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/A <br />INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Jason E. Brown; County Administrator <br />THROUGH: Phillip J. Matson, AICP; Community Development Director <br />THROUGH: Ryan Sweeney; Chief, Current Development <br />FROM: Brandon C. Creagan, LEED Green Associate; Senior Planner, Current Development <br />DATE: May 23, 2022 <br />SUBJECT: Bhakta Farms, LLC's Request for Major Site Plan and Special Exception Use <br />Approval for a Farm Based Rum Distillery (Agricultural Industry) with Associated <br />Accessory Residential Units [SP -SE -20-07-26 / 2004020221-86955] <br />It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County <br />Commissioners (BCC) at its regular meeting of June 7, 2022. <br />DESCRIPTION & CONDITIONS <br />Mills, Short & Associates, LLC, on behalf of Bhakta Farms, LLC, have submitted an application for <br />major site plan and special exception use approval to construct and operate a farm based rum distillery <br />(agricultural industry) with associated accessory residential units. The subject site is approximately <br />173.9 acres in size and is located on the north side of State Road 60 approximately 2,723 feet east of <br />the intersection of State Road 60 & 130th Avenue (see attachment 2). The site is zoned A-2, <br />Agricultural -2 (up to 1 unit per 10 acres), a zoning district in which special exception use approval is <br />required for agricultural industries. The proposed project will consist of four (4) phases that will include <br />office space, employee housing, sugar cane/fruit fields, the distillery, barrel/bottling storage areas, a <br />tractor barn, a guard house, a pool/guest house, guest cottages, and expansion areas as needed (see <br />attachment 5). <br />The BCC now needs to consider the special exception use request for the proposed farm based rum <br />distillery (agricultural industry) with associated accessory residential units, conduct a public hearing, <br />and either approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request. Pursuant to Section 971.05 of the <br />LDRs, the PZC is to consider the appropriateness of the requested use for the subject site and <br />compatibility of the use with the surrounding area. The BCC may recommend reasonable conditions <br />and safeguards necessary to mitigate impacts and to ensure compatibility of the use with the <br />surrounding area. <br />PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION (PZC) RECOMMENDATION: <br />At its meeting of April 28, 2022, the PZC voted 6-1 to recommend that the BCC grant major site plan <br />and special exception use approval with the conditions recommended by staff (see attachment 1). <br />173 <br />C:\Users\ufc-prod\AppData\Local\Temp\BCL Technologies\easyPDF 81@BCL@640BD366\@BCL@640BD366.docx <br />