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Date: 7/13/2022
GRANBY – A new farm winery is soon coming to town following unanimous Selectboard approval of a pouring license.
The approval came during the board’s June 27 meeting where Jim Trompke, who also serves on the Planning Board, requested the pouring license as he draws closer to opening the business later in the year. Trompke shared the farm winery has already planted a vineyard of 18 acres on the East Street property.
Trompke opened his remarks by notifying the board that he has already been licensed by the state and federal government to produce wine and beer on the site. He added that the front building on the property is being rebuilt to house a tasting room and retail area while the building in the back of the property will be the location for production.
With the approval of a pouring license, paperwork will be filed to the town administrator before heading to the state which will lead to a state inspection of the site. Trompke said that in the meantime he would be focused on making sure the building met the proper fire codes.
“It’s pretty simple, these are all over Western Mass. There are no issues with them,” Trompke said of wineries.
He added this was a process heavily involved with the state and federal government due to the tax benefits and resources that producing wineries provide in the state.
Trompke shared that he plans on operating the business Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and sometimes 9 p.m., as well as on holidays. The location will have seating indoors and outdoors. Live entertainment is something Trompke mentioned he was interested in during the meeting and he would come back to the town for a special permit.
Board member Richard Beaulieu and a resident asked about potential traffic impacts. Trompke responded by saying there should not be any issues that should catch the town off guard as there was a dog kennel operating out of the location previously.
“It was a business operating out of there before, seven days a week all year,” Trompke said. “There is traffic, it continues to grow in Granby. People get into Granby on one end and use it as a rotary to get somewhere else. Someone could open a winery on the other side of Granby and you will still feel some type of traffic. The traffic we bring in will be a drop in the bucket.”
He added that there was no need to conduct a traffic study for the new business as it had already been an existing business but did say if it became a clear issue that he would work with local police on arranging the proper traffic patrol for the location.
Chair Glen Sexton said he had no issues with the plan and said this was the type of project they often mention when discussing ways to increase business and bring new things to the town.
“I think it’s good to have something here that people want to come to for that. It’s a nice little area. I think it’s great that we look at expanding our culture a little more in town and I think this is a great way to do it,” Sexton said.