The Knox County Zoning Committee shot down a request last night to limit conditional use permits allowing wineries in the county.
The committee’s decision was in response to a request from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The ZBA had previously approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would prevent future permits like the one that is set to enable Hidden Hills Vineyards to operate as a winery in the Knoxville area.
Zoning Committee Chairman Jeff Jefferson tell WGIL the decision was reached in light of concerns that approving the ZBA’s request would be bad for business.
“There was some concern about maybe, perhaps stifling the economic growth of the county by doing this,” Jefferson says, “so that’s what we looked at and that’s why we decided to go against the ZBA’s recommendation tonight and just leave it in as is.”
The ZBA originally denied Hidden Hills Vineyards a conditional use permit in 2013, citing complaints for neighbors who did not want their roads overcrowded.
Last year, Knox County Judge Scott Shipplett ruled that the ZBA did not have any legal grounds to deny the permit. Shipplett issued a court order requiring the permit be approved.
The winery was finally granted its permit last month during a regular Knox County Board meeting.
