MILTON, Ga. — The applicants for an alcohol beverage license at the D’Rose Vintners farm winery on Blackmaral Lane requested the public hearing be deferred to the April 8 City Council meeting.
After deferrals in November, December and February, a resolution to the ongoing saga is at least four weeks away.
According to the meeting agenda published Feb. 29, the deferral allows time for the applicant, city officials and surrounding residents “to work toward resolving issues between them without either side resorting to litigation.”
Councilmembers have served as negotiators between the applicants, Jim and Daryn Rosenberger, and residents in the Providence Plantation community.
Beginning in October, when surrounding residents first learned about the public hearing for an alcohol beverage license, councilwomen Carol Cookerly and Andrea Verhoff met with them to hear concerns.
After failing to reach a compromise between the winery and the neighborhood, new councilmen Phil Cranmer and Doug Hene attempted to reach a compromise between both parties in February.
While the applicants have eliminated the on-site tasting room, a resolution with surrounding neighbors continues to fall short.
On Feb. 16 City Manager Steve Krokoff presented several residents with a proposal that would place seven restrictions and prohibitions on the winery, including no public tastings, no appointments and a limit on commercial vehicle trips.
The residents, including Providence Plantation HOA President Sarah Moen, the Buxton family, Craig Franklin and Steve Lanham, rejected a compromise.
Instead, the group requested a third-party audit, which city officials said they would not pay for.
Former City Councilwoman Laura Bentley spoke at the Feb. 26 special-called meeting.
“This council has every right to deny the alcohol license and require that these laws be followed,”…
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