Mulmur Township council has unanimously approved a zoning bylaw amendment to allow for a farm store and a craft distillery at a farm located on Airport Road.
A small portion of the property has been designated rural commercial in response to a proposal submitted by Mulmur residents Jill Johnson and Matthew McBride.
The couple purchased a farm at 936215 Airport Road in the spring and the rezoning will allow them to bring their vision for the farm as an agri-tourism destination to fruition.
About 2.5 acres of the 48-acre property has been rezoned, the rest will remain agricultural.
New to farming, the couple has been raising pigs, chickens and sheep at their home property and at the new farm property, where they plan to convert the farmhouse into the store. They spent the summer restoring the barn and have recently moved some livestock to their new quarters.
They will be selling their own meats, eggs and other products sourced from area farmers including vegetables and prepared foods such as preserves and pies.
Once the distillery is operational, they will be making small-batch fine craft spirits such as whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, moonshine and various fruit-based spirits using locally grown grain and botanicals when possible.
“In terms of the spirits, some have to be aged so we wouldn’t be up and running with all of those things right away. Everything will go in stages and some things will be a few years out, others will be produced and sold more immediately,” said Johnson.
McBride and Johnson have not yet settled on a name for the operation.
They said they don’t have any experience in the distillery business. They are coming to it from the consumer end, having an appreciation for such products.
“It’s been percolating in my mind for some time and it’s just something that I started to pursue in earnest last year,” said McBride. “It’s been like a snowball rolling downhill. It’s collected momentum along the way.”
He has been taking courses this year and touring distilleries in the United States.
“We’re excited by Mulmur council’s decision to unanimously approve the zoning change for us. It’s a great vote of confidence and we’re excited to take it to the next step,” said McBride.
A second meeting was held Dec. 3 to hear comments from the public before the bylaw was considered by council members at its inaugural meeting.
Mayor Paul Mills said a second meeting was held because there was a lot of opposition to the proposal. Council first heard public input on the proposal on Sept. 3.
On the second go-round changes were made to address issues and concerns raised by neighbours.
“There was a lot of controversy there back and forth and we just thought, to be fair to everybody, let’s have one more,” said Mills.
Several neighbours and community members spoke both in opposition to and in favour of the proposal.
Those opposed said it would not fit with the residential uses in the area and it was a poor use of prime agricultural land.
Neighbouring farmer Kevin Greer said allowing a commercial designation would affect the future construction of farm buildings on neighbouring farms.
Other concerns revolved around road safety, traffic, property values and what effect a distillery could have on the wells in the surrounding area.
Those in support of the plan said it is the type of diversification needed in Mulmur and something that could attract tourists.
Graham Corbett, owner of Fiddle Foot Farm in Mulmur spoke in support of the proposal referring to it as the farm of the future. He said he too will be looking to sell products at his farm because there are so few opportunities to do so elsewhere.
“The reason it’s not happening a lot here is because people don’t want it and that should change,” said Corbett.
Now that the zoning has been changed, McBride and Johnson will proceed with provincial and federal approvals and a county process to work out the access off Airport Road.
They plan to open the farm store in the spring and the distillery is set to open after all the approvals are in place. McBride said it would take about 18 months from that time.
“We’re just really excited to get started,” said McBride.
“We’ve had some good positive feedback about the way we can tie into other things in the area that are already happening,” said Johnson. “Creemore has been such a hub for what’s going on locally, great farmers’ market and the 100-Mile Store has spearheaded so many things as well. There’s just so much happening throughout the county and Dufferin County as well.”