Town of Osoyoos council has approved a zoning bylaw amendment that will allow the owners of a proposed craft distillery to open for business on Lakeshore Drive in Osoyoos.

On Monday, council approved a staff recommendation to add a definition of a craft distillery to its current zoning bylaw and allow opening such a business as a permitted use in the special industrial zone already established along Lakeshore Drive.

Craft distilleries will also be recognized as a permitted use in the town’s current commercial districts and provisions will be allowed to provide parking spaces once the proposed distillery opens for business.

A company called Tumbleweed Spirits Inc. had asked the town to add “craft distillery” as a permitted use for the property addressed as 7 – 6001 Lakeshore Drive, the home of the former Stutters home restoration business.

“In addition to the applicant’s proposal of allowing a craft distillery as a permitted use in the M3 zone, planning and development services has taken its own initiative of reviewing whether permitting craft distilleries in certain commercial zones may also be appropriate,” said town senior planner Dilys Huang. “Craft distillery is currently not in the list of permitted uses in any of the town’s zones.”

Management with Tumbleweed Spirits want to establish a small batch, craft distillery to manufacture fine spirits (primarily vodka and gin), which would be produced by the fermentation of malted grains from British Columbia, followed by a distillation and bottling process, said Huang.

“The facility is also proposed to include a small retail tasting room where customers could sample and purchase the distillery’s products as well as tour the facility.”

Town of Osoyoos senior planner Dilys Huang

“The facility is also proposed to include a small retail tasting room where customers could sample and purchase the distillery’s products as well as tour the facility,” she said.

Special industrial use is already allowed on this section of Lakeshore Drive and is surrounded by other commercial properties to the north, east and south, she said.

A second building, resembling a warehouse that houses Pizza 97, is located on the same lot.

“The M3 zone permits a range of uses, including but not limited to, service industries, manufacturing plants, food processing plants, wholesale and distribution facilities and warehouses, veterinary services and cafés, coffee shops and restaurants,” she said. “The addition of a craft distillery use would be compatible with the general uses that are currently permitted in this zone.”

The town would be amenable to allowing other craft distilleries to open for business in the town’s other commercial districts downtown and in the industrial park, she said.

Off street parking will be needed once the distillery opens and staff have recommended the owners of Tumbleweed provide six spaces for customers and that employees park in the back of the building, she said.

“The proposed craft distillery use would enhance the tourism industry, broaden economic opportunities and promote a mix of uses in the community,” she said.

Council unanimously approved the staff recommendation to allow Tumbleweed Spirits to set up shop and open for business in Osoyoos.

Most other communities in the South Okanagan have allowed similar provisions to municipal bylaws allowing for craft distilleries, including the City of Penticton, Town of Oliver and City of Kelowna.

British Columbia is considered the craft beer capital of Canada with dozens of small breweries making exceptional beer that is sold across the province and other parts of Canada.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times