My Island is Crazy

Check out this article form our local paper:

City codes threaten winery - Bainbridge Island Review

There are several of these garage type wineries on the island. The wines they produce are actually great. Its so frustrating that someone would complain about the outdoor part of this guy's operation. It made me think about someday starting up a nano on the Island from home, and what a nosy neighbor might be able to complain about. It also made me think about one of my neighbors complaining while I'm cleaning out my keggle, or spraying off my chiller. I know its not the same thing, but it made me think. I'll be watching this to see how it turns out.

 

wow that sucks, all it takes is for some a hole to screw up a good time. Best solution: build out his garage -

I wonder what indoors is defined as in the code? could he put up a big tent and do it in there?

 

I second the tent idea, just get a large tent to cover the area he would normally use outside. As long as the tent has sides, no one can see what's going on in there thus no complaints. You can't complain about something you can't see.

 

I doubt a tent would be considered an indoors environment.

His best bet is to petition the council to produce an exception to the code to allow for outside processing of wine during harvest period. This would also help any other, or future, winery who has need to process outside.

Sometimes it's better to change the law, than to try and find a way around it.

 

I thought of the same tent idea. I was thinking circus tent, or one of those event tents used at weddings. They go up pretty fast, and he could even throw a "party" each year around the same time the tent goes up to mask his intentions. It may not fit the actual code, and this guy probably can't go that route now that is crappy neighbor and the media are aware of his outdoor grape crushing, but it might be a smart and inexpensive way for other micro wineries to avoid detection until the code is revised. I believe there is work being done to have the codes amended for these temporary outdoor operations.

Its just such a petty thing for someone to complain about.

 

as for the build out his garage, the code also regulates how many square feet of your residence you can use for your winery.
my landlords have a nanowinery, and they just moved it out of the house because of those laws. they were using the garage, but it was getting to be to small. sounds like Washington State/King County make it a PITA to get going.