The Mountain View County municipal planning commission has approved an expansion of Fallentimber Meadery outside Cremona. The move came during the commission's recent regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers.
The development permit application approved is for an accessory building - processing plant.
The meadery is located adjacent to Twp. Rd. 302 and Rge. Rd. 60 at N.W 7-30-5-5.
The project value has been set at $850,000 on the 160- acre parcel.
"The applicants are requesting to expand the business to allow for increased processing capabilities to produce greater volumes of product," administration said in a briefing note to council.
"The proposal is to build a 10,000-square-foot addition to the existing structure used for the business, which will become the processing facility and include a storefront and a tasting room.
"The new expansion building will be attached to the existing production building by a deck to ensure flow between the two buildings."
Co-owner Pat Ryan said expanding the facility will allow the business to stay in Mountain View County.
"We are staying put," Ryan told the Gazette. "We made that decision; we are staying put. We will move all of our mead production out of our old Quonset into the new building."
Groundwork on the project will hopefully get underway in October, she said.
"If we can get everything through and the building permit through and our design finished, we are going to get the foundation in the ground before winter so we are ready to be producing in the spring."
Reeve Bruce Beattie, who sits on the MPC, called the approved expansion good news.
"I think it is terrific," said Beattie. "This is the kind of thing we want to support and build in the county. I'm just really happy you've decided to stay in Mountain View County and continue that process."
Ryan said the meadery receives great community support.
"We are exited to take this next step," she said.
Commission members voted unanimously to support the application.
Mead is an alcoholic beverage made with honey.
