
Growth Management staff asked the board to advertise a Unified Land Development Code amendment that would add a defined 'small scale alcoholic beverage production facility' use and permit tasting rooms; the board voted to advertise the amendment for public hearing.
Alachua County commissioners authorized staff on Jan. 28 to advertise a public hearing on a proposed Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) amendment that would add a defined “small scale alcoholic beverage production facility” use and revise restaurant/bar definitions to allow limited on‑site production.
Manny Beneguitar, Growth Management staff, told the board the county currently treats microbreweries and similar operations as light industrial because the ULDC contains no tailored use definition. The proposed amendment would add a new use in the food and beverage section (use table 40469.2), permit small‑scale production in specified industrial zoning districts, and allow accessory production for agricultural agritourism operations. The draft includes numeric production caps and clarifies tasting-room and retail accessory sales. Beneguitar said the proposed thresholds are consistent with definitions used by other Florida municipalities and that the county’s existing microbreweries are within those levels.
Commissioners asked about safety and permitting for distillation (which involves heat and pressure). Growth Management staff said state licensing (Department of Business & Professional Regulation) and other state rules likely address distilling safety; staff offered to report back on additional regulatory requirements for distillation and any recommended local controls. Commissioners also pressed for clarity about what “accessory” means for restaurants that add on‑site production; staff said the code amendment will clarify that cooking or small on‑site brewing for restaurants is not the same as a small‑scale production facility and that accessory uses are tightly defined in the code.
Commissioner Cornell moved to approve advertising the proposed ULDC amendment for public hearing; the board voted to advertise the amendment. The advertisement will allow public review and comment at a future public hearing at which staff will present a final draft and any technical amendments.
Ending — Staff will post the public‑hearing notice and bring the ULDC amendment back for public comment and a final vote after the required advertisement and review period.
