Board approves small distillery and bed-and-breakfast permit, calls for road access fixes

Montezuma County commissioners on April 7 approved a high-impact permit for a proposal that expands an existing chocolate-tour operation at 30550 Road H to include limited overnight lodging and a small distillery.

Planning staff told the board the property currently hosts a chocolate factory and weekend tours; the applicants, Wynn Sanders and Lauren De Bay (agent Brian Davis), asked to add bedrooms to operate a bed-and-breakfast and to install a distillery. Staff said distilling appears in county zoning discussions either as agricultural processing or subject to special‑use review, and recommended using the permit process to manage impacts.

Ryan Bartlett, Mesa Verde Country tourism director, testified in support, saying a limited, property‑exclusive distillery producing about "one to two barrels" per month would attract higher‑value visitors and lengthen stays. Neighbor Billy Akers said the applicant has been "doing things by code," listed the chocolate factory as a valuable amenity and raised no objection.

Several commissioners pressed applicants on road safety and emergency access. Commissioners said the private access road in the area is narrow (described in testimony as roughly 15–18 feet wide at points) and not maintained by the county; they said inadequate egress could hamper emergency vehicles and that cumulative development in the area requires attention. The applicants and agent said they plan to limit traffic, keep visits to under the parcel's 15‑trips‑per‑day threshold by ticketing/changing tour schedules, widen their internal drive to about 20 feet, place more aggregate on the lane and coordinate with neighbors about broader road improvements.

Commissioners stressed that approval depended on the property providing year‑round, reliable access and on applicants remaining within the operational limits they described. The board moved and seconded a motion to approve the high‑impact permit; the motion carried on a voice vote.

The board closed the hearing after urging the applicants to finalize access arrangements and noting that any future expansion that increased traffic or public access beyond the described limits could prompt reexamination or revocation of permit conditions.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 433; topfinish SEG 1279.

Speakers quoted or referenced: Brian Davis (agent), Wynn Sanders (applicant), Lauren De Bay (applicant), Ryan Bartlett (Mesa Verde Country, tourism director and CEO), Billy Akers (neighbor), Don (planning staff), Commissioners (Copenhafer, Candelaria, Lindsay).

Next steps: Applicants must confirm year‑round access and coordinate neighborhood road improvements; commissioners signaled they would expect applicants to return with any request to expand operations or if traffic increases beyond the described mitigation measures.