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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final June 7, 2022 <br />Special Exception Use Approval for a Farm Based Rum Distillery (Agricultural <br />Industry) with Associated Accessory Residential Units [SP -SE -20-07-26 / <br />2004020221-86955] (Quasi -Judicial) <br />Recommended action: Staff recommends that the BCC grant major site plan and special exception use <br />approval for a farm based rum distillery (agricultural industry) with associated <br />accessory residential units to be known as Bhakta Farms Distillery with the <br />following conditions: 1. Prior to site plan release, the applicant shall obtain all <br />required jurisdiction permits as listed on the site plan and verification of <br />approval/concurrence of environmental impact to protected species from the <br />USACOE, USFWS and FWC. 2. Prior to issuance of a project certificate of <br />occupancy (C.O.) for each Phase, the applicant shall install all required landscape <br />improvements as shown on the approved project landscape plan. The State Road <br />60 landscape buffer will be required to be installed with the C.O. for Phase 1. <br />Attachments: Staff Report <br />Planning and Zoning Minutes <br />Location Map <br />Aerial Map <br />Site Plan <br />Landscape Plan Overall <br />Detailed Landscape Plan <br />Chairman O'Bryan introduced the parties for the proceeding as being Bhakta <br />Farms, LLC (Applicant) and Indian River County. Each Commissioner, as <br />requested by the Chairman, disclosed ex parte communications, site visits, or <br />independent investigations. The Commissioners also affirmed that they have an <br />open mind and can base their decisions on the evidence presented and the <br />applicable law. The Deputy Clerk administered the Oath to all persons who <br />wished to speak at the hearing. The Applicant's representative confirmed they <br />would move forward with Commissioner Moss voting via video conference. <br />The Chairman opened the public hearing. <br />Ryan Sweeney, Chief of Current Development, utilized PowerPoint slides to <br />review the Special Exception Use process and the Applicant's location, site plan, <br />traffic and landscape plans. He noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission, <br />at their April 28, 2022 meeting, recommended the Board grant major site plan <br />and special use approval with conditions recommended by staff. <br />Chief Counsel for the Applicant, Leo Gibson, appeared before the Board and <br />shared Bhakta Farm's history, vision, and plans for their land. He discussed the <br />craft spirits which were planned to be produced on-site, and explained that the <br />guest cottages were for marketing purposes only. <br />Indian River County Florida Page 8 <br />