Planning and Zoning Agency approves special‑use permit for Deer Park distillery, allows one transfer

The St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency unanimously approved a special‑use permit for a 9,600‑square‑foot distillery and associated visitor components at a 6‑acre site on State Road 207 at Deer Park.

Jeremiah Mulligan, attorney for White Orchid Holdings, told the agency the site is zoned Commercial General with a Mixed Use future‑land‑use designation and that the distillery is an allowed use with a special‑use permit. "We are excited to present an application for a Special Use Permit," Mulligan said as he described a project that will include a distillery building, restaurant, gardens and visitor amenities.

Presenter Travis Schelcha described the Maddie Rum product and a planned "Vanilla Conservatory" intended as an interpretive attraction. "This is Maddie Grama," Schelcha said, explaining the product’s vanilla‑focused flavor profile and the property's visitor programming, including cooperative work with University of Florida researchers.

Board members sought and received clarifications about how alcohol service would be conducted. The applicant said tastings and consumption tied to the distillery would be limited to the distillery building; the restaurant portion would operate under its own liquor license for on‑premises sales. Mulligan said retail/package sales would require separate state licensing.

The agency discussed business structure, including the applicant’s request to allow the special‑use permit to be transferred one time to a separate operating entity. Mr. Green moved to approve SUBMED 2026‑2 (Deer Park Gardens) "based upon the eight findings of fact and eight conditions with the modification to allow one transfer of the special‑use permit." Miss Perkins seconded the motion; the board voted unanimously.

The applicant and staff said the project would operate indoors, remain below the county's 10,000‑square‑foot limit for microbrewery/distillery uses, and include conditions intended to limit outdoor storage, noise and odor. During review board members also asked about traffic and signage; the applicant said a turn signal and existing roadway capacity favor the location and staff indicated sign heights and other details can be handled through conditions and permit review. A traffic study had not been completed at the public hearing.

Next steps: the action approved at the meeting authorizes the special‑use permit under the conditions discussed; applicants must finalize licensing, leases and any required state distillery or package‑sale permits before retail or off‑site sales can occur.